Quality & HACCP Manager (Operations Lead)

Quality & HACCP Manager (Operations Lead)

Location: Huntingdale, VIC

Job Type: Full-time | Food Manufacturing / Wholesale Bakery

About Sweethearts Wholesale Foods

Sweethearts Wholesale Foods is a long-established Melbourne-based brand supplying premium baked products to cafés, bakeries and distributors across Australia.

We are seeking an experienced and proactive Quality & HACCP Manager (Operations Lead) to take ownership of our food-safety systems and drive operational excellence across stock control, logistics and supplier management.

About the Role

This is a sole-responsibility position that combines food-safety leadership with daily operational coordination.

Based on-site at our Huntingdale production facility, you'll work closely with our manufacturing partner, warehouse, and internal team to ensure quality, compliance and efficiency from production through to delivery.

You'll personally lead and maintain the HACCP system, manage the monthly verification program, and implement continuous improvements in cost control, supplier relations and yield optimisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain and lead the HACCP and food-safety program independently
• Manage the monthly verification program, including contractor bookings and follow-ups (pest control, calibration, sanitation validation, etc.)
• Conduct daily production and stock checks to ensure product quality, hygiene and system accuracy
• Oversee stock control across all locations, ensuring discrepancies are resolved in company's favour
• Strengthen supplier relationships and secure competitive pricing, bulk deals and short-run opportunities
• Coordinate maintenance schedules and asset registers for production equipment
• Review batch records and recipes to identify alternate ingredients or suppliers that improve yield or reduce cost
• Manage corrective actions and customer complaints through to verification and close-out
• Prepare concise weekly reports for directors outlining KPIs, cost savings and continuous improvement opportunities

Skills & Experience

• Minimum 5 years' experience in food manufacturing, bakery or FMCG production
• Lead HACCP certification and proven experience managing food-safety systems independently
• Strong background in stock control, logistics and supplier management
• Demonstrated achievements in cost-saving, yield improvement and risk reduction
• Knowledge of industrial bakery processes and equipment highly regarded
• Excellent attention to detail, documentation accuracy and communication skills

Why Join Us

• Full ownership of HACCP and quality systems in a respected national brand
• Hands-on, varied role across production, suppliers and logistics
• Direct access to directors and the opportunity to influence decision-making
• Supportive, collaborative environment with autonomy and accountability
• Performance-based bonus potential linked to agreed KPIs and measurable results
• Genuine career growth opportunity as the company expands

Salary

$100,000 – $120,000 + super (commensurate with experience)

Bonus potential subject to achievement of agreed KPIs

How to Apply

If you're an experienced HACCP professional ready to step into a broader operational leadership role with long-term growth potential, we'd love to hear from you.

Please submit your resume and a short cover letter outlining your experience and motivation for applying.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $100,000.00 – $120,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Employee discount
• Free food
• Professional development assistance
• Profit sharing
• Salary packaging

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Huntingdale VIC 3166: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Application Question(s):

• Have you worked within a commercial bakery, food manufacturing, or FMCG production environment? Please detail
• What's your experience with supplier management and purchasing in a food environment? Please detail

Experience:

• HACCP programme management: 5 years (Required)
• food operations management: 3 years (Required)

Licence/Certification:

• HACCP training certification (Required)

Work Authorisation:

• Australia (Required)

Work Location: In person