About the role
We’re looking for an experienced, forward-thinking quality leader to take on one of the most critical transformation roles in our business. This isn’t a BAU quality role; it’s a senior leadership opportunity to elevate our quality systems, people, and performance to new heights.
You’ll lead both the Quality Improvement team and the Quality Systems team, with full accountability for continuous improvement, food safety culture, and emerging risk management. This is your opportunity to leave a legacy - enhancing our systems, future-proofing our processes, and embedding a proactive quality mindset across the organisation.
Your ability to inspire and engage teams will be crucial in achieving our ambitious goals.
Key responsibilities of this role include:
- Lead specialist teams focused on Quality Improvement and Quality Systems.
- Own the analysis and response to emerging risks in raw materials, processes, and packaging materials.
- Strengthen and evolve the company’s Risk Management Programme (RMP) to protect product safety and brand reputation.
- Drive quality-related Continuous Improvement initiatives that reduce non-conformance and lift process control.
- Lead deployment of the Integrated Work System (IWS) Quality Pillar , coaching pillar teams and embedding maturity.
- Build and instil a strong food safety and quality culture across all levels of the organisation.
- Establish meaningful quality KPIs and dashboards that drive visibility, accountability, and performance.
- Champion a zero-defect, right-first-time mindset and lead effective root cause analysis and CAPA.
- Deliver quality improvement projects across cross-functional teams.
- Manage and develop quality systems to achieve world-class standards.
- Coach and build capability across the Quality and Operational teams through training and education programmes.
- Collaborate with cross-functional leaders to align quality initiatives with business goals.
- Innovate and implement best practices to continuously enhance quality standards.
Skills and Experience
The ideal candidate will have the following skills and attributes:
- Proven leadership experience in food, dairy, or process manufacturing quality roles.
- Proven expertise in quality system transformation, continuous improvement, and compliance strategy.
- Strong knowledge of food safety systems, RMP frameworks, and regulatory requirements (infant formula a bonus).
- Practical experience in driving cultural change and embedding food safety ownership into frontline teams.
- A calm, credible, and hands-on leadership style - someone who thrives on complexity and can support stabilisation
- Strong workload management and cross-functional leadership skills.
- Confidence to take ownership, make the tough calls, and bring people along for the ride.
About Us – The Synlait Way
Synlait is a dynamic, purpose-led milk nutrition company that is Doing Milk Differently for a Healthier World! We pride our organisation as being different and allowing our spirit to drive our success, shifting perceptions and driving value through new thinking and a new attitude.
You’ll be joining down-to-earth, authentic people working together to create the very best in milk nutrition as we combine expert farming with innovative thinking and state-of-the-art processing to produce a range of nutritional milk products for our global customers.
We will challenge you by providing the opportunities you’ve been seeking to expand your career; we believe that everyone brings unique experiences and perspectives to the table so are committed to creating an inclusive workplace and embrace diversity to drive innovation and business success.
What we offer:
- Health insurance cover + Partnered with top brands for great benefits and discounts
- Excellent parental leave with our Matua policy
- World Class manufacturing facilities and BCorp TM certified
- Social Club membership opportunities
What's next?
Include your most recent CV and cover letter summarising your abilities and what you can bring to Synlait. We wish you the best of luck in your application. We encourage you to apply early as we will be reviewing applications regularly and may close the advertisement early.
Together we will continue to create a workplace where everyone can thrive and contribute their best.
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