QA Specialist – Gourmet Chocolate

A premium food manufacturing and distribution business specialising in gourmet chocolates, luxury confectionery and high-quality food products is seeking an experienced Quality Assurance QA Specialist to support and maintain its food safety and quality management systems across production, warehousing and logistics operations.

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Industry: Gourmet Chocolate, Premium Confectionery and Luxury Food Products
Department: Quality Assurance / Quality Control
Reports To: Quality Assurance Manager
Employment Type: Full-Time

The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring that all manufactured and imported products meet applicable food safety regulations, customer specifications, international quality standards and market-specific labelling requirements. The position involves coordinating audits, verifying HACCP records, managing product specifications, investigating complaints, monitoring quality performance and supporting product registration across relevant markets.

This opportunity is suited to a food science or microbiology professional with strong experience in the food industry, particularly in BRCGS and FSSC 22000-certified environments.

Job Responsibilities

1. Food Safety and Quality Management Systems

• Support the implementation, maintenance and continuous improvement of the Food Safety Management System (FSMS) across manufacturing, warehousing and logistics operations.
• Ensure compliance with HACCP principles, BRCGS, FSSC 22000 Version 6 and other applicable food safety and quality management standards.
• Monitor the implementation of food safety procedures, quality policies, prerequisite programmes (PRPs), operational prerequisite programmes (OPRPs) and critical control point (CCP) requirements.
• Verify HACCP monitoring records, production checklists, temperature logs, sanitation records and other food safety documentation.
• Assist in reviewing and updating food safety procedures, work instructions, risk assessments and quality management documentation.
• Participate in the review and on-site verification of process flow diagrams to ensure they accurately reflect manufacturing operations.
• Identify non-conformities, coordinate corrective and preventive actions (CAPA), and follow up to verify their effective implementation.

2. Product Specifications and Quality Control

• Prepare, review and maintain product specifications for manufactured and imported gourmet chocolates, confectionery and other premium food products.
• Ensure product specifications meet applicable regulatory requirements, customer expectations and internal quality standards.
• Coordinate the development and approval of specifications for new product launches and product reformulations.
• Verify incoming raw materials, ingredients and packaging materials against approved specifications and quality requirements.
• Monitor production activities to ensure compliance with approved formulations, process parameters, product quality criteria and hygiene requirements.
• Oversee quality checks for finished products, including appearance, texture, flavour, packaging integrity, weight, labelling and batch identification.
• Support the monitoring of storage conditions, including temperature and humidity where required, to protect chocolate quality, prevent deterioration and maintain product shelf life.
• Ensure appropriate stock rotation, traceability and storage controls are followed throughout warehouse and distribution operations.
• Coordinate with production, warehouse and logistics teams to investigate quality deviations and prevent the release or distribution of non-conforming products.

3. Audits, Inspections and Regulatory Compliance

• Prepare and maintain documentation for third-party certification audits, including BRCGS, FSSC 22000, HACCP, Halal and Organic certification, as applicable.
• Coordinate preparations for customer audits, supplier audits, internal audits and regulatory inspections.
• Support compliance with applicable Dubai Municipality food safety requirements, Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) requirements and other relevant market regulations, including US FDA requirements where applicable.
• Ensure audit findings are documented, corrective action plans are prepared and outstanding issues are followed up within agreed timelines.
• Maintain up-to-date records of certifications, audit reports, inspection findings, compliance documents and regulatory approvals.
• Assist in evaluating supplier compliance with approved food safety, quality, traceability and documentation requirements.
• Ensure that relevant personnel understand and follow the procedures required to maintain audit readiness.

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4. Food Labelling and Product Registration

• Prepare and review product labels in accordance with the applicable food labelling regulations of the target market.
• Compile ingredient declarations, allergen information, nutritional facts, product images and supporting technical documents required for product registration.
• Verify that product labels accurately reflect approved formulations, ingredient specifications, allergen declarations, storage instructions, shelf-life information and other mandatory particulars.
• Coordinate with regulatory and logistics teams to submit product registration documents and follow up on approval status.
• Maintain records of product registrations for manufactured and imported food products.
• Prepare technical documentation to support customer requests, regulatory submissions and market-specific compliance requirements.
• Coordinate with relevant departments to ensure new products are not distributed into a market until applicable registration and approval requirements have been met.

5. Customer Complaints and Corrective Actions

• Receive, document and investigate internal quality issues and customer complaints relating to product quality, packaging, labelling, foreign matter, shelf life and food safety.
• Maintain complaint registers and coordinate root cause analysis with production, warehouse, procurement and logistics teams.
• Develop and follow up on corrective and preventive action plans to address recurring issues.
• Analyse complaint trends and prepare reports highlighting recurring defects, potential risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Communicate investigation findings and corrective actions to the Quality Assurance Manager and relevant stakeholders.
• Verify the effectiveness of implemented corrective actions and maintain supporting records.

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6. Laboratory Testing and Environmental Monitoring

• Coordinate microbiological testing, product analysis and environmental monitoring activities according to the approved testing programme.
• Review laboratory results and identify trends, deviations and potential food safety concerns.
• Monitor environmental swab results and coordinate appropriate corrective actions when unsatisfactory results are identified.
• Maintain records of product testing, microbiological analysis, environmental monitoring and external laboratory reports.
• Liaise with approved external laboratories to ensure required testing is completed and results are reviewed promptly.
• Escalate unsatisfactory results and support investigations into possible contamination sources or process failures.

7. Traceability, Mock Recall and Documentation

• Assist in conducting mock recall exercises to assess the effectiveness of finished-product traceability and recall procedures.
• Verify that batch records, raw material details, packaging information, production records and distribution information are complete and retrievable.
• Maintain documentation supporting product traceability from incoming ingredients to finished-product dispatch.
• Investigate traceability gaps and coordinate corrective actions with the relevant departments.
• Ensure pest control documentation, cleaning chemical records, safety data sheets (SDS/MSDS), applicable approvals and approved chemical lists are current and accessible.
• Coordinate with suppliers and QC supervisors to collect, review and maintain documentation for raw materials and packaging materials.
• Ensure quality records are properly filed, controlled and available for audits, inspections and customer requests.

8. Training and Cross-Functional Coordination

• Assist the Quality Assurance Manager in delivering on-the-job food safety, hygiene and quality training to production and warehouse employees.
• Reinforce employee awareness of HACCP controls, personal hygiene, allergen management, cleaning procedures, product handling and contamination prevention.
• Coordinate with QC supervisors to monitor daily quality control activities across production, warehousing and logistics.
• Work closely with production, procurement, warehouse, logistics, regulatory affairs and customer service teams to resolve quality-related issues.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives aimed at reducing product defects, improving compliance and maintaining the quality standards expected of premium food products.

Job Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Microbiology, Food Chemistry or a closely related discipline.
• Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in the food industry, including at least 3 years in a Quality Assurance Specialist or equivalent specialist-level position.
• At least 2 years of experience working in a food manufacturing company certified to BRCGS and/or FSSC 22000 Version 6.
• Experience in food safety management systems, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, product specifications and audit preparation.
• Experience with chocolate, confectionery, premium food products or other temperature-sensitive food categories would be advantageous.
• Practical experience with food labelling, product registration, customer complaints, supplier documentation, traceability and mock recalls is preferred.

Certifications and Technical Training

• BRCGS Lead Auditor or Internal Auditor certification.
• FSSC 22000 Version 6 Lead Auditor or Internal Auditor certification.
• Halal certification or relevant Halal food compliance training.
• Organic food certification or relevant Organic compliance training.
• HACCP training and a strong understanding of food safety risk assessment principles.
• Knowledge of applicable UAE food regulations and international food safety requirements.

Required Skills and Competencies in Food Safety

• Strong knowledge of HACCP, BRCGS, FSSC 22000 and food safety management systems.
• Understanding of food microbiology, allergen control, sanitation, environmental monitoring and contamination prevention.
• Ability to interpret laboratory reports, investigate non-conformities and conduct root cause analysis.
• Knowledge of food product specifications, ingredient declarations, nutrition labelling and market-specific regulatory requirements.
• Strong documentation, audit coordination, reporting and record-management skills.
• Excellent verbal and written English communication skills.
• Ability to coordinate effectively with production, warehouse, logistics, suppliers, customers and regulatory stakeholders.
• Strong attention to detail, analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Proficiency in preparing technical reports, complaint trend analyses and corrective action records.
• Valid UAE driving licence.

Salary and Career Insights in Dubai

The salary for a Quality Assurance Specialist in Dubai depends on the candidate’s experience, certification credentials, product category expertise and responsibilities. Candidates with extensive experience in BRCGS/FSSC 22000-certified food manufacturing environments and international regulatory compliance may be better positioned to negotiate a competitive package.

Professionals seeking to progress in this field can strengthen their career prospects through recognised training in BRCGS, FSSC 22000, HACCP, internal auditing, root cause analysis, allergen management and food labelling regulations.

Recommended Certifications

• BRCGS Food Safety Issue 9 Internal Auditor or Lead Auditor training, as appropriate.
• FSSC 22000 Version 6 Internal Auditor or Lead Auditor training, as appropriate.
• HACCP Level 3 or Level 4 training, depending on the role and training provider.
• Halal food assurance and compliance training.
• Organic food standards and certification requirements.
• Food allergen management and food labelling compliance.
• Root cause analysis and corrective and preventive action (CAPA) training.

Applicants should ensure that their auditor training and qualifications meet the requirements of the relevant certification scheme and employer.

Disclaimer: FoodTechSafety.com is a membership-based platform. Job listings are posted by employers, and all hiring decisions are made solely between the employer and the job seeker.

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