JD QA Specialist

QA Specialist – Compliance & Audits

Are you ready to take quality and compliance to the next level?

We are looking for a proactive and driven QA Specialist with a strong focus on compliance, auditing and continuous improvement to strengthen our Quality Assurance team. In this role, you will be instrumental in safeguarding product quality, food safety and regulatory compliance across our dog and cat food manufacturing operations.

You will take ownership of quality-related processes, challenge existing practices where necessary, and ensure that our systems and procedures meet the highest standards. With a sharp eye for detail and a hands-on approach, you will work closely with colleagues across Production, R&D and Supply Chain to identify risks, drive improvements and embed a strong quality culture throughout the organisation.

If you thrive in a dynamic production environment, enjoy solving complex quality challenges and are passionate about turning compliance requirements into practical, effective solutions, this could be the perfect next step in your career.

Your Key Responsibilities

Compliance & Regulatory Affairs

• Ensure compliance with applicable food safety standards, including HACCP, GMP, ISO and FSSC requirements, as well as relevant EU legislation governing pet food production.
• Monitor regulatory developments and industry best practices, translating new requirements into effective procedures and working practices.
• Safeguard the integrity of our quality management system and proactively identify potential compliance risks.

Audits & Quality Management

• Plan, coordinate and conduct internal audits, while preparing for and supporting external, customer and certification audits.
• Challenge existing processes, identify gaps and drive the implementation of sustainable corrective and preventive actions.
• Develop, review and continuously improve quality procedures, policies, work instructions and documentation.
• Ensure audit findings are followed up effectively and translated into measurable improvements.

Risk Management & Continuous Improvement

• Monitor production processes and verify compliance with established quality, hygiene and food safety requirements.
• Lead investigations into non-conformities, process deviations and customer complaints, using structured root cause analysis to prevent recurrence.
• Define, implement and monitor corrective and preventive actions (CAPA), ensuring their effectiveness.
• Contribute to risk assessments, process optimisation and continuous improvement initiatives across the manufacturing operation.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Quality Culture

• Work closely with Production, R&D and Supply Chain to resolve quality issues and improve product consistency, process efficiency and food safety.
• Maintain robust traceability systems and ensure complete, accurate and audit-ready records.
• Coach and train employees on quality standards, hygiene practices, compliance requirements and their responsibilities within the quality management system.
• Act as a quality ambassador on the production floor, promoting accountability, ownership and a proactive approach to quality.

What You Bring to the Team

• A bachelor's degree in Food Technology, Food Science, Quality Management or a related discipline.
• Proven experience in a Quality Assurance role within a manufacturing environment, preferably in the food or pet food industry.
• Strong working knowledge of HACCP, GMP and quality management systems, including ISO and FSSC standards.
• Demonstrable experience in preparing for, conducting and following up on internal and external audits, including customer and certification audits.
• Familiarity with relevant EU legislation and regulatory requirements for pet food production is a strong advantage.
• A solid understanding of risk assessment, root cause analysis, non-conformity management and CAPA processes.
• Strong analytical skills and the confidence to challenge established ways of working when quality, safety or compliance can be improved.
• Excellent communication skills in both Dutch and English, enabling you to engage effectively with colleagues at all levels of the organisation.

Who You Are

You combine a strong quality mindset with a practical, hands-on attitude. You are comfortable operating both on the production floor and at a more strategic level, translating technical and regulatory requirements into clear, workable solutions.

You take ownership of your responsibilities, work independently and know how to bring people along when improvements are needed. You are detail-oriented without losing sight of the bigger picture, and you approach challenges with integrity, curiosity and a continuous improvement mindset.

Above all, you understand that quality is not just about meeting requirements — it is about building reliable processes, preventing problems before they occur and ensuring that every product meets the standards our customers expect.

What We Offer

We believe that great results start with a great team. That is why we offer a supportive working environment where you can develop your expertise, contribute your ideas and make a real impact.

• A great team and room to grow: Join an enthusiastic and collaborative team where you will have plenty of opportunities to develop your skills and grow your career within our European organisation.
• A competitive salary: Your knowledge, experience and contribution are valued and rewarded.
• Five weeks of annual leave: Enjoy the time you need to recharge and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
• An attractive pension scheme: PPF contributes 75% of your pension premium.
• Bicycle scheme: Take advantage of a bicycle scheme through our Dutch work-related expenses scheme ( werkkostenregeling ).
• Free fresh fruit at work: A simple way to support your well-being throughout the working day.
• Team activities and seasonal surprises: We organise annual team-building activities and enjoyable extras throughout the year, including food trucks, Easter treats, Christmas gifts and more.

Your Opportunity to Make a Difference

This is more than a role focused on checks and procedures. It is an opportunity to influence how quality is managed, strengthen compliance across our operations and help drive a culture of continuous improvement in a growing European organisation.

Are you ready to make quality your priority and help us raise the bar in pet food production? We would love to hear from you.