Senior Quality & Food Safety Manager (m/f/d) at Westfalia Fruit

Come and join the leading #avoexperts 🥑

Westfalia Fruit is a leading multinational supplier of fresh fruit and related value added products to global markets. Through our vertically-integrated supply chain we grow, source, ripen, pack, process and market quality avocadoes & fresh produce – 365 days a year & across the globe.

With the largest avocado-growing footprint in the world, we are recognised as the leading #avoexperts, and considered as the supplier of choice to both retail & wholesale customers whom we serve from sales offices in the UK, Europe, North America, Latin America & Southern Africa.

We value Inclusivity, Innovation, Quality, Integrity and Health & Safety. Together, we can create a thriving and positive work environment.

We have a new opportunity for an experienced Senior Quality & Food Safety Manager to join our team in Munich, Germany on an initial 12 month contract with possibility to extend permanently.

The Senior Quality & Food Safety Manager provides technical leadership for quality and food safety across the Munich operation. The role ensures IFS audit readiness and business continuity while strengthening the Quality and Food Safety Management System. Working with Operations, Supply Chain, suppliers, customers and international Quality functions, it drives effective controls, audit preparation and corrective action. Through documented processes, training and knowledge sharing, the role builds team capability and reduces reliance on individual knowledge holders. This is a senior specialist role without disciplinary management responsibility.

Responsibilities include:

• Lead IFS certification readiness and coordinate internal, external and customer audits.
• Maintain and improve the Quality and Food Safety Management System.
• Review HACCP plans and food safety controls as products, suppliers and processes evolve.
• Work with Operations to strengthen hygiene, cleaning, storage and temperature controls.
• Ensure compliance with quality, food safety and customer requirements, supporting QS, BIO and GQB certifications.
• Investigate complaints and non-conformities, driving effective corrective actions.
• Manage supplier quality assessments, approval documentation and issue resolution.
• Maintain traceability and recall readiness, supporting incident investigations and product decisions.
• Monitor quality performance, report risks and drive continuous improvement.
• Train colleagues, document key processes and share expertise to strengthen team capability and business continuity.

Requirements

Essential

• Relevant degree or comparable qualification in food science, food technology, quality management or a related discipline.
• Several years of relevant Quality Management and Food Safety experience within the food industry, with the technical judgement to work independently at senior level.
• Strong practical IFS experience, including substantial involvement in certification preparation, audit delivery and closure of findings.
• Sound working knowledge of HACCP, food hygiene, food safety controls and Quality and Food Safety Management Systems.
• Experience conducting or coordinating audits, investigating non-conformities and complaints, and implementing effective corrective actions.
• Ability to prioritise audit and operational risks, manage competing deadlines and translate technical requirements into practical actions.
• Independent, structured and pragmatic working style, with strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to influence cross-functional colleagues, communicate risks clearly and build constructive supplier and customer relationships.
• Fluent German and English, both written and spoken.
• Ability to maintain clear documentation, share technical knowledge and support colleague development and effective handovers.

Desirable

• Previous lead responsibility for IFS certification and audits.
• Experience in fresh food, particularly fruit and vegetables, or comparable FMCG food operations.
• Practical experience supporting QS, BIO and GQB certification requirements.
• Formal HACCP or internal/lead auditor training relevant to food safety and quality.
• Experience strengthening management systems, transferring specialist knowledge or supporting an operation through an intensive audit preparation period.
• Experience collaborating with international Quality teams and managing supplier quality or traceability exercises.

Benefits

• Internal English course
• Professional development opportunities within the company
• Membership in the Body & Soul gym for a small fee
• Office at the Munich wholesale market near the Isar
• Competitive salary
• 30 days of vacation per year
• Free parking
• Fresh fruit and coffee specialties

Please note that this position does not have a specific closing date. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as we will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis and the advert may be removed at any time.

We’re an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to age, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family or parental status, national origin, or veteran, neurodiversity or disability status.

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