Quality Assurance Manager

Position Purpose:

To provide strategic leadership for Quality Assurance, Food Safety, Regulatory Compliance, and Continuous Improvement initiatives, ensuring the highest standards of product quality, customer satisfaction, and food safety across TajSATS Bengaluru operations.

Key Responsibilities:

Quality Management:

• Lead and manage the Quality Assurance & Food Safety function.
• Develop, implement, and maintain Quality Management Systems (QMS).
• Ensure compliance with HACCP, ISO/FSSC 22000, GMP, GHP and customer requirements.
• Drive a strong quality and food safety culture across the organization.

Food Safety & Compliance:

• Ensure compliance with FSSAI regulations and statutory requirements.
• Monitor food safety programs, hygiene standards, sanitation, and allergen controls.
• Lead risk assessments and preventive food safety initiatives.
• Manage crisis situations related to food safety and quality incidents.

Audit & Certification Management:

• Lead internal, external, customer and certification audits.
• Ensure successful maintenance of all food safety and quality certifications.
• Monitor and ensure timely closure of audit observations and CAPAs.
• Prepare the organization for airline and regulatory inspections.

Customer Quality Management:

• Act as the primary contact for customer quality requirements and audits.
• Drive resolution of customer complaints and quality concerns.
• Monitor customer feedback and implement improvement initiatives.
• Build strong relationships with airline customers and stakeholders.

Supplier Quality Assurance:

• Establish supplier qualification and approval processes.
• Conduct supplier audits and performance evaluations.
• Collaborate with Procurement to ensure raw material and supplier compliance.
• Drive supplier quality improvements and corrective actions.

Continuous Improvement:

• Identify opportunities to enhance product quality and operational efficiency.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective/preventive action programs.
• Drive Lean, Six Sigma, and process improvement initiatives.
• Analyze quality trends and recommend preventive measures.

People Leadership:

• Lead, coach, and develop the Quality team.
• Establish training programs on quality, food safety, and compliance.
• Build team capability and succession plans.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and excellence.

Reporting & Governance:

• Present quality performance metrics to leadership.
• Develop and monitor departmental KPIs.
• Prepare management review reports and compliance dashboards.
• Ensure adherence to company policies and governance standards.

Qualifications:

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree in Food Technology, Food Science, Microbiology, Biotechnology, Dairy Technology, Hospitality Management, or related discipline.
• Master's Degree preferred.

Certifications (Preferred):

• HACCP Lead Auditor
• ISO 22000 / FSSC 22000 Lead Auditor
• Internal Auditor Certifications for Food Safety Systems

Experience:

• 12-15+ years of progressive experience in Quality Assurance, Food Safety, and Regulatory Compliance.
• Minimum 5 years in a senior leadership role managing quality functions.
• Experience in airline catering, hospitality, food manufacturing, FMCG, or large-scale food production environments preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing customer audits, certifications, and regulatory inspections.