Plant Quality and Food Safety Manager at Olam

Olam PFB manufactures and markets a range of branded packaged food products to consumers across multiple African markets. Over the last decade, the PFB business has established regional brand and market leadership positions in multiple consumer categories across targeted markets in West Africa. Packaged Foods Business portfolio currently counts eight key brands that are marketed to more than ten South and West African markets. Our R&D teams, working closely with marketing, have helped us surprise and delight our consumers through differentiated and innovative products. The consumer categories we are present in West Africa include Tomato Paste, Instant Noodles, Instant Beverages, Biscuits, Confectioneries, Edible Oil, Pasta, and Dairy.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Plant Quality and Food Safety Manager

Location: Lagos
Employment Type: Full-time

Job Description

• We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Quality & Food Safety Manager to drive our commitment to consistent product quality, food safety, and operational excellence.
• This role is critical in leading the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of quality systems across the manufacturing value chain.
• The ideal candidate will be quality-driven, process-oriented, and able to collaborate across departments to foster a culture of zero defects and compliance with food safety standards.

Key Responsibilities
Business Process Improvement:

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve quality systems aligned with GFSI/FSSC 22000 standards.
• Ensure compliance with food safety requirements, including PRPs, GMP, and audit readiness.
• Lead root cause analysis (RCA) and corrective/preventive actions (CCA) for all quality deviations.
• Maintain and improve all key food safety programs (traceability, pest control, mock recall, etc.).
• Manage in-house lab testing for raw materials, in-process, and finished goods.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with R&D, Manufacturing, and Sourcing on process improvement.
• Coordinate with external labs and calibration agencies for testing and compliance.

Risk Management:

• Monitor and report quality and food safety risks with appropriate escalation.
• Liaise with government and regulatory bodies for compliance and inspections.
• Track and present quality KPIs and compliance metrics on a regular basis.
• Ensure documentation and information flow for audits, reviews, and performance tracking.

Customer and Consumer Issue Management:

• Address consumer complaints with structured RCA and timely resolutions.
• Implement short-term and long-term solutions for recurring product quality issues.
• Identify and mitigate potential product issues proactively across the production line.

New Projects and Cost Efficiency:

• Support commissioning and start-up of new equipment and projects.
• Validate quality during trials, including travel and scale-up tests.
• Contribute to cost-efficient quality improvements without compromising standards.

Talent Management and Training:

• Train and develop QA and production staff on best practices, hygiene, and compliance.
• Conduct regular plant-wide training on food safety, GMP, and quality protocols.
• Identify learning needs and coach team members for continuous capability development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Industrial Chemistry, or related field.
• An advanced degree or certifications in Quality Management or Food Safety is a plus.
• 8–12 years of experience in Quality Assurance within the FMCG/food manufacturing sector.

Key Skills & Competencies:

• Strong understanding of Quality & Food Safety Standards
• Proven experience developing quality manuals, procedures, and KPIs.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management.
• Proficient in Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Corrective & Preventive Actions (CAPA).
• Strong analytical and data interpretation skills.
• Proficiency in MS Excel, PowerPoint, and quality documentation.
• Regulatory knowledge (NAFDAC, SON, etc.) is an added advantage.
• Assertiveness and attention to detail in enforcing compliance.

Application Closing Date
20th August, 2025.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV to: vacancy@olamnet.com using the job title as the subject of the mail.