Head of Quality Assurance

Our client is looking for an experienced Head of Quality to lead the quality function across the organisation and ensure the highest standards of product quality, food safety, compliance and consumer safety.The role will be responsible for building a strong quality culture across manufacturing, sourcing, R&D, supply chain and distribution, while driving continuous improvement and ensuring compliance with all applicable regulatory and industry standards.Key ResponsibilitiesQuality Strategy & LeadershipDevelop and implement the overall quality strategy aligned with business and consumer expectations.Build robust quality systems, processes and governance across the organisation.Establish quality KPIs, dashboards and review mechanisms.Drive a strong quality-first culture across manufacturing and business teams.Lead and develop the quality team across plants, corporate and regional operations.Quality Assurance & ControlEstablish and monitor quality standards and specifications for raw materials, packaging and finished products.Ensure consistent product quality across manufacturing locations and third-party manufacturing partners.Develop and strengthen SOPs, quality protocols, inspection systems and testing procedures.Drive root-cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions for quality deviations.Monitor product complaints, quality incidents, returns and consumer feedback and drive closure.Food Safety & Regulatory ComplianceEnsure compliance with applicable FSSAI and other regulatory requirements, along with relevant quality and food-safety standards.Own the organisation's food safety and quality management systems.Lead internal, external, customer and regulatory audits.Ensure timely closure of audit observations and corrective actions.Stay updated on evolving regulations and industry standards and translate them into business requirements.Manufacturing & Supply ChainPartner closely with Manufacturing, Procurement, R&D and Supply Chain teams to ensure quality at every stage.Establish quality standards for vendors, suppliers and contract manufacturers.Develop supplier quality assessment, audit and improvement programs.Support new product development, scale-up and commercialisation from a quality perspective.Ensure effective quality controls across warehousing, transportation and distribution.Continuous ImprovementIdentify opportunities to improve product consistency, reduce quality-related costs and minimise wastage.Implement CAPA, Lean, Six Sigma and other continuous improvement methodologies where relevant.Use quality data and analytics to identify trends and proactively address potential risks.Drive standardisation of processes across plants and manufacturing partners.Candidate Profile12–18 years of experience in Quality / Quality Assurance / Quality Control, preferably within FMCG, food, consumer products or allied industries.Experience leading quality teams across multiple manufacturing locations is preferred.Strong understanding of FSSAI, food safety, HACCP, GMP, ISO and other relevant quality standards.Experience working with contract manufacturers and supplier quality management will be an advantage.Strong understanding of quality systems, audits, CAPA, root-cause analysis and continuous improvement.Demonstrated experience in handling product quality issues and consumer complaints.Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.Ability to balance quality, compliance, consumer expectations and business realities.Strong leadership capability with the ability to build and mentor high-performing teams.