Regional Quality Assurance Manager

Quality Assurance Manager – Middle East Location: Dubai, UAE Department: Quality Department Travel: Regular travel across UAE, KSA, and designated Middle East markets About the Role We are seeking an experienced Quality Assurance Manager to lead Quality Assurance and Food Safety (Q&FS) activities across the Middle East. This role is responsible for ensuring the highest standards of product quality, food safety, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence across retail stores, cafés, warehouses, co-packing operations, distribution networks, suppliers, and franchise partners. The successful candidate will play a key role in protecting consumers, safeguarding brand reputation, and driving a strong food safety culture across multiple markets. Key Responsibilities Quality & Food Safety Leadership • Lead and maintain regional Quality Assurance and Food Safety programs, policies, standards, and procedures. • Ensure compliance with local regulations, corporate requirements, and industry best practices. • Identify risks, monitor performance trends, and implement corrective and preventive actions. • Serve as the key escalation point for critical food safety and quality matters. Retail, Café & Supply Chain Quality • Oversee hygiene, allergen management, traceability, temperature control, cleaning, pest control, and product handling standards. • Support quality and food safety controls across warehousing, distribution, retail, café, and co-packing operations. • Conduct operational assessments and provide coaching to business teams. • Support new store openings, renovations, and business expansion projects. Audit & Compliance • Develop and execute risk-based audit programs across stores, warehouses, suppliers, logistics providers, co-packers, and franchise operations. • Lead internal audits, pre-opening assessments, and regulatory readiness reviews. • Track corrective actions to closure and ensure sustainable compliance. • Support external, customer, certification, and regulatory audits. Supplier & Product Quality Management • Manage supplier approval, monitoring, and re-evaluation programs. • Conduct supplier audits and technical assessments. • Partner with Procurement to ensure quality, food safety, legal, and halal requirements are embedded within sourcing decisions. • Coordinate laboratory testing and technical review of products and materials. Regulatory & Halal Compliance • Maintain expertise in UAE, KSA, GCC food regulations, labeling requirements, and import/export controls. • Manage interactions with food control authorities and certification bodies. • Coordinate halal compliance programs and documentation. • Support shelf-life studies and regulatory submissions. Complaints, Incidents & Crisis Management • Lead customer complaint investigations using structured root-cause analysis. • Manage CAPA programs, product holds, recalls, traceability exercises, and crisis simulations. • Monitor complaint trends and drive continuous improvement initiatives. • Escalate significant risks in accordance with company protocols. Training & Food Safety Culture • Develop and implement annual Quality and Food Safety training plans. • Deliver engaging training and awareness programs across multiple functions. • Promote a proactive food safety culture and strengthen compliance awareness. Reporting & Cross-Functional Collaboration • Prepare regular Quality & Food Safety performance reports. • Partner closely with Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, Marketing, HR, Facilities, Customer Experience, and Regulatory teams. • Support regional and global projects and share best practices across markets. Qualifications & Experience • Bachelor's Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Food Microbiology, Quality Assurance, or related field. • 7–10 years of progressive experience in Quality Assurance and Food Safety. • Experience within retail, cafés, food service, confectionery, food manufacturing, or FMCG environments. • HACCP certification and Level 4 Food Safety qualification (or equivalent). • Qualified Internal Auditor or Lead Auditor. • Strong knowledge of food safety management systems such as ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, BRCGS, IFS, or AIB. • Practical knowledge of UAE and KSA food regulations and GCC labeling requirements. • Experience managing complaint investigations, CAPA, traceability, and recall programs. • Strong communication and stakeholder management skills. • Fluent English and willingness to travel across the region. Key Competencies • Food Safety & Quality Leadership • Regulatory Compliance • Supplier Quality Management • Audit & Risk Management • Root Cause Analysis & CAPA • Stakeholder Management • Data Analysis & Reporting • Training & Coaching • Project Management • Continuous Improvement Why Join Us? This is an opportunity to lead Quality & Food Safety across a dynamic, multi-country operation while influencing business performance, consumer safety, and brand excellence throughout the Middle East region. You will work with cross-functional teams, external partners, and senior stakeholders to build a culture of quality and continuous improvement. Apply now if you are passionate about food safety, quality excellence, and driving meaningful impact across a premium consumer brand.