Compliance Team Leader | Johannesburg | Permanent

Step into a leadership role where food safety and quality are non-negotiable. Drive standards, lead a high-performing team, and ensure operational excellence across a dynamic catering environment.

This role is responsible for leading and managing the implementation, monitoring, and continuous improvement of food safety and quality systems across large-scale catering operations. You will take ownership of compliance with regulatory, customer, and internal standards while proactively identifying risks and ensuring corrective and preventative actions are effectively executed.

As the site’s food safety champion, you will work closely with operations to maintain audit readiness, ensure full traceability, and safeguard product integrity. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring both technical expertise and the ability to influence teams in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.

Our client operates within a highly regulated food production and catering environment, supplying critical services where quality, safety, and compliance are essential to business success.

What You’ll Do

• Lead and ensure compliance with all food safety, quality, and regulatory standards
• Oversee daily QA activities including temperature monitoring, hygiene inspections, and production verification
• Manage internal and external audit readiness, including third-party and customer audits
• Drive corrective and preventative actions (CAPA) and close out non-conformances
• Act as HACCP Team Leader and ensure effective implementation of HACCP plans
• Manage microbiological testing, investigations, and corrective actions
• Oversee supplier quality, audits, and performance reviews
• Compile QA reports, analyse trends, and drive continuous improvement initiatives
• Partner with operations to ensure compliance across all processes

What You Bring

• Degree or Diploma in Food Science, Microbiology, Biotechnology, or related field
• 6–8 years’ experience in food safety or quality assurance, with at least 2 years in a leadership role
• HACCP Level 3 or higher and Food Safety Level 4 (or in progress)
• Strong knowledge of South African food safety regulations and international standards
• Experience with ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, and supplier or customer audits
• Proven ability to lead teams and manage performance
• Strong analytical, reporting, and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement capability
• High attention to detail and ability to work under pressure

What Success Looks Like

• Consistent audit readiness with successful external audit outcomes
• Strong food safety culture embedded across operations
• Effective management and reduction of non-conformances and risks
• High-performing, well-trained QA team
• Clear, data-driven reporting and continuous improvement delivery
• Full traceability and compliance across all production processes