About the position
QUALITY ASSURANCE MANAGER to be based in White River, Mpumalanga
Our client is one of the world’s leading players in wood-based solutions.
They are seeking a dynamic and detail-oriented Quality Assurance Manager to lead and strengthen their quality management systems.
This role is pivotal in ensuring that all manufactured products consistently meet design specifications, regulatory standards, and customer expectations.
The successful candidate will drive continuous improvement across quality, cost efficiency, and process optimisation, fostering a culture of excellence and accountability throughout the organisation.
THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ROLE ARE:
NON-NEGOTIABLE REQUIREMENTS:
- A BSc in Chemical or Industrial Engineering (or equivalent) with strong chemical, process, multi-disciplinary technical, or mechanical engineering capability.
- At least 5 years’ senior-level Quality Control/Quality Assurance experience within a complex manufacturing environment involving chemicals and/or raw natural products.
- Advanced expertise in quality management systems and audit leadership, INCLUDING internal and supplier audits.
- Proven leadership capability, WITH experience managing and developing teams in a manufacturing environment, supported by strong analytical and communication skills.
- A valid driver's licence, own reliable vehicle, AND the willingness and ability to travel nationally and internationally as per business requirements, WITH a valid certificate of health and the ability to safely operate in industrial environments involving exposure to noise, dust, heat, heights, confined spaces, and related operational risks.
WILL ALSO COUNT IN YOUR FAVOUR IF YOU HAVE:
- Experience within similar sectors, particularly FMCG environments with HACCP exposure.
- Familiarity with data analysis tools and performance metrics (KPIs)
- Section 16.2 appointment experience.
- HIRA certification.
- Hazchem certification.
- ISO Lead Auditor certification.
DUTIES WILL INCLUDE:
1. PRODUCTION GUIDELINES
- Assurance of excellent quality of the final product and the ability of the product to meet its design specifications, and if the product does not meet full conformance, to solve the issues and set out specifications for the products.
- Ensure analysis of daily production and comparison of actual quality versus specifications.
- Report and assist in the rectification of non-conformances.
- Maintain quality assurance and ISO 9001 quality system for all products.
- Daily meeting with management to discuss production of the previous 24 hours and month-to-date performance.
- Ensure issues are actioned appropriately and timeously.
- Oversee all testing and documentation required to maintain product certification, such as E1.
2. ISO QUALITY SYSTEM
- Oversee the management of the ISO quality system as a component of the Integrated Management System (IMS), ensuring seamless alignment between ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001.
- Act in the capacity of ISO Management representative during relevant audits.
- Chair management review meetings for the Integrated Management System (IMS) in collaboration with the OSE Manager.
- Ensure compliance with system requirements and certification audits.
- Management of non-conformances and implementation of corrective/ preventive actions.
3. LABORATORY MANAGEMENT
- Ensure that the management of testing and inspection equipment used at the plant and calibrations is conducted to standard.
- Oversee the development/ improvement of procedures and processes to be followed to provide inspection and testing services of the product and raw materials.
4. WATER QUALITY ASSURANCE AND CONTROL
- Assure the quality of the water in the Borehole, Wetland outflow (upstream and downstream), and Boiler water quality (In feed and Boiler).
- Determine, improve, and maintain testing procedures to ensure compliance with quality standards/parameters of water quality.
- Investigate non-conformances and implement corrective/ preventive actions.
5. INNOVATIONS
- Promote concepts of continuous improvement and innovative thinking.
- Run/optimize trials on settings / new products or alternative raw materials.
- Manage chemical processes.
- Provide technical support to production with respect to trials on new products.
- Support Marketing (R&D) to benchmark product performance.
6. CUSTOMER LIAISON
- Liaise with the Sales team with regards to customer complaints and investigate customer product and service complaints.
- Assist customers with production application or product problems, ensuring optimisation of customer service.
- Investigate external complaints with regards to ISO standards.
- Ensure all non-conformances are investigated, and corrective action is taken
7. SAFETY & HOUSEKEEPING
- Ensure that the Quality department complies with OSHACT regulations.
- Ensure safety schedules and inspections are conducted within timelines.
- Ensure that Engineering functions for the Quality department are carried out timeously.
8. MANAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT OF STAFF
- Ensure employee development, succession planning, recognition, and that performance assessments are maintained.
- Conduct fair, timeous, and impartial handling of disciplinary action and grievances in the department.
- Act as Chairperson of Disciplinary enquiries in other departments when required.
- Ensure coaching of immediate subordinates.
- Give feedback on meetings to the Quality department.
- Ensure transparency is maintained.
- Provide full management function for the department.
- Ensure that costs are controlled within budget.
- Ensure office and departmental administration is maintained, and ensure optimisation of resources.
9. WEIGHBRIDGE
- Ensure that strict controls on all incoming timber, in accordance with plant and ISO standards, are always maintained.
- Analyse incoming moisture content process integrity, ensuring that moisture content impacts are (a) accurate, (b) kept within guideline parameters.
- Monitor the weighbridge performance through regular visits and audits.
- Liaise with the Timber Procurement Department and Woodyard Manager in the event of any problems arising.
- Liaise with the Timber Administration Officer to ensure that entries for the weighbridge are captured manually when the weighbridge is out of order.
- Ensure that internal audit requirements are met in terms of weight verification and record keeping.
10. WAREHOUSE
- Manage quarantine and blocking of non-conforming products, collaborating with production managers to monitor the blocked material list at the plant and expedite release decisions.
- Support the warehouse manager in validating outbound transport to mitigate potential service claims.
Desired Skills:
- Quality
- Engineering
- Manufacturing
- Chemical
- Mechanical
- Technical
Employer & Job Benefits:
- Medical Aid
- Provident Fund
- Performance Bonus
