Food Safety Assistant

About the role

The Food Safety Assistant will support the Food Safety Team in maintaining and continuously improving the Food Safety Management System across our manufacturing sites. This full‑time position is based in Pietermaritzburg and involves close collaboration with production, quality and regulatory teams.

Key responsibilities

• Assist in implementing, managing and enhancing the Food Safety Management System.
• Handle customer complaints, conduct investigations, write reports and perform traceability activities.
• Conduct root‑cause analysis and drive corrective and preventive actions for internal and external issues.
• Coordinate and provide Food Safety and Quality support to the factory, including closure of NCRs, audit findings and complaints.
• Maintain and update policies, procedures and food‑safety standards; train staff on new or revised processes.
• Perform regular factory walk‑abouts to identify and address non‑conformances.
• Ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory food‑safety requirements.
• Support allergen management, validation and supplier quality assurance activities.
• Facilitate induction training for staff, visitors and contractors.
• Verify OPRP and CCP controls on a weekly basis and ensure cleaning check‑sheets are up‑to‑date.

Required profile

• Experience working in a food‑safety or quality environment within a manufacturing setting.
• Ability to investigate complaints, perform root‑cause analysis and implement CAPA.
• Familiarity with statutory food‑safety regulations and industry standards.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to conduct regular compliance checks.

Required skills

• Root Cause Analysis
• Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA)
• Food Safety Management System (FSMS) implementation
• Allergen management
• Supplier Quality Assurance audits
• OPRP and CCP verification