We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: Head of Quality Assurance & Control
Location: Lagos
Employment Type: Full-time
Role Purpose
- The Head of Quality Assurance & Control is responsible for developing, implementing, and continuously improving Ayoola Foods' Quality Management System to ensure every product consistently meets the highest standards of food safety, regulatory compliance, and customer satisfaction.
- This role provides strategic leadership across quality assurance, quality control, laboratory operations, supplier quality, factory hygiene, and continuous improvement.
- Working closely with Production, Warehouse, Administration, Sales & Marketing, and Executive Management, the successful candidate will build a strong quality culture that protects the Ayoola Foods brand while supporting operational excellence and sustainable business growth.
Key Responsibilities
Quality Management:
- Develop, implement, and continuously improve the company's Quality Management System (QMS).
- Establish and maintain quality standards across all manufacturing processes.
- Ensure consistent product quality throughout the production lifecycle.
- Develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and quality policies.
- Monitor quality performance and drive corrective and preventive actions
Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance:
- Ensure compliance with NAFDAC regulations and all applicable food safety standards.
- Maintain and improve HACCP, GMP, sanitation, and hygiene programmes.
- Lead internal quality audits and coordinate external regulatory inspections.
- Ensure all products consistently meet internal specifications and regulatory requirements.
- Keep abreast of changes in food safety legislation and implement necessary improvements.
Supplier & Raw Material Quality:
- Develop and maintain raw material quality specifications.
- Approve or reject incoming raw materials based on established quality standards.
- Investigate supplier-related quality issues and work with Management to implement corrective actions.
- Monitor supplier quality performance and recommend improvements where necessary.
- Collaborate with relevant teams to ensure only approved materials are used in production.
Laboratory & Production Quality:
- Oversee laboratory testing of raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods.
- Ensure laboratory equipment is properly maintained and calibrated.
- Analyse laboratory results and recommend appropriate corrective actions.
- Work closely with Production to resolve quality issues without compromising food safety standards.
- onitor critical control points throughout manufacturing.
Customer Quality & Continuous Improvement:
- Investigate customer complaints relating to product quality.
- Conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective and preventive actions.
- Monitor quality trends to identify recurring issues and opportunities for improvement.
- Recommend improvements to products, manufacturing processes, and quality systems.
- Lead initiatives that reduce waste, improve efficiency, and strengthen overall product consistency.
Leadership & Training:
- Lead, mentor, and develop the Quality team.
- Promote a culture of quality, food safety, accountability, and continuous improvement across the organisation. • Deliver quality and food safety training to employees.
- Support cross-functional collaboration to ensure quality objectives are achieved throughout the business.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Product quality compliance rate.
- Number and severity of customer quality complaints.
- Successful completion of internal and external regulatory audits.
- Reduction in product defects, waste, and rework.
- Compliance with food safety and quality standards.
- Laboratory testing accuracy and turnaround times.
- Corrective and preventive action (CAPA) closure rates.
- Supplier quality performance.
- Staff quality training completion and competency levels.
- Continuous improvement initiatives successfully implemented.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Industrial Chemistry, or a related discipline.
- Professional certifications in HACCP, GMP, ISO 22000, or Food Safety Management Systems are highly desirable.
Experience:
- Essential: Minimum of 10 years' experience in quality assurance and quality control within a food manufacturing environment.
- At least 5 years in a leadership or supervisory quality role.
- Strong knowledge of HACCP, GMP, food safety systems, and regulatory compliance.
- Experience leading laboratory operations and implementing quality management systems.
- Demonstrated experience managing regulatory inspections and audits.
Preferred:
- Experience within a reputable FMCG food manufacturing company.
- Experience implementing continuous improvement initiatives.
- Familiarity with ISO 22000 or other internationally recognised food safety standards.
- Experience working with supplier quality management and raw material quality assurance.
Behavioural Competencies:
- Strong leadership and people development skills.
- Exceptional attention to detail.
- High level of integrity and professional accountability.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Strong communication and influencing abilities.
- Ability to challenge decisions where quality or food safety may be compromised.
- Collaborative approach with the confidence to work across multiple departments.
- Continuous improvement mindset with a commitment to operational excellence.
What Will Make Someone Successful in This Role:
- The successful candidate will be a proactive quality leader who builds systems that prevent problems rather than simply identifying them.
- They will possess strong technical expertise, excellent leadership skills, and the ability to work collaboratively across departments to maintain the highest standards of food safety and product quality.
- They will be passionate about continuous improvement, committed to protecting the Ayoola Foods brand, and capable of embedding a culture where quality is everyone's responsibility