Quality Head Food Production

Job Title

Quality Manager Food Production

Location

Ram Pur

Reports To

Plant Head / Operations Head

Job Purpose

To lead the Quality Assurance and Quality Control function for a food manufacturing and packaging unit producing shelf-stable products, ensuring consistent product quality, food safety, regulatory compliance, and customer satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities

1. Quality Systems & Compliance

• Implement, maintain, and continually improve the Quality Management System (QMS) and Food Safety Management System (FSMS) as per FSSAI requirements and relevant standards (e.g., HACCP, GMP, ISO 22000 / FSSC 22000).
• Ensure all processes comply with applicable food safety laws, labeling regulations, and customer-specific requirements.
• Lead internal audits, support external audits (customer, third-party, certification bodies), and close audit findings with effective CAPA.

2. Raw Material & Supplier Quality

• Define and enforce specifications for raw materials, ingredients, and packaging materials.
• Oversee incoming inspection, sampling, and approval/rejection of raw and packaging materials.
• Conduct or coordinate supplier evaluations and audits; ensure suppliers meet quality and food safety expectations.

3. In-Process Quality Control

• Establish and monitor critical control points (CCPs) and in-process quality checks across production lines (mixing, cooking, filling, sealing, coding, etc.).
• Ensure production teams follow SOPs, GMP, hygiene, and sanitation standards at all times.
• Drive real-time monitoring of key parameters (e.g., Brix, pH, viscosity, moisture, fill weight, seal integrity, coding accuracy).

4. Finished Product Quality & Release

• Define finished product specifications and testing protocols (chemical, microbiological, sensory as applicable).
• Oversee final inspection and release of batches before dispatch; ensure only conforming products are shipped.
• Maintain traceability from raw material to finished goods and support mock recall exercises.

5. Laboratory & Testing Management

• Manage the QC lab (in-house or coordinated with external labs) for routine testing of raw materials, in-process samples, and finished products.
• Ensure proper calibration and maintenance of testing instruments and measuring devices as per schedule.
• Maintain accurate test records, COAs, and quality data for trend analysis.

6. Customer Complaints & Continuous Improvement

• Lead investigation of customer complaints, market returns, and quality incidents using root cause analysis (RCA).
• Implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) and verify their effectiveness.
• Drive continuous improvement projects to reduce defects, rework, waste, and cost of poor quality.

7. Team Leadership & Training

• Lead, coach, and develop the QA/QC team (executives, inspectors, lab technicians).
• Conduct regular training on food safety, GMP, SOPs, documentation, and quality tools for production and warehouse staff.
• Foster a strong quality culture on the shop floor through quality circles, PDCA, and visible quality metrics.

8. Documentation & Reporting

• Prepare and update SOPs, quality manuals, inspection formats, and quality dashboards.
• Present quality performance (internal rejection, customer complaints, audit status, etc.) to plant leadership and corporate teams.
• Ensure all quality records are audit-ready and retained as per policy and regulatory requirements.

Qualifications & Experience

• Education:
• B.Tech / M.Tech in Food Technology, Food Science, Microbiology, Biotechnology, or related field.
• Additional certification in HACCP, ISO 22000 / FSSC 22000, Internal Auditor, or similar is preferred.
• Experience:
• Minimum 10 years of experience in quality assurance / quality control in food manufacturing or FMCG, preferably in shelf-stable processed foods (sauces, condiments, jams, pickles, masalas, canned/tin/pouch-packed items).
• Prior experience handling multi-line plants and leading a QA/QC team is strongly preferred.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Strong knowledge of FSSAI regulations, HACCP, GMP, and food safety systems.
• Hands-on experience with raw material, in-process, and finished goods quality control in food processing.
• Good understanding of packaging quality (seals, leaks, coding, labeling, container integrity).
• Proficient in root cause analysis, CAPA, and continuous improvement tools.
• Strong documentation, audit handling, and data analysis skills.
• Effective communication, people management, and cross-functional coordination with Production, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and R&D.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced plant environment and handle multiple priorities.

Working Conditions

• Primarily plant-based role with regular time on the shop floor, in the lab, and in production areas.
• Occasional travel may be required for supplier audits, customer visits, or inter-plant reviews