Site Quality Manager

Role Purpose

The Site Quality Manager is accountable for leading, implementing, and continuously improving the Quality Management System (QMS), Food Safety systems, and Regulatory Compliance framework at the camel milk manufacturing site.

The role exists to protect the consumer, the brand, and the business by ensuring that all camel milk products are safe, compliant, consistently high quality, and export-ready , in line with local (GSO/UAE), international (Codex, ISO), and target export market regulations .

This role serves as the quality authority on site , with the independence and technical credibility to challenge operations, stop production when necessary , and drive a strong food safety culture .

Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities

1. Quality & Food Safety Leadership

• Own and lead the site Quality & Food Safety agenda for camel milk processing, UHT, powder, fermented and value-added dairy products.
• Act as the site Food Safety Leader , ensuring compliance with:
• FSSC 22000 / ISO 22000
• ISO 9001
• HACCP & Codex Alimentarius
• GSO / UAE regulations
• Export market requirements (e.g., China, EU, USA, GCC)
• Establish and reinforce a strong food safety culture across operations, engineering, supply chain, and warehousing.

2. Quality Management System (QMS) Ownership

• Develop, implement, maintain, and continuously improve the site QMS .
• Ensure robust control of:
• SOPs, Work Instructions, and Records
• Document control and change management
• Non-conformance, deviation, and CAPA systems
• Lead root cause analysis (RCA) using structured tools (5-Why, Fishbone, FMEA).

3. Food Safety Systems & HACCP

• Lead the development, validation, and maintenance of:
• HACCP plans (specific to camel milk hazards)
• CCPs, OPRPs, and validation studies
• Ensure effective control of microbiological, chemical, physical, and allergen risks , including:
• Raw camel milk sourcing risks
• Antibiotic residues
• Heavy metals
• Pathogen controls (e.g., Salmonella, Listeria, Coliforms where relevant)

4. Regulatory & Compliance Management

• Ensure full compliance with:
• UAE/GSO dairy regulations
• Export certifications and approvals
• Customer-specific quality standards
• Act as the primary site interface with:
• Regulatory authorities
• Certification bodies
• External auditors and inspectors
• Support product registration and export readiness , particularly for sensitive markets (e.g., China CIQ, EU dairy regulations).

5. Audit & Certification Leadership

• Plan and lead:
• Internal audits
• External audits (FSSC, customer, regulatory)
• Ensure successful certification, surveillance, and re-certification audits with zero critical findings .
• Drive closure of audit findings within agreed timelines.

6. Quality Control & Laboratory Oversight

• Oversee site Quality Control and Laboratory operations , including:
• Raw milk testing
• In-process controls
• Finished product release
• Ensure validation and verification of:
• Analytical methods
• Sampling plans
• Shelf-life studies
• Manage external laboratory relationships and testing programs.

7. Manufacturing Partnership

• Work closely with Production, Engineering, and Maintenance to:
• Embed quality at source
• Support hygienic design and CIP/SIP effectiveness
• Ensure controlled commissioning of new equipment and processes
• Actively participate in daily operations reviews , ensuring quality risks are identified and mitigated early.

8. People Leadership & Capability Building

• Lead, coach, and develop the Site Quality Team .
• Build technical competence in:
• GMP
• Food safety awareness
• Hygiene and sanitation
• Deliver structured training programs across the site to reinforce ownership of quality at every level .

9. Continuous Improvement & Risk Management

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives related to:
• Quality performance
• Cost of poor quality (COPQ)
• Complaint reduction
• Own the site Quality Risk Register and proactively manage emerging risks related to camel milk processing.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Audit performance (internal, external, regulatory)
• Consumer complaints & trends
• Right-first-time production
• Non-conformance closure timelines
• Food safety incidents (target: zero)
• Export compliance success rate

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in:
• Food Science
• Dairy Technology
• Microbiology
• Chemistry or related discipline
• Professional certifications preferred:
• FSSC 22000 / ISO 22000 Lead Implementer or Auditor
• HACCP Certification

Experience Requirements

• Minimum 8years in Quality & Food Safety roles within:
• Dairy manufacturing (UHT, powder, fermented products preferred)
• Proven experience in:
• Managing certification audits
• Regulatory inspections
• Export-oriented food manufacturing
• Experience with camel milk or non-traditional dairy is a strong advantage.

Key Competencies & Attributes

• High integrity and independence
• Strong regulatory and technical judgment
• Ability to challenge constructively and influence senior stakeholders
• Calm, decisive leadership under pressure
• Excellent communication and documentation skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving mindset

Authority

• Authority to stop production or product release where food safety or compliance is compromised.
• Authority to escalate quality risks directly to the Manufacturing Director and Technical Director.

Strategic Importance of the Role

This role is mission-critical to the company’s ambition to position camel milk products as premium, safe, globally exportable nutrition . The Site Quality Manager is a custodian of trust , ensuring that quality is not inspected but designed, built, and protected at every step . (QUALITY CULTURE)