Lead Specialist, Quality Assurance

Lead Specialist, Quality Assurance, TTH\n\nLocation: Midrand, South Africa\n\nAt dsm-firmenich, Midrand, South Africa, we are looking for a Lead Specialist, Quality Assurance in our Taste, Texture \u0026 Health business. \n\nIn this role, you will lead day to day Quality Assurance (QA) activities and support the operational compliance to the Food Safety and Quality Management System through monitoring, auditing and review. \n\nYou will lead client and internal audits, and will drive continuous improvement on site\n\nYour key responsibilities:\n\n * Quality Culture \u0026 Strategy: Promote a strong quality mindset across the site. Drive the site\u2019s quality goals in alignment with global and regional strategies. \n * Documentation \u0026 Compliance: Maintain and perform first-level reviews of QA procedures in the Document Management System. Oversee the creation, control, and maintenance of quality documents and policies. Ensure compliance with global quality standards and legal requirements. \n * Food Safety Program Management: Monitor food safety performance and ensure key programs are effective. Support and improve hazard control programs such as HACCP, food defence, and food fraud prevention. \n * Audits \u0026 Certifications: Plan, lead and coordinate internal audits and train auditors. Support external audits and maintain certifications (e.g., Kosher, Halal, RSPO, Organic). Ensure site readiness and compliance. \n * Training \u0026 Awareness: Train new and existing employees on food safety and quality system requirements. Promote awareness through ongoing education and engagement. \n * Issue Management \u0026 CAPA: Lead root cause investigations for quality issues. Manage corrective and preventive actions to ensure effective resolution. \n * Customer \u0026 Supplier Interaction: Respond to customer requests and provide technical documentation. Manage supplier non-conformances and ensure timely resolution. \n * Continuous Improvement: Drive improvements through CAPA implementation and GMP/Gemba Walks. \n * Complaint Handling: Investigate quality complaints and deviations. \n * Leadership: Lead QA initiatives in the absence of the Associate Manager. \n * Traceability \u0026 Testing: Lead mock recalls and traceability exercises. \n * Reporting \u0026 Project Leadership: Share performance updates in meetings. Lead small-scale quality improvement projects. \n\n\n\nWe offer:\n\n * A chance to impact millions of consumers every day \u2013 sustainability embedded in all we do\n * Growth that keeps up with you \u2013 you join an industry leader that will develop your expertise and leadership\n * A culture that lifts you up \u2013 with collaborative teams, shared wins, and people who cheer each other on\n * A community where your voice matters \u2013 it is essential to serve our customers well.\n\n\n\nYou bring:\n\n * Bachelor\u0027s degree in microbiology, biology, chemistry, quality food technology or related.\n * 3+ years\u2019 experience in pharmaceutical or food industry, within a manufacturing background. \n * Fluency in local language essential, and English language fluency essential \n * Highly self-motivated showing strong self-discipline and a structured approach to practices \u0026 improvements \n * Food Hygiene Supervisor Level, HACCP, VACCP, TACCP and Lead Auditor Qualifications essential \n * Understanding of Food Safety and Quality Management Systems is essential (BRC, FSSC, ISO) \n\n\n\nAbout dsm-firmenich\n\nAt dsm-firmenich, we don\u2019t just meet expectations \u2013 we go beyond them.\n\nJoin our global team powered by science, creativity, and a shared purpose: to bring progress to life.\n\nFrom elevating health to making fortified food and sustainable skincare, the impact of your work here will be felt by millions \u2013 every single day. Whether it\u2019s fragrance that helps you focus, alternative meat that\u2019s better for the planet, or reducing sugar without losing flavor, this is where you help shape the future of nutrition, health, and beauty for everyone, everywhere.\n\nAnd while you\u2019re making a difference, we\u2019ll make sure you\u2019re growing too. With learning that never stops, a culture that lifts you up and the freedom to move across businesses, teams, and borders. Your voice matters here. And your ideas? They\u2019re essential to our future. \n\nBecause real progress only happens when we go beyond, together.\n\nInclusion, belonging and equal opportunity statement \nAt dsm-firmenich, we believe being a force for good starts with the way we treat each other. When people feel supported, included, and free to be themselves, they do their best work \u2013 and that\u2019s exactly the kind of culture we\u2019re building. A place where opportunity is truly equal, authenticity is celebrated, and everyone has the chance to grow, contribute, and feel they belong. \n \n\n\nWe\u2019re proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we\u2019re serious about making our hiring process as fair and inclusive as possible. From inclusive language and diverse interview panels to thoughtful sourcing, we\u2019re committed to reflecting the world we serve. \n \nWe welcome candidates from all backgrounds \u2014 no matter your gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or anything else that makes you, you. \n \nAnd if you have a disability or need any support through the application process, we\u2019re here to help \u2013 just let us know what you need, and we\u2019ll do everything we can to make it work.\n\nAgency statement:\n\nWe\u2019re managing this search directly at dsm-firmenich. If you\u2019re applying as an individual, we\u2019d love to hear from you. We\u2019re not accepting agency submissions or proposals involving fees or commissions for this role.\n