Quality Assurance Leader

About the company

Unilever products are used by billions of people worldwide every day. The company’s portfolio includes familiar brands such as Dove, Rexona, Lynx, Vaseline, OMO/Persil, Surf, TRESemmé, and Continental. Unilever has a long-standing history of operating as a responsible and forward-looking business, and in 2022 Unilever Australia & New Zealand became a Certified B Corporation™, reflecting its commitment to a more inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy.

Joining Unilever means building a career in a flexible, development-focused environment that values diversity and supports professional growth.

Role purpose

The Quality Assurance Leader will own the site Quality Management System and help continuously raise standards across quality, food safety, and compliance. The role is central to building a strong quality culture, safeguarding consumers, improving systems, and addressing customer and consumer issues through structured quality improvements.

Key responsibilities

• Guide QA activities and provide functional direction to site teams.
• Lead, coach, and develop the site quality assurance team.
• Oversee the Quality Management System and drive ongoing enhancements.
• Track and improve site quality KPIs while supporting broader site performance goals.
• Ensure the site meets FSSC 22000 and other applicable regulatory requirements.
• Ensure HACCP reviews are completed within the required timelines.
• Own complaint investigations, timely responses, and the corrective improvements that follow.
• Monitor compliance with GMP and cleaning standards.
• Organise and conduct internal and external audits and manage audit follow-up actions.
• Prepare audit records and ensure findings are addressed promptly.
• Support production teams with technical quality input.
• Work closely with R&D and engineering on new product development and project-related quality issues.
• Roll out global and regional quality initiatives at site level and monitor related KPIs and KAIs.
• Liaise with regulators and other external stakeholders when needed.
• Manage the quality budget.
• Promote Unilever’s quality strategy through site projects and measurable targets.
• Strengthen quality and consumer safety capability through training, coaching, and visible leadership.
• Develop the quality team’s skills and knowledge to support site programs effectively.
• Represent Site Quality in meetings, forums, and cross-functional networks.
• Act as the site quality lead in virtual network meetings and forums.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in Science, Food Technology, Microbiology, Chemistry, or a closely related area.
• Proven QA experience in FMCG, food manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, or another regulated setting.
• Strong working knowledge of HACCP, quality systems, GMP, and audit processes.
• Previous experience leading teams and influencing stakeholders across multiple functions.
• Excellent communication, coaching, and stakeholder management abilities.
• Exposure to FSSC 22000, ISO standards, or similar food safety frameworks.
• SAP experience is advantageous.

Perks and culture

You’ll join a dynamic workplace built around the values of being Human, Purposeful, and Accountable. The environment is flexible and supportive, with a strong focus on wellbeing, recognition, and career development. Benefits include access to product discounts, an employee referral reward program, and opportunities to grow locally and internationally.

Inclusion and reasonable adjustments

Unilever encourages applications from people of all backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Māori and Pacific Peoples, and people with disabilities. Candidates who need reasonable adjustments during recruitment are encouraged to share that need at the time of application so support can be arranged.