Food Safety & Quality Specialist
Posted Updated
Description
Imagine Tomorrow with Us | Ata whakaarohia tō āpōpō
At Fonterra Te Mātāpuna, we want everyone to feel they can be themselves.
Whether you're early in your career or ready for your next step, Fonterra offers a unique opportunity to grow with a global dairy co-operative that values care, collaboration, and contribution.
Owned by New Zealand dairy farmers and supported by a dedicated team, we are all working together to create a better future. Imagine tomorrow with us, where your career can grow, and you can create positive change.
About us | He kupu mō mātou
Our Lichfield site sits in the heart of the Waikato, manufacturing a range of products including whole milk powder, whey protein concentrate and whey protein isolate used in medical and nutritional products as well as a range of award winning cheeses exported internationally to a global market!
About the Opportunity | Mō tēnei tūranga
Joining us as Food Safety Quality Specialist, you will lead and support a culture of food safety and quality at our Lichfield site. This is executed through ensuring robust food safety systems, quality systems and business processes are in place to achieve quality and compliance deliverables.
Through leadership and coaching, and supported by expertise regarding interpretation of regulatory, food safety, quality and customer requirements, you will empower our plant teams to make informed decisions during the manufacturing and distribution of products.
The outcome is to provide confidence that Regulatory, Food Safety, Quality, Market & Customer requirements have been correctly interpreted and applied as products move through the value stream, a critical aspect of delivering our overall food safety & quality promise to our customers.
Key accountabilities include:
- Monitoring and reporting on plant compliance to relevant regulations, food safety, quality and customer standards.
- Assuring the food safety & quality status of the site through inspection and audit.
- Implementing, maintaining and improving the effectiveness of the food safety and quality system.
- Approving and managing key food safety & quality outcomes.
- Exception management is proficiently coordinated, including short term corrective actions and long-term effectivity of controls.
About You | Mōu
We are looking for a clear communicator who can convey information concisely and confidently to all levels of the business. Your proven influencing ability and outstanding organisation and planning skills are the keys to your success, as well as your eye for detail.
As an expert at managing your time and varying priorities, you'll be able to leverage key relationships across our business to get results.
Other skills and experience include:
- Sound software skills that will allow you to use multiple computer programmes and applications.
- Proactive communication and people skills with an ability to interact with team members across different business units.
- Coaching ability to build capability and understanding of Food Safety and Quality requirements.
- Great time management skills with a systematic and methodical approach to work on tasks.
- Experience with managing and coordinating compliance activities.
- Knowledge and awareness of dynamic risk management; being able to identify and understand food safety risks early on.
- Have resilience to be able to challenge as required to ensure safe food is manufactured every day.
- Experience working within Food safety and Quality preferred.
Your strong mechanical aptitude, planning and sound problem-solving skills will ensure our plant runs smoothly. You wont just find the problem, you’ll be a part of solving it and implementing the solution.
Together with good work ethic and a strong focus on health and safety, you’ll demonstrate a background of:
Proven reliability as a team member
Participation and contribution to a high performing team
Strong computer literacy and digital capability skills
A strong focus on documentation and compliance
Food manufacturing experience (advantageous)
To be successful in this role you will have strong self-motivation to learn and develop, have a passion for continuous improvement, and a strong safety mindset.
Your mechanical and digital aptitude will allow you to build understanding of our computerised machinery and your strong attention to detail will ensure you keep an eye on quality control and maintain product to customer specifications.
Our Values | Ngā Aura
At Fonterra, our values of Good Together, Better Every Day, and Every Drop Counts, are for everyone – no matter your background, identify or experience. These values guide us in delivering exceptional outcomes for our farmers, customers, communities, and each other. Discover how your values align with ours by taking our Values Quiz
Our Commitment to You | Tā mātou oati
We care for our people globally. Our comprehensive benefits support your well-being, development, and work-life balance:
- Fair and equitable pay
- Health and well-being programs (medical, mental health support)
- Professional development opportunities
- Career growth support
- Work-life balance options (flexible/hybrid working where possible)
- Employee recognition
- Support for community involvement and cultural connection
To learn more, visit Fonterra Careers
A Career of Opportunities | Ngā Mahi
At Fonterra, we are inspired by purpose and guided by our principles and values. Together, we create goodness for generations and make a global impact at a local level. As part of our Co-operative, you are an everyday creator, imagining what Fonterra, dairy, and you can be here.
Join Us | Tātou Tātou
Does this sound good to you? Come join our whānau - bring your whole self, and let's solve for better together.
You, me, us together, Tātou, tātou.
Together, we're shaping a future of inclusion | He Wāhi mō te Katoa
Inclusion is key to our Co-operative. We're building a team that reflects the diverse world we live in, believing it drives better decisions and innovation.
We welcome applications from all backgrounds (ethnicities, genders, identities, orientations, ages, abilities, neurotypes, cultures, religions).
Even if you don't meet every requirement listed, we encourage you to apply; we value your potential and growth.
If you face accessibility issues or need accommodations during the process, please contact your recruiter. We ensure fair participation, allowing you to be at your best. Tātou, tātou.
Applications close at midnight on 4th November 2026.