Quality Assurance Manager Gelderland 40 per week

Client is a long-standing multinational brand specializing in infant and child nutrition. They are deeply committed to creating nutritional brands and products that give babies and children the best start in life. With over 450 employees.

In the role als Quality Assurance Manager, you take responsibility for:

Safeguarding product quality and food safety

Strengthening quality culture, and ensuring factory remains audit‑ready at all times

You lead a QA team (6 FTE) and collaborate closely with Production, Engineering, QC, Planning, and global QA partners

You secure consumer trust and protect the license to operate. By enforcing HACCP/GMP and risk‑based decisions, you prevent defects, avoid compliance incidents, and keep the site audit‑ready, every day

Acts as site guardian for food safety, regulatory compliance, and product integrity (HACCP, FSMA, GMP, QMS)

Ensures all released materials and finished products meet internal and external standards

Drives a zero‑defect culture through strong controls and proactive risk management

Supports product disposition decisions and escalates high‑risk cases to the Head of Quality

Material & Product Release, Deviations & Complaints

You keep safe product flowing to customers. Through decisive release ownership and rigorous RCA/CAPA, you cut repeat issues, shorten cycle times, and reduce complaint rates while maintaining full compliance

Oversees the timely release of all raw materials, intermediates, and finished products manufactured at the Gelderland site, ensuring that batch records, quality control results, and documentation meet specifications and regulatory requirements before approval for use or release to market

Ensures timely, effective deviation and complaint management with strong root‑cause analysis and CAPA follow‑up

Leads complaint investigations and partners with commercial teams on preventive actions; shares early‑batch improvements with stakeholder

Reviews and approves rework/redress protocols and ensures execution according to instructions

Makes risk‑based disposition decisions; escalates complex cases when needed

Defines and approves sampling and testing requirements; represents QA in site‑ and market‑aligned standards

Maintains full traceability and leads periodic traceability exercises

Supports crisis management and recall readiness through training and mock recalls

You elevate line performance where it matters most, on the shopfloor. Visible QA leadership and robust in‑process controls boost first‑time‑right, reduce losses, and raise GMP discipline across shifts

Leads the QA team as the main contact for production, ensuring and maintaining a strong daily shopfloor presence

Reinforces food‑safety and GMP standards, driving a strong quality culture during all interactions

Performs GMP walkthroughs and supports audit readiness

Develops robust in‑process controls with Production, Engineering, and Technical Services

Ensures manufacturing processes follow cGMP and SOPs; identifies and closes gaps

Guides the QA team on operational quality topics (environmental monitoring, pest control, deviations, GMP)

Coaches the team in risk‑based decision‑making while balancing quality, service, and operational needs -never compromising on (food) safety aspects

Leading, Developing & Coaching the QA Team

You turn capability into consistent results. With clear priorities, coaching, and ownership, the team makes faster, better decisions and delivers stable quality performance

Provides daily guidance, coaching, and performance support to 8 QA team members

Builds a learning‑oriented environment that supports growth and continuous improvement

Ensures team structure, competencies, and staffing align with current and future needs

Maintains clear job descriptions and expectations

Delivers tailored technical and soft‑skill development plans

Sets annual goals, tracks performance, and creates clear priorities

Manages people decisions (hiring, promotions, disciplinary actions, transfers)

Builds an inclusive, supportive, and collaborative team culture

You convert data into lasting gains. By driving KPI‑led improvements and sharing learnings, you lower defect/complaint trends, harden processes, and build a First Time Right culture across the site

Drives sitewide quality improvement using KPIs (complaints, zero crises, first‑time‑right)

Promotes a strong “First Time Right” mindset across QA, Production, and Maintenance

Shares learnings from deviations and complaints; organizes cross‑functional learning sessions

Prepares accurate, timely quality reports for leadership and stakeholders

You create clarity and confidence for leadership. Transparent reporting and disciplined budget control focus investment where it moves the needle and de‑risk quality operations end‑to‑end

Develops and manages the QA operating and CAPEX budget

Monitors spending and ensures alignment with business and quality priorities

Reviews monthly expenditures and ensures financial control compliance

Contributes to broader site projects and initiatives as assigned by the Head of Quality

Master’s degree in Food Science, Technology, Microbiology, Chemical Engineering or similar

5+ years in Quality Assurance within (Infant) Nutrition, Dairy or food and beverage manufacturing, including 2–3 years in QA leadership

Experience in internal and external audits

Strong skills in deviation investigation and root‑cause problem solving

Experience working closely with production and maintenance teams

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification is an advantage

An inspiring and innovative work environment where you can develop your career and sharpen your skills in a dedicated and professional team.

A fulltime contract with excellent working conditions and a competitive annual salary between €82.715 – € 111.000,-, depending on knowledge and experience

A 40-hour working week with 25 vacation days

A good pension plan, a bonus plan, collective health insurance and opportunities for professional development

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