Job Description
Plant Quality Manager - FMCG Manufacturing
Location: Boksburg, South Africa
Environment: Highly unionised
A senior leadership opportunity for a decisive, high-impact Quality professional to own Food Safety, Brand Trust, Consumer Confidence, and Quality Culture across an entire FMCG manufacturing plant.
This role carries full accountability for product integrity and food safety, with the authority to stop production where required. The successful candidate will lead quality transformation, challenge entrenched behaviours, and drive rapid cultural and operational change in a unionised, high-pressure environment.
This is a hands-on, operational leadership role — suited to an individual who thrives on urgency, accountability, and visible impact.
Role Purpose
To ensure absolute conformity in product quality, food safety, processes, and behaviours, safeguarding consumer trust, brand reputation, and regulatory compliance, while embedding a strong quality mindset across all plant teams.
Minimum Experience Required
- 10+ years’ experience in Quality & Food Safety within FMCG food manufacturing
- 5+ years in a senior Quality leadership role
- Proven experience in:
- Food Safety & Quality Management Systems
- Laboratory management
- Quality Control & Quality Assurance
- HACCP leadership, audits, and regulatory compliance
- Demonstrated success in leading change, influencing operations, and shifting culture
NON-NEGOTIABLE QUALIFICATIONS
A University Degree (BSc or BEng) is mandatory.
Accepted qualifications include:
- Food Science / Food Technology
- Microbiology
- Biochemistry
- Chemistry (Analytical or Industrial)
- Biotechnology
- Agricultural Science (Food processing major)
- Engineering Degree (Chemical, Process, or Industrial ONLY) — must include:
- HACCP Leadership
- Audit Certification
- FSSC 22000 Certification
Applications without a qualifying University Degree will not be considered.
Key Responsibilities
Food Safety & Product Quality
- Own Food Safety and Finished Product Quality for all products released to market
- Ensure zero-compromise compliance with HACCP, FSSC 22000, ISO, GMP, PRPs, and regulatory standards
- Lead consumer complaint investigations, root cause analysis, and long-term corrective action
- Optimise plant laboratory capability (technical expertise, training, standards, and output)
Quality Leadership Across the Value Chain
- Embed quality ownership into operations, shifting accountability to production teams
- Drive process capability, variability control, and quality visual management
- Lead internal and external audits as improvement and performance levers
- Ensure quality is integrated into all operating procedures, projects, and plant initiatives
- Champion risk assessment and “Build-in Quality” across new products, equipment, and productivity projects
Change Management & Culture Transformation
- Lead rapid cultural turnaround in people, operations, safety, and standards
- Challenge the status quo and drive behavioural change across a unionised workforce
- Build and sustain a high-performance quality culture
- Coach and upskill leadership teams, frontline managers, and operators
- Develop and lead a high-impact Quality leadership team
Performance, Cost & Governance
- Own Plant Quality KPIs, reporting, and improvement action plans
- Manage Quality department budget and drive cost optimisation without compromising integrity
- Contribute to overall plant performance strategy as part of the Industrial Management Team
- Ensure strong governance, audit readiness, and compliance discipline
Key Competencies & Leadership Profile
- Strong decision-making authority and ability to operate under pressure
- Confident, credible, and unafraid to challenge the status quo
- Proven change agent with a transformative leadership style
- Strong problem-solving, risk management, and analytical capability
- Highly effective stakeholder manager across production, R&D, supply chain, and commercial teams
- Comfortable leading in a unionised, operationally intense environment
- Driven by urgency, accountability, and results
- Passionate about consumer safety, brand trust, and quality excellence
This role is ideal for
A strong, decisive Quality leader who thrives in fast-paced FMCG manufacturing, embraces accountability, and is motivated by turnaround challenges, high standards, and visible impact.
Apply now to take on a career-defining leadership challenge in a high-impact manufacturing environment.
Please note if you do not have the minimum requirements you will not be shortlisted and only shortlisted candidates will be considered.
