Quality Manager

The Company 

Our client is a well-established international food manufacturing business with a strong presence across global markets. Known for its commitment to quality, food safety, innovation and continuous improvement, the business operates a modern production facility in the Netherlands and supplies products to major retail, foodservice and international customers. 

As part of its ongoing growth and focus on operational excellence, the company is seeking an experienced Quality Assurance Manager to join its leadership team. 

The Role 

Based in Rotterdam, the Quality Assurance Manager will be responsible for leading all aspects of Quality Management Systems and Food Safety across the site. The successful candidate will play a critical role in ensuring compliance with customer, regulatory and certification requirements while driving a strong quality and food safety culture throughout the business. 

This is a highly visible position that works closely with operational teams, customers, auditors and regulatory bodies, providing technical leadership and supporting continuous improvement across the site.  

Key Accountabilities 

• Lead and manage the site's Quality Management System (QMS). 

• Oversee food safety programmes including HACCP, VACCP and TACCP. 

• Drive a positive food safety and quality culture across the organisation. 

• Manage internal audit programmes and ensure compliance with customer, third-party and regulatory standards. 

• Investigate customer complaints and non-conformances, implementing effective corrective and preventative actions. 

• Develop and maintain quality standards to drive continuous improvement. 

• Lead customer, certification and third-party audits, ensuring timely completion of corrective action plans. 

• Support new product development activities and change management processes. 

• Provide technical oversight across raw material intake, production, packing, storage and dispatch operations. 

• Manage traceability, product recall and withdrawal programmes, ensuring regular testing and compliance. 

• Analyse quality KPIs and provide meaningful reporting to leadership teams. 

• Oversee pest control programmes and external service providers. 

• Support quality training initiatives across the site. 

• Act as the site's quality and food safety subject matter expert and key contact for regulatory authorities and certification bodies.  

Person Profile 

To be successful in this role, you will ideally possess: 

• Degree or postgraduate qualification in Food Science, Chemistry, Biotechnology or a related discipline. 

• Proven experience within Quality Assurance in a food manufacturing environment. 

• Previous responsibility for managing Quality and Food Safety Management Systems. 

• Strong working knowledge of audits, food safety standards, quality systems and regulatory compliance. 

• Experience investigating customer complaints, managing CAPAs and driving continuous improvement initiatives. 

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with a data-driven approach. 

• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills. 

• The ability to influence positive change and build a strong quality culture. 

• A collaborative leadership style with the ability to develop and mentor others. 

• Experience within FMCG manufacturing, with food sector experience highly desirable.