Quality Control Officer at Cross Beverage Company Limited

Cross Beverage Company Limited is a Nigerian startup producing a portfolio of affordable, daily consumed drink products.Our products positions us to meet both everyday hydration needs and the demand for flavored, wholesome beverage in the Nigerian market.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Quality Control Officer  

Location: Ibadan, Oyo
Employment Type: Full-time
Reports To:Operations Manager / Managing Director
Department: Quality & Compliance (FMCG)

Job Summary

• As our Quality Control Officer, you will be the last line of defence between our production floor and our customers.
• In a startup FMCG environment, that means you are not just ticking boxes on a checklist; you are building the quality systems, setting the standards, and making real-time calls that protect the brand.
• You will work directly on the production floor, in the lab, and alongside the Operations Manager to ensure that every batch we release is safe, compliant, and consistent.
• This role demands sharp technical instincts, an uncompromising eye for detail, and the confidence to stop a production run when something is not right — even under pressure.

Key Responsibilities
In-Process & Finished Product Quality Checks:

• Conduct systematic in-process quality checks at every critical control point (CCP) along the production line.
• Inspect raw materials, packaging materials, and ingredients upon receipt — reject non-conforming supplies and document findings.
• Perform physical, chemical, and sensory evaluations on finished products before release — including pH, Brix, colour, taste, carbonation, fill level, and seal integrity.
• Collect and test production samples at defined intervals and maintain a rigorous sampling log.
• Place non-conforming products on hold, investigate root cause, and determine disposition (rework, retest, or reject) in consultation with the Operations Manager.

Laboratory Operations & Testing:

• Operate and maintain all lab equipment — including pH meters, refractometers, viscometers, and microbiological testing tools — ensuring calibration records are up to date.
• Perform basic microbiological tests (total plate count, yeast & mould, coliform) and escalate results that fall outside specification.
• Maintain a clean, organised, and fully stocked lab that is audit-ready at all times.
• Prepare and manage reagents, standards, and consumables, raising procurement requests before stock runs out.

Regulatory Compliance & Documentation:

• Ensure all products and processes comply with NAFDAC regulations, SON standards, and applicable food safety guidelines (e.g., HACCP principles).
• Maintain accurate and complete quality records — batch records, COAs, deviation reports, corrective action logs, and calibration certificates.
• Support NAFDAC inspections, internal audits, and third-party assessments by preparing documentation and escorting auditors on the floor.
• Flag any compliance risk immediately to the Operations Manager and MD — no issues are swept under the rug here.

Supplier & Raw Material Quality:

• Assess incoming raw materials against approved specifications and Certificates of Analysis (COAs) from suppliers.
• Maintain a supplier quality log, tracking performance trends and flagging repeat non-conformances for procurement review.
• Participate in supplier evaluations and help set minimum quality standards for all inputs.

Systems, SOPs & Continuous Improvement:

• Develop, document, and continuously improve quality control procedures, checklists, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Conduct root cause analysis (RCA) for any quality failures or customer complaints and implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Track and report quality KPIs — batch pass rates, rejection rates, rework volumes, and complaint frequency — on a weekly and monthly basis.
• Champion a quality-first mindset across the production team through daily coaching, briefings, and by example.

Requirements and Qualifications
Qualifications:

• OND / HND / B.Sc. in Food Science & Technology, Microbiology, Industrial Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a related field.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel for data entry, trend tracking, and reporting.
• Ability to work on the production floor — standing, moving, and operating in a manufacturing environment.
• Willingness to work shifts, weekends, and extended hours during high-demand production periods.

Experience & Background:

• 2–4 years of hands-on quality control experience in a food, beverage, or FMCG production environment.
• Practical laboratory experience — you are comfortable running tests independently, not just reading results someone else produced.
• Familiarity with NAFDAC regulations, HACCP principles, and food safety management systems.
• Experience writing and enforcing SOPs in a production environment is a strong advantage.
• Prior experience in a startup or small-team setting — where you built things rather than inherited them — is highly valued.

Skills & Competencies:

• You run tests correctly, record results accurately, and never estimate where measurement is required.: Technical Precision
• You notice what others miss — on the line, in the lab, and in documentation.: Attention to Detail
• When a batch fails spec mid-run, you act quickly and communicate clearly, without panic.: Decisiveness Under Pressure
• Your records are complete, legible, and traceable. Always.: Documentation Discipline
• You can explain a quality issue to a factory hand and write a deviation report for a regulatory auditor — both clearly.: Communication
• In a startup, there is no passing the buck. You own the quality of your watch.: Ownership Mentality.

Salary
N90,000 - N120,000 monthly. 

Why Join Cross Beverage?

• Quality at Cross Beverage is not an afterthought — it is one of the reasons we exist.
• As our QC Officer, you will not spend your days rubber-stamping someone else's system. You will build the system.
• You will set the bar.
• And when our products reach consumers who trust us, that is partly your work on the shelf.
• We offer a fast-learning environment, direct access to leadership, and the chance to grow into a senior quality role as the company scales.

Application Closing Date
18th May, 2026.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV and a brief cover note to: humanresources@crossbeverage.com using "Quality Control Officer Application – [Your Name]" as the subject of the email.

Note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.