Head of Quality, Safety and Sustainability

Location: melbourne
Salary: $$$$
Job Type: permanent
Contact: Robert Scacco
Six Degrees are proud to be partnering with a well-established food manufacturer on a critical senior leadership appointment. Reporting directly to the CEO, this role brings Quality, Safety and Sustainability pillars under one leader at a really exciting time for the business, with continued investment across plant and people as well as strong commercial growth. 

About the business:
This is a well established FMCG with scale, bringing together multiple manufacturing sites, a global supply base and a growth agenda backed by significant capital investment. Decision-making sits locally, manufacturing is valued and invested in and this values-led culture is committed to making food products they're proud of. Food safety and product quality is at the forefront of importance 

About the role:
The Head of Quality, Safety & Sustainability is a newly created appointment managing a strong, well resourced existing team. You'll lead three capable managers and set a 1, 3 and 5-year strategy across the portfolio. This is very much a blended role. You'll shape strategy at the leadership table while staying visible and hands-on across sites nationally. Key accountabilities include:
  • Safety: Lifting safety standards and leading a cultural shift where safety is owned by everyone. This is a "hearts and minds" mandate, not a policing one. You'll have the backing to grow the team and build a higher profile ground-floor presence for safety. 
  • Quality: Raising the profile of quality across multiple local sites and a larger overseas supplier network. The focus is on prevention, getting the basics right every time, and continuing the maturation of their quality systems.
  • Sustainability: Overseeing a portfolio including responsible sourcing, packaging, waste-water and championing modern slavery compliance.
  • Operational partnership: Holding standards across factory operations while building strong, trusted relationships with the COO and site leadership teams.
  • Growth readiness: Making sure standards keep pace with expansion, including new equipment and new sites.
  • Team leadership: Inheriting a capable team of managers and giving them the regular contact, support and structure to take their functions to the next level.
What we are looking for:
This is not a "BAU" compliance role. It's an opportunity for a senior food industry leader who can set direction, bring people on the journey and give the CEO real confidence across quality and safety. We are seeking:
  • A food manufacturing background, which is essential, with strong technical grounding in food safety and quality. 
  • Proven experience leading managers and setting and delivering a multi-year strategy.
  • Demonstrated success driving safety culture change within a manufacturing environment.
  • Confident cross-functional stakeholder management, including the ability to hold operations to account while keeping relationships strong.
  • An approachable, supportive leadership style that pairs high standards with real care for your team.
  • An interest in sustainability and ethical sourcing.
Why this role?
This is a rare chance to shape a newly created portfolio from day one, with a clear mandate, direct CEO sponsorship and a leadership team prepared to invest. You'll join a business that prides itself on culture and people, and you'll have real influence over how it grows safely and responsibly. The role is based in Melbourne's south-east with travel to sites locally and interstate. 

Hit APPLY NOW or reach out to Robbie Scacco (roberts@sde.com.au) OR Emily Gough (emilyg@sde.com.au) for a confidential discussion.

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