To lead and develop the food safety and quality function across multiple manufacturing sites and third-party manufacturing (TPM) partners in Africa. The role ensures robust implementation of food safety systems, fosters a strong quality culture, and guarantees the delivery of safe, high-quality food ingredients to customers. This is a customer-facing role requiring strong collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.

Key responsibilities

Leadership & Strategy

Lead and mentor site and TPM Quality and Food Safety teams across the region.

Train and develop competencies for the current team members in the quality function across GA and the TPMs 

Develop and execute the regional quality strategy aligned with global standards and local regulatory requirements.

Champion a proactive quality culture through training, engagement, and leadership.

Food Safety & Compliance

Ensure implementation and maintenance of food safety systems (e.g., HACCP, FSSC 22000, BRC) across all company-owned and TPM sites.

Monitor compliance with internal standards, customer requirements, and regulatory obligations.

Lead internal, supplier, and third-party audits, ensuring timely closure of non-conformities and continuous improvement.

Third-Party Manufacturing (TPM) Management 

Qualify, audit, and monitor TPM partners to ensure adherence to company quality and food safety standards.

Establish and maintain quality agreements with TPMs, including KPIs and escalation protocols.

Collaborate with Procurement, Supply Chain, and Operations to manage quality risks and drive continuous improvement at TPM sites.

Provide technical support and training to TPMs to build capability and ensure consistent product quality.

Operational Excellence

Integrate quality systems with TPM and internal site TPM initiatives to drive continuous improvement.

Analyze quality KPIs and trends to identify risks and opportunities.

Collaborate with operations to reduce quality-related losses and improve product consistency.

Customer Engagement

Act as the regional quality representative in customer interactions, audits, and complaint resolution.

Translate customer feedback into actionable improvements at both internal and TPM sites.

Support new product development and commercialization from a quality perspective.

Qualifications and skills

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or related field.

Minimum 8–10 years of experience in food quality and safety, with at least 3 years in a regional or multi-site leadership role.

Experience in a multinational food or ingredients company is highly desirable.

Demonstrated experience managing third-party manufacturing quality systems.

Certification in food safety systems (e.g., FSSC 22000) and auditing (e.g., Lead Auditor certification) is a strong advantage.

Familiarity with SPC methodologies, Lean, or Six Sigma methodologies.

Technical Expertise

Strong knowledge of food safety systems and regulatory frameworks (e.g., FSSC 22000, BRC).

Expertise in hygiene and sanitation, including cleaning validation, environmental monitoring, and allergen control.

Solid foundation in microbiology, including pathogen control, indicator organisms, and lab result interpretation.

Proficiency in risk assessment methodologies (e.g., HACCP, TACCP, VACCP, FMEA).

Demonstrated experience in auditing (internal, supplier, and third-party), including audit planning, execution, reporting, and CAPA management.

Experience managing third-party manufacturing quality systems and supplier quality assurance.

Leadership & Influence

Proven ability to lead cross-functional and multicultural teams.

Strong coaching, mentoring, and change management skills.

Analytical Thinking

Data-driven decision-making with strong problem-solving capabilities.

Experience with root cause analysis tools (e.g., 5 Whys, Fishbone, FMEA).

Communication & Collaboration

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal.

Ability to build trust with internal teams, TPM partners, and customers.