JOB PURPOSE:
The Quality Assurance Associate is responsible for maintaining and implementing food safety and quality management systems across company facilities and warehouses, with a primary focus on ISO 22000:2018 compliance, GSO regulatory requirements, product label review, non-conformance management, and quality team development. The role includes expertise in meat facility quality assurance, covering halal compliance, cold chain monitoring, and meat-specific inspection protocols.
Key Responsibilities
ISO 22000:2018 Compliance & Documentation
- Maintain and develop all documentation, SOPs, records, and workflow forms required to sustain the ISO 22000:2018 food safety management system certification across all company facilities and warehouses.
- Create, implement, and update quality management documentation in line with ISO 22000:2018 requirements and any changes to operating processes.
- Prepare for and support internal and external ISO 22000 audits, ensuring all documentation and evidence is current, organized, and audit-ready.
- Monitor the implementation of food safety procedures across all locations and identify gaps or non-conformities for corrective action.
Product Label Review & GSO Compliance
- Review new product labels for compliance with GSO (Gulf Standardization Organization) requirements prior to clearance submission through PAFN.
- Ensure all labeling meets applicable food safety and regulatory standards to prevent product rejection during customs and regulatory clearance.
- Maintain and update the GSO compliance file on an annual basis, tracking regulatory changes and communicating updates to relevant teams.
- Liaise with suppliers and procurement teams on label corrections or reformatting required to meet regulatory standards.
Quality Control & Non-Conformance Management
- Conduct and oversee daily inbound quality checks for all received goods, ensuring products meet specified quality and food safety standards.
- Raise, track, and close Non-Conformity Reports (NCRs) for any quality deviations identified during inbound inspection, storage, or distribution.
- Manage and report on market returns and stock destruction activities, ensuring proper documentation and disposal procedures are followed.
- Apply the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle to recurring quality issues, tracking improvement outcomes and standardizing successful practices.
Meat Facility Quality Assurance
- Apply meat-specific quality assurance protocols including inspection of fresh, chilled, and frozen meat products upon receipt to verify temperature, shelf life, packaging integrity, and compliance with halal certification requirements.
- Monitor cold chain compliance throughout the storage and handling of meat products, ensuring temperature logs are maintained and any deviations are escalated immediately.
- Ensure all meat products comply with applicable HACCP plans, halal standards, and relevant GCC food safety regulations for meat processing and distribution.
- Conduct regular checks on meat facility hygiene standards, equipment sanitation, and personnel handling practices in line with food safety requirements.
- Support any meat product registration, regulatory submissions, or certification renewals with PAFN and relevant food safety authorities.
Team Follow-Up, Training & Development
- Conduct daily follow-up activities with the quality team, tracking all relevant reports and ensuring routine tasks across inbound checks, NCR management, returns, and stock destruction are completed accurately and on schedule.
- Set clear improvement objectives for the quality team focused on food safety compliance and reducing recurring defects.
- Deliver continuous staff training to strengthen technical skills and food safety awareness, in line with the approved annual training plan.
- Upgrade team knowledge on food hazards, HACCP principles, and food safety best practices including meat-specific handling and hygiene standards.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
- Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Quality Management, or a related field.
- Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in quality assurance or food safety within a food manufacturing, warehouse, or distribution environment.
- Experience working in a meat processing, meat packing, or meat distribution facility is required, with knowledge of halal standards, cold chain management, and meat-specific food safety protocols.
- Hands-on experience with ISO 22000:2018 implementation, documentation, and audit preparation.
- Knowledge of GSO standards and PAFN regulatory requirements for food product labeling and clearance.
- Familiarity with HACCP principles and their application in food manufacturing and meat handling environments.
- Experience in NCR management, root cause analysis, and the application of the PDCA improvement cycle.
- Strong documentation, reporting, and organizational skills.
