Quality Assurance Officer

About the Company

Open Country Dairy Group is New Zealand's largest independent dairy producer, delivering premium dairy ingredients and consumer products globally. The company operates manufacturing, logistics, and farming systems nationwide, emphasizing excellence, innovation, sustainability, and employee development. It offers a safe, collaborative environment with meaningful growth opportunities.

Role Overview

We are searching for a meticulous Quality Assurance Officer dedicated to thorough and timely execution of quality processes. This Monday to Friday role involves supporting and enhancing quality assurance, product release, and compliance functions at our Waharoa site. You will join a team that values precision, continuous enhancement, and proper completion of tasks.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain and support compliance with quality management systems.
• Manage Good Manufacturing Practice audits, verifications, and quality procedures on-site.
• Assist with product grading, releasing sales orders, handling customer samples, and coordinating external lab testing.
• Drive timely resolution of investigations, non-conformance records, customer complaints, and audit findings.
• Collaborate with plant teams to ensure effective in-process calibration and product quality.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with internal teams, laboratory contacts, recognized officials, and regulatory bodies such as MPI.
• Participate actively in continuous improvement projects at the site.

Candidate Profile

• Experience in Quality Assurance, preferably in dairy, food processing, or regulated industries.
• Strong knowledge of food safety standards, quality systems, and compliance protocols.
• High attention to detail, adept at handling data, documentation, and quality systems.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and ideally experienced with ERP systems.
• Effective communicator capable of establishing collaborative working relationships.
• Proactive problem-solver who identifies issues, follows procedures, and recommends improvements.
• Familiarity with sampling, testing, and interpreting laboratory results is advantageous.

Additional Information

This hands-on role reports to the Waikato Quality and Compliance Manager. Applicants must hold New Zealand working rights. Applications will be considered upon receipt and the position may close early once filled.