Quality Assurance Manager

About the role

Thirsti is seeking a Quality Assurance Manager to lead the Quality Assurance and Food Safety functions for its bottled water and packaged ice operations. The role ensures that all products consistently meet customer expectations, company standards, and regulatory requirements while fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Key responsibilities

• Develop, implement, maintain, and improve the Quality Management System (QMS) and ensure compliance with FSSC 22000, HACCP, SANBWA, IBL, and customer specifications.
• Lead the Food Safety team, maintain the HACCP plan, and manage food fraud, defence, and traceability programmes.
• Oversee microbiological, chemical, and physical testing programmes, ensure laboratory equipment calibration, and review test results and certificates of analysis.
• Verify that production processes meet approved specifications, monitor sanitation, water quality, and packaging integrity, and drive corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Plan and conduct internal audits, lead customer, certification, and regulatory audits, and ensure timely closure of findings.
• Maintain quality documentation, procedures, specifications, and monitor quality objectives and KPIs.
• Coordinate mock recalls and manage environmental monitoring and hygiene verification programmes.

Required profile

• Degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Microbiology or a related field.
• Proven experience in quality assurance and food safety within beverage or water bottling production.
• Strong knowledge of FSSC 22000, HACCP, SANBWA, and IBL standards.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross‑functional teams and manage audit processes.
• Experience with laboratory testing programmes and CAPA implementation.

Required skills

• FSSC 22000
• HACCP
• SANBWA
• IBL
• Quality Management System (QMS)
• Food Safety Management System (FSMS)
• Laboratory testing (microbiological, chemical, physical)
• Audit management

What we offer

• Dynamic, team‑focused work environment.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development.
• Competitive compensation package.