Head of Quality (m/f/d)

Join us and celebrate the beauty of human experience. Create for happier, healthier lives, with love for nature. Together, with kindness, humility, and a spirit of adventure, we deliver food innovations, craft inspired fragrances and develop beauty and wellbeing solutions. There’s much to learn from our 79 production sites worldwide, known for their best-in-class processes and procedures. There’s many to learn from, with high-performing leaders and caring colleagues to explore ideas and ambitions with. Every day, your energy, your personality, and your determination will shape our future, making a positive difference on billions of people. Every essence of you enriches our world. We are Givaudan. Human by nature.

As Head of Quality, you will be responsible for planning, organising and overseeing the implementation of local quality programmes. Providing leadership to a team of experts, you will guide our daily quality control and assurance activities, ensuring we meet our commitment to excellence. In this exciting role you will work in a dynamic environment and will work as a part of the engaged Site Leadership team.

You will be based in our manufacturing site in Dübendorf and report directly to the Head of Operations Zürich.

In this exciting role you will:

People Management:

• Lead the Quality Systems and Quality Control team (approximately 22 employees)
• Promote a culture of excellence and continuous improvement
• Manage personal and team performance, provide coaching and develop local talents in collaboration with Operations Management and Human Resources
• Responsible for the hiring of department staff

Quality Management System (QMS) Compliance:

• Ensure adherence to Global QM requirements and maintain accreditation standards (FSSC 22'000, Halal/Kosher, Good Manufacturing Practice)
• Monitor compliance status and lead the implementation of quality-related processes
• Facilitate Management Review meetings to assess site QMS performance
• Maintain internal audit schedules and coordinate external quality audits
• Lead vendor audits and improve vendor performance
• Lead customer audits

Quality Control and Non-Conformance management:

• Ensure the QC function is adequately resourced and trained
• Maintain the integrity of QC test results and ensure technical support for material quality issues
• Oversee processes for managing non-conformances, including customer complaints and product recall
• Coordinate responses to client-related quality inquiries and evaluations
• Responsible for final batch release of raw materials and finished products

Your professional profile includes:

• University degree in Chemistry, Analytical or Food Science, Process Engineering or a related discipline
• At least 5 years of experience in a similar role with Leadership experience and subject matter expertise in quality management
• Fluent in German, business fluent in English
• Technical skills and understanding of process development, auditing, risk assessments (HACCP, FMEA, Hygienic Engineering Standards)
• Knowledge of laboratory operations, production methods, and quality control systems
• Familiarity with product safety principles, global standards, and regulations
• Understanding of sensory principles and data analysis of sensory results
• Expert in leadership and used to work in a fast pace environment
• Track record in continuous improvement and problem solving

What we offer in Dübendorf:

• Excellent opportunities for progressive learning and development
• 40 hour working week, flexible working hours
• Additional paid days off
• Favorable pension fund contributions
• Subsidized meals in the Staff restaurant
• Sport and leisure club (amenities/showers on site)
• Discounts at the company shop
• Subsidized: REKA vouchers and SBB half fare travelcard
• Worldwide private accident coverage and free choice of hospital
• Additional family/education allowance

Every essence of you enriches our world.
Givaudan is committed to equal opportunities. Therefore, we welcome applications regardless of cultural and social background, gender, age, religion or sexual identity.
We also have a safe working environment, progressive working conditions and are certified as an equal pay employer.