Lead Quality Expert - External Manufacturing QA

Own the quality agenda for assigned External Manufacturers. Drive strategy execution, rigorous risk assessments, and audit-ready compliance. Lead improvements that reduce defects, accelerate releases, and protect food safety. Collaborate with R&D, Supply Chain, and partners to deliver high-quality products on time, every time, across a scalable EM network worldwide footprint.

Your key responsibilities

• Quality Leadership & Compliance: Maintain strong partnerships with EMs, ensuring adherence to DSM-Fir standards, customer specifications, and regulatory requirements, including HALAL and Kosher.
• Issue Resolution & RCA: Lead root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions for quality issues impacting EMs.
• Project Management: Manage onboarding of new EMs, new production lines, and new products; consult on QA criteria (SQM, PCQI) and stage gates in project management.
• Operational Quality Activities: Oversee complaint follow-up, product release, audits of EMs and warehouses, and establish Quality Agreements.
• Risk Assessment & Approval: Execute Q&FS risk assessments within MOC-T processes, integrating internal QA systems to approve new EMs.
• Performance Monitoring & Communication: Conduct periodic EM performance reviews and collaborate effectively with internal teams, customers, and external auditing bodies.

We offer

• A space to grow by encouraging and supporting curiosity and an open mindset.
• A culture that prioritizes safety and well-being, both physically and mentally.
• The opportunity to work for a company where sustainability is core to our strategy and purpose.
• A flexible work environment that empowers people to take accountability for their work and own the outcome.

You bring

• Master’s degree in food technology or a closely related field.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in the food industry with Quality Management Systems.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to set priorities and define agendas aligned with business needs.
• Strong collaborative mindset and ability to engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
• Proven experience working in cross-functional teams; proactive team player who can also work independently.
• Fluent in English; additional languages are considered an advantage.