Site Quality and Food Safety Officer

Site Quality & Food Safety Officer

Join a growing Australian food manufacturer where quality, food safety and continuous improvement are central to the way the business operates.

Ferndale Foods Australia has been supporting local jobs for more than 30 years and continues to invest in its people, manufacturing capabilities and future growth. With three manufacturing sites, the business is looking for an experienced Site Quality & Food Safety Officer to help maintain the high standards that underpin its continued growth.

About the role

Reporting to the Quality Assurance Manager, this is a hands on role with responsibility for supporting quality assurance and food safety across three manufacturing sites.

You'll work closely with production teams and key stakeholders to ensure food safety and quality systems are maintained, certifications remain current and opportunities for improvement are identified and acted upon.

This is an opportunity for an experienced quality professional to have a genuine influence on the way quality and food safety are managed across the business.

What you'll be doing

• Maintain and manage GFSI and industry certifications including SQF, HACCP, Woolworths, CFSMR, Aldi and Costco requirements
• Conduct quality investigations to demonstrate effective root cause analysis and responsive follow up on corrective & preventive actions. Maintain non-conformance register.
• Coordinate HACCP verification and validation activities, including prerequisite programs and documentation reviews
• Deliver HACCP, food safety and quality training, inductions and maintain training records
• Lead cleaning, sanitation and environmental monitoring programs
• Manage product sampling and laboratory submissions and verify products are manufactured to specification
• Conduct internal audits and monthly GMP audits across the sites
• Investigate customer complaints and quality issues, including root cause analysis and corrective and preventative actions
• Maintain quality documentation, specifications, registers and document control systems
• Work closely with production teams to drive First Time Quality and continuous improvement initiatives
• Prepare for and participate in customer, certification and regulatory audits
• Support new product development and process improvement activities
• Help foster a positive culture of food safety and quality across all levels of the organisation

What you'll bring

You'll be an experienced quality or food safety professional who understands the demands of a busy food manufacturing environment and is comfortable working with both people and systems.

To be successful, you'll have:

• A tertiary qualification in Food Science, Engineering or a related discipline
• 5+ years' experience in a similar quality systems role within food manufacturing
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, food safety systems and quality management
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to build relationships across production, suppliers and customers
• Strong organisational and time management skills
• A practical and engaging approach to quality, with the ability to work alongside production teams and influence positive outcomes
• The flexibility to work outside normal operating hours when required, including occasional evenings and weekends

Why Ferndale Foods Australia?

Ferndale is an established Australian food manufacturer with a strong local history and an exciting future.

This role offers the opportunity to join a business that is continuing to develop its manufacturing operations while maintaining a strong focus on quality, food safety and its people.

You'll have the opportunity to work across multiple sites, contribute to important quality initiatives and play a key role in supporting the business as it continues to grow and evolve.

The position is based in Ballarat, and we are specifically seeking candidates who are currently based in Ballarat or the surrounding region and can reliably work on site. Applications from candidates who are unable to work locally will not be considered.

Normal hours are Monday to Friday, 7am - 3pm, with some flexibility required from time to time to support operational requirements and audits.

How to apply

Workforce Extensions Ballarat is managing the recruitment process on behalf of Ferndale Foods Australia.

All applications should be addressed to Workforce Extensions Ballarat and will be reviewed as part of the initial shortlisting process.

If you're an experienced quality and food safety professional looking for your next opportunity with an established local manufacturer, we'd like to hear from you.