Quality and Compliance Manager

GMP Dairy Limited is a New Zealand-owned dairy and nutritional manufacturer. We make dairy powders, nutritional products and infant formula for brand owners in New Zealand and export markets. Our customers trust us with their products, and their regulators and auditors hold us to the highest standard. Our newer plant has increased our capability and our complexity, and we are investing in quality and compliance leadership to match.

About the Role

You will own quality assurance and compliance across the site and report directly to the General Manager. You will lead the QA/QC and compliance team, set the quality and compliance strategy, and be the primary contact with MPI, offshore regulators and OEM customers on quality and compliance matters. Your focus is protecting our licence to operate, keeping every audit and export market secure, and building a team that does not depend on any one person.

Key Responsibilities

Lead and continuously improve our quality management system and food safety programmes, covering FSSC 22000, the Risk Management Programme (RMP), HACCP and PRPs.

Be the senior compliance contact for MPI, including the Operator Verification programme and OMAR export requirements, and for offshore regulators and certifiers such as GACC.

Own the internal audit programme and lead regulator, certification and customer audits, including Halal and Organic where applicable, and make sure findings, CAPAs and NCs are closed out effectively.

Oversee product release and quality decision-making, compliance sign-off on labels, specifications and claims, export certification and documentation, and recall and mock recall readiness.

Own the validation programme, including cleaning validation, the cleaning matrix and shelf-life studies, so that evidence is audit-ready for new lines, products and customer launches.

Provide quality and compliance leadership on new plant, new product and OEM customer projects.

Lead, coach and plan succession for the QA/QC team, and manage the quality budget, KPIs and monthly management reporting.

Report on risk and compliance performance to senior leadership and recommend where to invest.

The successful candidate will have:

Essential

A tertiary qualification in Food Science, Food Technology, Microbiology, Biotechnology or a related field.

At least 5 years’ experience in quality assurance or compliance roles within dairy, infant formula or regulated food manufacturing, including team leadership.

Demonstrated experience with MPI requirements, including RMPs, verification and export compliance.

Strong knowledge of FSSC 22000, HACCP, GMP and PRPs.

Proven experience leading regulatory, certification and customer audits, root cause analysis, CAPA and continuous improvement.

Strong leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work effectively with regulators, customers and senior management.

* Legal entitlement to work in New Zealand.

Highly Regarded

Experience with infant formula or other high-risk food products.

Knowledge of FSANZ labelling and claims requirements, and China regulatory requirements (GB/GBT).

Experience in process and cleaning validation.

Experience in OEM or contract manufacturing environments.

Mandarin language proficiency.

Relevant professional membership or recognised qualifications, such as Lead Auditor or risk management certification.

How to Apply:

Click Apply and submit your CV and a cover letter. Tell us about an audit or regulatory challenge you have led and what you changed as a result. We will contact shortlisted candidates only. You must have the right to work in New Zealand. GMP Dairy is an equal opportunity employer.

What We Offer

•        Competitive remuneration reflecting the seniority of the role.

•        Direct access to senior leadership and real influence on strategy, investment and site direction.

•        A growing manufacturing facility with export-grade quality expectations.

•        The chance to contribute to continuous improvement and business growth.