Horticulture Quality Assurance Manager

Quality Assurance Manager – Fresh ProduceAgrico Produce Pty Ltd | Hillston, NSW | Full-timeAgrico Produce is seeking an experienced Quality Assurance Manager to join our team in Hillston, New South Wales.Agrico Produce is a fresh produce growing, packing and distribution business supplying potatoes and garlic to major Australian retailers and commercial customers, including Woolworths, Coles and Aldi.This is a hands-on management role with responsibility for our quality assurance, food safety, traceability and certification systems across the receipt, storage, packing and dispatch of fresh produce.Reporting to the Production and Technical Manager, the successful candidate will lead the quality function and supervise Quality Control personnel across our packing and storage operations.Key responsibilitiesManage and continuously improve Agrico Produce’s quality management and food safety systems.Maintain HACCP-based programs, procedures, specifications, quality records and document control.Coordinate internal, customer, certification and regulatory audits.Manage customer specifications, product inspections, quality releases and product holds.Maintain traceability across incoming produce, bins, storage, packing, pallets and finished goods.Lead investigations into customer complaints, rejected loads, non-conformances and recurring quality issues.Conduct root-cause analysis and manage corrective and preventative actions.Monitor product quality through storage, including deterioration, sprouting, staining, decay and other fresh-produce quality risks.Lead mock recalls and ensure product withdrawal and recall readiness.Train and supervise Quality Control personnel and maintain appropriate quality and food-safety competency records.Provide quality and technical advice to production, packing, dispatch, farm and management teams.Identify opportunities to reduce defects, waste, rework and quality-related operational disruption.About youTo be successful in this role, you will have:A minimum of 3 years’ relevant experience in quality assurance and food safety within fresh produce, food processing, packing or another regulated production environment.Practical knowledge of HACCP principles, audit management, corrective action, traceability and document control.Experience managing customer specifications and quality requirements.Experience supervising or leading quality personnel.Strong investigation, problem-solving and written communication skills.The confidence to make independent quality decisions and escalate food-safety or compliance risks when required.Experience with quality, inventory or traceability systems. FreshTrack experience would be advantageous but is not essential.The rolePosition: Quality Assurance Manager ANZSCO: Quality Assurance Manager (139916) Employment: Full-time Location: Hillston, New South Wales Reports to: Production and Technical ManagerThis role provides an opportunity to take ownership of quality systems within a growing Australian fresh produce business and work closely with production, farm operations, management and major retail customers.To apply, please submit your resume together with a brief cover letter outlining your relevant quality assurance and food-safety experience.Agrico Produce Pty Ltd Hillston, NSW