Quality Manager

We are seeking an experienced and driven Quality Manager to lead the quality and food safety function of a beverage manufacturing factory in Erbil. This is a senior leadership role with real authority and independence. You will own the factory's Quality Management System, laboratory operations and food safety programmes, and make sure that every product leaving the factory meets the highest standards of safety, quality and regulatory compliance.

The role suits a hands-on quality leader who combines strong technical expertise with the confidence to make independent decisions. You will hold the authority to place products on hold, reject non-conforming materials, stop production when safety is at risk, and drive a culture of quality and continuous improvement across the factory.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Quality Management System

• Develop, implement, maintain and continuously improve the factory's Quality Management System

• Establish quality policies, Standard Operating Procedures, work instructions, specifications and quality standards

• Build effective quality controls across the full supply-to-production process

• Identify quality risks, implement preventive controls, and promote a strong quality culture throughout the factory

1. Quality Assurance

• Establish quality assurance controls for raw materials, packaging, production processes, finished products, storage and distribution

• Review and approve product specifications and quality standards

• Ensure full traceability of materials, production batches and finished products

• Implement Good Manufacturing Practice, hygiene, sanitation and food safety requirements

• Conduct periodic inspections and process verification, and recommend improvements

1. Quality Control and Laboratory Management

• Lead all laboratory and quality control activities

• Establish sampling and testing plans for incoming materials, water, in-process and finished products

• Oversee physical, chemical and microbiological analyses

• Ensure laboratory results are accurately recorded, reviewed, approved and retained

• Ensure laboratory equipment is maintained, calibrated and verified

• Coordinate with accredited external laboratories when required

1. Water Quality and Food Safety

• Monitor water quality and safety from source through treatment, production, filling, storage and distribution

• Ensure compliance with drinking water and beverage quality regulations

• Establish microbiological and chemical monitoring programmes, and control contamination risks

• Lead the implementation and monitoring of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points

• Investigate food safety and product quality incidents and coordinate corrective actions

1. Incoming Materials and Supplier Quality

• Set quality specifications for raw materials, packaging, chemicals and other production inputs

• Inspect and approve or reject incoming materials against approved specifications

• Monitor supplier quality performance and take part in supplier evaluation and qualification

• Ensure rejected or quarantined materials are properly identified, segregated and controlled

1. In-Process Quality Control

• Establish quality checkpoints throughout production

• Monitor critical production parameters affecting quality and safety

• Verify filling, packaging, labelling, coding and sealing controls

• Work closely with Production and Maintenance to resolve quality-related process or equipment issues

1. Finished Product Release

• Review quality results and ensure finished products meet specifications before release

• Maintain effective product hold and release procedures and batch release records

• Recommend release, rejection, reprocessing or disposal based on documented evidence

1. Non-Conformance, Corrective and Preventive Action, and Continuous Improvement

• Manage the non-conforming material and product control process

• Lead the Corrective and Preventive Action process using structured root cause analysis

• Track recurring quality problems and drive lasting preventive measures

• Lead and support continuous improvement projects across the factory

1. Audits and Compliance

• Plan and coordinate internal quality and food safety audits

• Lead preparation for external, customer, regulatory and certification audits

• Ensure audit findings are documented, addressed and closed on time

• Maintain constant readiness for regulatory and certification inspections

1. Customer Complaints and Product Incidents

• Lead investigation of customer quality complaints, working with Sales, Production and Warehouse

• Analyse complaint trends and address recurring issues

• Support product recall or withdrawal activities when required

1. Documentation, Records and Systems

• Establish and control all quality documentation and records

• Ensure accurate recording of inspections, laboratory results, batch release status, non-conformities and corrective actions in the Enterprise Resource Planning system

• Support integration of quality processes with Warehouse, Procurement and Production workflows

AUTHORITY AND DECISION-MAKING

The Quality Manager is empowered to:

• Place materials, batches or finished products on quality hold

• Reject materials or products that fail approved specifications

• Stop, or recommend stopping, production when there is a serious quality or food safety risk

• Require corrective actions and additional testing when needed

• Escalate serious quality, food safety, regulatory or customer risks to the Managing Director

Major product disposal, recalls, major capital expenditure, and decisions outside delegated authority require management approval.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Internal: Managing Director, Production and Maintenance, Supply Chain and Procurement, Warehouse and Logistics, Sales, Finance, Human Resources, Health Safety and Environment, and Information Technology.

External: Government, regulatory, and food safety and health authorities, accredited laboratories, certification bodies, external auditors, suppliers, customers, and technical consultants.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Chemistry, Microbiology, Chemical Engineering, Quality Management or a related technical field

• Additional certifications in Food Safety, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points, ISO 22000, ISO 9001 or Laboratory Management are a strong advantage

Experience

• Minimum seven years of experience in quality assurance, quality control, food safety, laboratory management or manufacturing

• Minimum three years in a managerial or supervisory role

• Experience in water, beverage, food or fast-moving consumer goods manufacturing is strongly preferred

• Proven experience with laboratory testing, quality systems, audits, corrective and preventive action, and non-conformance management

• Hands-on experience implementing Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points and food safety management systems

• Experience working with regulatory authorities and external laboratories

• Experience with Enterprise Resource Planning systems is preferred

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

Technical

• Strong knowledge of quality assurance, quality control and food safety principles

• Strong knowledge of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points, Good Manufacturing Practice, ISO 22000 and ISO 9001

• Solid understanding of microbiological and chemical testing

• Root cause analysis, risk assessment and audit management

• Supplier quality management, product traceability and recall principles

• Quality documentation and record control

Leadership and Behavioural

• Strong leadership and team development

• Independent judgement and sound decision-making

• High integrity and professional ethics

• The confidence to challenge non-compliance professionally

• Analytical thinking, attention to detail and problem-solving

• Clear communication and strong cross-department coordination

• Ability to perform under pressure, with a continuous improvement mindset

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

• Compliance with product specifications and food safety requirements

• Reduction in quality deviations, recurring problems and customer complaints

• Accuracy and timeliness of product release and laboratory testing

• Effective implementation of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points

• Audit readiness and timely closure of audit findings and corrective actions

• Team performance, development and quality reporting

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Full-time, factory-based role in Erbil

• Regular presence in production, laboratory, warehouse and inspection areas

• May require work outside normal hours during quality incidents, audits or critical food safety events

• Compliance with all factory safety, hygiene, personal protective equipment and access requirements