Quality Systems & Food Safety Lead

Quality Systems & Food Safety Lead
Scandicci, Italy (on site)

Reporting to the QA Manager, the QA FS & QS Lead provides leadership at the Giotti Plant for the development, implementation, and administration of Food Safety, Food Defence, and Quality Systems programs at the site to ensure product safety, integrity, and conformance with Customer, Divisional, Corporate, and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities include:

1. Maintaining compliance with Corporate Quality Assurance Policies and ensuring customer satisfaction through governance and proactive leadership for continuous improvements of Food Safety, Food Defence, and Quality Systems programs, including HACCP, allergen management, foreign body controls, internal food safety inspections, non-conformance, and customer complaints.
2. Conducting routine reviews with the Factory Leadership Team.
3. Managing the Food Safety, Food Defence, and Quality Systems Training program to ensure all staff receive relevant training aligned with their roles.
4. Overseeing Internal FS & QS inspection and audit programs to achieve required customer and third-party accreditations, publishing monthly audit results and KPIs.
5. Managing External Customer and Third-Party Audit programs to ensure compliance with quality and food safety requirements, and leading continuous improvement initiatives.
6. Handling corrective action programs, including responses to audits, customer complaints, and non-conformances.
7. Leading investigations and resolutions of complaints and non-conformances, preventing recurrence through continuous improvements.
8. Publishing monthly KPIs and trend data.
9. Attracting, developing, and maintaining high-performing staff, setting performance standards, and providing coaching and training.

Candidate profile:

1. Bachelor's Degree in Food Technology or equivalent.
2. Solid experience in the Food Industry, particularly in QA management roles.
3. Experience with quality and food safety management systems and certifications: ISO, HACCP, BRC, IFS.
4. Extensive knowledge of HACCP, BRC auditing, GMPs, Quality Systems, and Hygiene.
5. Strong communication, diplomacy, and leadership skills.
6. Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, with proficiency in relationship-building and negotiation.
7. Fluent in English.

McCormick & Company is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.