Quality Assurance Officer

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.

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.

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.