Assistant Quality Assurance Manager
Join Us in Tamworth, NSW

An exciting opportunity exists for an experienced Assistant Quality Assurance Manager to join Australia’s largest small stock processing plant in Tamworth, NSW — the heart of the Current England and Australia’s country music capital.

This role offers the opportunity to work with a diverse, passionate and empowered team, helping drive high standards of food safety, product quality and compliance across a fast-paced red meat export operation.

As Assistant Quality Assurance Manager, you will play a critical hands-on leadership role in ensuring both company and customer expectations are consistently met. This position is ideal for an experienced QA professional ready to take the next step into leadership, or an existing Assistant QA Manager looking to further develop their technical and operational capability within the red meat export industry.

The Role

Reporting into the Quality Assurance function, you will help lead and maintain the site’s food safety, quality and compliance systems while supporting the broader production team to achieve operational excellence.

Key responsibilities include:

- AQIS/DAFF Compliance — Ensure applicable Australian export requirements are met, maintained and continuously improved.

- Quality Systems — Maintain and uphold HACCP, GMP, Integrated Management Systems (IMS), environmental management and quality programs.

- Food Safety & Microbiology — Oversee sampling, environmental monitoring, interpretation of results and trend analysis.

- Audits & Compliance — Support internal, customer, regulatory and third-party audits, ensuring corrective actions are effectively implemented.

- Investigation & Improvement — Lead root-cause investigations and corrective and preventative actions to address quality and food safety issues.

- Training & Culture — Support food safety,



quality and compliance training and promote a strong quality culture across the operation.

- Leadership — Provide confident, practical QA leadership across all levels of the production environment.

What We’re Looking For

To succeed in this role, you will bring a strong combination of technical knowledge, practical industry experience and leadership capability.

Experience & Qualifications

- Experience in quality assurance within red meat processing, food manufacturing or another regulated export environment.

- Practical knowledge of food microbiology, including sampling, environmental monitoring, result interpretation and trend analysis.

- Working knowledge of HACCP, GMP and food safety management systems.

- Experience with AUS-MEAT specifications and standards.

- Understanding of the Meat Hygiene Assessment framework.

- Certificate III in Meat Processing or equivalent qualification is highly regarded.

- Familiarity with Australian export meat requirements, DAFF, BRCGS, AUS-MEAT and customer audit standards will be highly regarded.

- Strong investigation, root-cause analysis and corrective-action skills.

- Excellent attention to detail, organisation and written communication skills.

- The ability to remain calm, make sound decisions and manage competing priorities in a fast-paced production setting.

People & Culture

We’re looking for someone who will lead by example and contribute positively to our team culture.

You will be someone who:





- Takes ownership and pride in their work.

- Sets realistic, achievable goals and follows through on commitments.

- Is honest, positive, helpful and respectful.

- Builds strong working relationships and communicates confidently at all levels.

- Is team-focused, supportive and collaborative.

- Welcomes feedback and is committed to continuous learning.

- Is adaptable and comfortable working in a changing, fast-paced production environment.

What We Offer

- Competitive salary

- Full-time position — 38 hours per week

- Access to corporate discounts through the Flare Benefits Program

- The opportunity to develop your career within the Australian red meat export industry

- A hands-on leadership role with genuine scope to build your technical and operational capability

Why Tamworth?

Located in the heart of the New England region, Tamworth offers the best of regional living with the benefits of a thriving regional centre.

Known as Australia’s country music capital, Tamworth provides an excellent lifestyle with access to great schools, sporting facilities, natural attractions, restaurants and a strong local community — all while offering the opportunity to build a rewarding long-term career in the red meat processing industry.

The Quality Ingredients for Success

If you’re an experienced QA professional ready to step into a leadership role, or an existing Assistant QA Manager looking for your next challenge, we’d love to hear from you.

Join our team and play a key role in delivering excellence in food safety, quality and compliance.

Apply Today

If this sounds like the right opportunity for you, we’d love to hear from you.

For more information, contact our Recruitment Team:

For more information, contact our recruitment team:
? 0429 901 ***
? ***************@thomasfoods.com

📌 Assistant Quality Assurance Manager (Tamworth)
🏢 Thomas Foods International
📍 Tamworth