An established food distribution business specialising in authentic Italian and premium European food products is looking for a qualified and detail-oriented QA Specialist to join its team in Dubai.
The role is responsible for maintaining high standards of food safety, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance across food handling, storage, distribution, and operational activities. The successful candidate will oversee the implementation and continuous improvement of food safety management systems, ensuring compliance with HACCP principles, ISO standards, and applicable Dubai Municipality regulations.
Job Responsibilities
Food Safety & Quality Management
- Implement, monitor, and maintain the company’s food safety and quality management systems across operational facilities.
- Ensure compliance with HACCP principles, ISO 22000 requirements, and relevant international food safety standards.
- Develop, review, and update food safety procedures, policies, work instructions, and quality control documentation.
- Conduct routine food safety inspections and quality assessments across receiving, storage, handling, and distribution operations.
- Monitor food safety practices to ensure products are handled under appropriate hygienic and temperature-controlled conditions.
Regulatory Compliance & Dubai Municipality Requirements
- Ensure compliance with Dubai Municipality food safety regulations, UAE food laws, and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Coordinate food safety inspections, regulatory audits, and follow-up actions with relevant authorities.
- Maintain accurate records of food safety approvals, product documentation, certificates, and regulatory compliance requirements.
- Monitor product labelling, traceability, shelf-life controls, and storage conditions to ensure compliance with UAE requirements.
Quality Control & Product Assurance
- Oversee quality checks of imported Italian and European food products, including incoming raw materials, chilled, frozen, and ambient food items.
- Verify product specifications, certificates of analysis, country-of-origin documentation, and supplier quality records.
- Monitor product integrity, packaging conditions, expiry dates, and temperature requirements throughout the supply chain.
- Investigate customer complaints, product non-conformities, and quality-related issues.
- Coordinate corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) to address identified food safety and quality concerns.
Audits, Inspections & Continuous Improvement
- Conduct internal food safety audits, hygiene inspections, and operational compliance assessments.
- Support external audits, certification assessments, and customer quality inspections.
- Identify potential food safety risks and recommend appropriate control measures.
- Monitor the effectiveness of corrective actions and ensure timely closure of audit findings.
- Promote continuous improvement in food safety practices and quality management systems.
Supplier & Documentation Management
- Evaluate supplier compliance with food safety and quality requirements.
- Review supplier approvals, product specifications, certificates, and relevant food safety documentation.
- Maintain records related to HACCP monitoring, temperature logs, inspections, audits, training, and non-conformities.
- Support the implementation of food safety awareness and hygiene training for employees.
Job Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Food Safety or a related discipline.
- Relevant experience in Quality Assurance or Food Safety within food distribution, food trading, FMCG, or food import and export operations.
- Good knowledge of HACCP principles, ISO 22000, and food safety management systems.
- Familiarity with Dubai Municipality food safety regulations and UAE food control requirements.
- Experience conducting internal audits, hygiene inspections, and quality assessments.
- Knowledge of food handling, cold-chain management, temperature monitoring, product traceability, and shelf-life controls.
- Strong documentation, analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
- Ability to coordinate with suppliers, operational teams, and regulatory authorities.
- Relevant food safety certifications and internal auditor training will be an advantage.
Preferred Industry Experience
Experience working with imported food products, particularly Italian and European food categories such as dairy products, cheese, meat, seafood, bakery products, frozen foods, sauces, specialty ingredients, and other premium food items, would be advantageous