QA Processing Manager, Beilen, Drenthe

The Company
Our client is one of the world’s largest dairy cooperatives, headquartered in the Netherlands. It is owned by over 15,000 member dairy farmers and operates globally, supplying a wide range of dairy-based products.

The Role
As QA Processing Manager you will be responsible for developing and implementing the local Quality Assurance (QA) and Food Safety (FS) policy for the Processing area of the plant. This includes ensuring compliance with regulatory and company standards, leading a team, supporting continuous improvement, managing release processes, change controls, complaints, and crises.

Responsibilities

• Develops and implements the local QA & Food Safety (FS) policy for the Processing area, ensuring compliance with FSSC 22000, GMP, HACCP, and company regulations, while proactively advising management on quality and safety risks, KPI targets, and audit readiness.
• Leads and manages a team of 11 QA Specialists/Officers, overseeing performance, development, and HR processes in line with the clients policies, and building a strong, professional QA culture.
• Provides operational QA support to ensure product quality and process compliance through internal audits, hygiene and housekeeping standards, non-conformity and issue management, root cause analyses, and alignment with regulatory changes.
• Drives and implements continuous improvement initiatives across the Processing department using PDCA methodology, leading or supporting CAPA management, quality platforms, strategic projects, and robustness improvements in process control.
• Oversees the validation and verification framework within Processing, developing and executing validation policies based on the 4M model (Method, Machine, Material, Man) to ensure quality consistency and risk mitigation.
• Manages the product release process, including performance monitoring through KPIs, continuous improvement reviews, and responsibility for ensuring accurate and maintained masterdata related to product control and release.
• Plays an active role in site-wide QA strategy, contributing to the local QA management team, leading quality-related decisions on change control and crisis issues, and supporting both internal and external audits and clearances.

•  Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, preferably in Food Technology; ideally with a background in Microbiology or significant experience in microbiology and hygiene.
• Proven team management experience is required, including leading, coaching, and developing staff within a quality or processing environment.
• Strong knowledge of Quality Management Systems (FSSC 22000, GMP, HACCP), continuous improvement methodologies (e.g., PDCA, CAPA), and familiarity with SAP-related business processes; experience in Food, Feed, Infant Formula (IFT), and Pharma sectors is expected.
• Ability to lead and contribute to strategic QA initiatives, audits, validation, and change control through structured project and program management.
• Fluent in Dutch and English (mandatory); available for a potential deta-vast (temp-to-perm) setup; willingness to work hybrid (1 day/week remote). 

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