Quality Assurance and Quality Control Manager

About V M Bakery Products Private Limited

V M Bakery Products Private Limited is a well-established manufacturer of packaged bakery goods based in Vijayawada. Operating the Just Breads™ and Healthies™ brands, the company maintains a 35,000 sq. ft. production facility with a daily capacity of 15 metric tons. The product range includes breads, buns, rusks, and cakes, all adhering to FSSAI standards for institutional and retail sectors.

Position Overview

The company is seeking an experienced Manager to lead the Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) department as Head of Department (HOD). This full-time, permanent role is located in Vijayawada and reports directly to the Managing Director and Executive Director. The Manager will supervise a team of 7-8 professionals, including QC chemists, analysts, line QA inspectors, and microbiologists.

Key Responsibilities

• Take full ownership of the FSSC 22000 food safety system, including implementation, documentation, maintenance, internal audits, and certification readiness.
• Develop, review, and maintain HACCP plans, prerequisite programs (PRPs), and Critical Control Point (CCP) monitoring procedures throughout the plant.
• Lead internal audits and coordinate certification, regulatory, and customer audits, ensuring timely closure of any non-conformances.
• Maintain continuous audit preparedness and cultivate a culture of food safety across production operations.
• Set and enforce raw material quality specifications and acceptance criteria, managing vendor quality and supplier corrective actions.
• Oversee in-process quality control including CCP monitoring, product weights, baking parameters, and general process controls.
• Promote GMP, hygiene, and sanitation standards on the production floor through effective management of the line QA team.
• Investigate process deviations and enforce corrective and preventive measures.
• Manage finished goods quality, including shelf-life validation, microbiological testing, and release procedures.
• Supervise the QC laboratory ensuring proper calibration, testing methods, instrument maintenance, and retention sample management.
• Hold authority, in coordination with Directors, to stop the production line or hold and release products based on quality issues.
• Ensure compliance with FSSAI licensing, labeling, statutory testing, and record-keeping requirements, acting as the regulatory liaison.
• Handle complaints management involving root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Provide quality approval for new product development, reformulations, and packaging modifications.
• Lead and develop the QA/QC team by assigning key result areas, conducting performance reviews, and building technical expertise.

Candidate Profile

• Minimum 5 to 8 years of experience in food manufacturing QA/QC, including leadership of a QA/QC department or equivalent HOD role.
• Direct, hands-on experience owning FSSC 22000 systems, with involvement in implementation, maintenance, and certification audits ideally as Food Safety Team Leader or Management Representative.
• Mandatory bakery industry experience, with deep knowledge of bakery products such as bread, buns, rusks, and cakes, plus familiarity with bakery-specific quality parameters.
• Strong command of HACCP, GMP, Good Hygiene Practices (GHP), and food safety management systems.
• Comprehensive knowledge of FSSAI regulations pertaining to labeling, licensing, testing, and statutory documentation.
• Solid laboratory skills covering physico-chemical and microbiological testing, calibration, and quality control methods.
• Degree in Food Technology, Food Science, Microbiology, or a related discipline. Equivalent extensive experience will also be considered.
• Preferred certifications include FSSC 22000 or ISO 22000 Lead/Internal Auditor qualifications.
• Experience with institutional or B2B customer quality audits is advantageous.
• Capability to manage quality across both short shelf-life and long shelf-life bakery products.
• Attributes required include personal integrity with the confidence to enforce product holds or releases under production pressure, excellent team leadership skills, systematized documentation practices, and audit preparedness.
• Fluent in Telugu and proficient in English; candidate should be located in or willing to relocate to Vijayawada.

Compensation and Benefits

The position offers a competitive annual CTC up to 800000 INR, commensurate with experience. This is a senior role offering high ownership and direct reporting to the company's Board, with genuine authority over product quality decisions. The company is stable and quality-focused, with strong market recognition in the packaged bakery sector.