QFS Manager - MCA
Job Description:
We are looking for a Quality & Food Safety (Q&FS) Manager to lead and elevate our quality programs at our Ballarat manufacturing facility. In this influential leadership role, you will champion our Quality culture, ensure end-to-end compliance with global standards, and serve as the voice of Q&FS on the Factory Management Team.
Directly leading a dedicated team of Q&FS specialists and the Site Laboratory (overseeing 11 Associates in total), you will partner across Operations, Reliability, Engineering, and R&D to ensure our products delight millions of consumers safely every single day.
What will be your key responsibilities?
As the Q&FS Manager for Ballarat, you will drive manufacturing and food safety excellence through five core pillars:
Quality Culture & Systems Leadership: Champion and embed the Mars Quality culture and Mars Quality Management Process (QMP), driving robust on-site systems, auditing readiness, and verification against internal and external food safety standards.
Factory Management Partnership: Serve as the designated Q&FS Lead and R&D business partner on the Ballarat Factory Management Team, actively shaping operational decisions and representing the site in regional and global forums.
Incident Management & Continuous Improvement: Own site-level Q&FS incident management, spearheading root-cause analyses, robust corrective actions, and proactive risk-mitigation initiatives to elevate operational standards.
Associate Leadership & People Development: Provide inspiring line leadership and coaching to 4 Q&FS Specialists and the Site Lab Manager (who leads 6 Lab Technicians), fostering an engaged, high-performing, and technically capable team.
Laboratory & Operational Governance: Oversee the operational deliverables of the on-site microbiology and analytical laboratories, managing the site Q&FS operational budget ($300K–$500K AUD) and deploying regional/global standards locally.
What are we looking for?
We are seeking a decisive, collaborative technical leader who thrives in a dynamic manufacturing environment and knows how to balance rigorous compliance with commercial pragmatism.
Key Qualifications & Experience:
Education: Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline (essential).
Manufacturing Experience: 5–7+ years of progressive Quality & Food Safety experience in the food manufacturing industry, including hands-on operational factory experience and laboratory oversight.
People Leadership: Proven track record of leading, developing, and engaging operational and technical teams within a manufacturing environment.
Risk Assessment & Technical Acumen: Demonstrated expertise in HACCP, risk evaluation, root cause analysis, and translating complex global standards into practical factory execution (experience with high-risk raw materials/categories is highly regarded).
Influencing & Matrix Agility: Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management capabilities, with the confidence to provide a firm, authoritative voice on quality matters to senior leadership.
Mars is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.
We know everyone’s needs are different, and we’re committed to making our application process accessible and supportive for all candidates. If you require any adjustments along the way, simply let us know in your application form. We’ll work with you to understand what will help you feel comfortable and supported.