Head of Quality and Compliance

Jigsaw

Salary: ₹30 - 60 LPA
Experience: 10+ yrs
Location: Hyderabad

Required skills

food quality assurance
food safety
regulatory compliance

Nice to have

FoSTaC trainer certification
BRCGS practitioner qualification
SQF practitioner qualification

About the role

Head of Quality and Compliance — Job Description Oct 26, 2026 · @Chaitanya Muppala Role overview The Head of Quality and Compliance owns food safety, quality and regulatory compliance across the business, from raw material intake at the central production unit to the last product sold at every store and online channel. The role sets one quality standard for all sites, keeps the business FSSAI-compliant and audit-ready, and protects the brand's reputation for fresh, consistent products while supporting expansion and export readiness. Particular Requirement Job title Head – Quality and Compliance Function QualityAssurance, Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance Reporting to Vice President – Operations, with a direct line to the Managing Director / CEO on food safety and regulatory matters Location Hyderabad (central production unit), with travel to stores, production sites, warehouses, contract manufacturers, suppliers and logistics partners Experience 12–15 years in food QA/QC, food safety and regulatory compliance; at least 5 years leading quality across multiple production sites or a retail chain Team Production QA executives, store hygiene auditors, laboratory, documentation and regulatory staff Scope Sweets (milk-, ghee- and dry-fruit-based), namkeen and savouries, bakery, chocolates, dry fruits and gifting packs; retail stores, e-commerce, quick commerce, corporate orders, contract manufacturing, imports, exports and utilities quality Head of Quality and Compliance — Job Description Page 1 of 10 Key responsibilities Food safety management system Build and own the FSMS across the central production unit, satellite production units, warehouses and stores: HACCP, PRPs, GMP/GHP, SOPs, records, document control and change control. Drive the implementation of ISO 22000 / FSSC 22000 and BRCGS / SQF across manufacturing operations through to certification, and sustain them through internal audits, management reviews, and surveillance and recertification audits; extend to other GFSI-benchmarked standards where customers or export markets require them. Lead FSSAI Hygiene Rating or Eat Right certification for stores and keep it current. Act as Food Safety Team Leader; chair HACCP reviews and monthly quality reviews with management. Run internal audits across all sites and close non-conformities with root-cause analysis and CAPA. Oversee the in-house laboratory and the testing plan with NABL-accredited labs for microbiological, chemical and adulteration tests; verify laboratory competence and test methods, and manage out-of-specification results. Maintain retrievable records and digitise audits, checklists and traceability where practical. FSSAIlicensing, audits and inspections Keep FSSAI licences and registrations current for every production unit, store and warehouse; maintain a compliance register covering licence scope, activities, conditions, renewals, display and location-specific permissions. Ensure compliance with the FSS Act 2006 and regulations, including labelling and display, the "best before" display rule for loose sweets, permitted colours and additives, and contaminant limits. Lead preparation and handling of FSSAI audits, food safety officer inspections and official sampling across factories, stores, warehouses and storage premises. Act as the quality lead with regulatory authorities; ensure prompt access to accurate records and accountable site representatives. Prepare factual, evidence-backed replies to observations and show cause notices in coordination with Operations and legal advisers where required. Assign corrective-action owners and dates; verify implementation and effectiveness before reporting closure. Escalate critical or overdue actions. Head of Quality and Compliance — Job Description Page 2 of 10 Keep inspection files ready with testing records, traceability, training, sanitation, pest control, material acceptance and product-disposition evidence. Labelling, Legal Metrology and packaging compliance Approve labels, artwork and online listings for ingredient, allergen, nutrition, date and other mandatory declarations before launch, including gift-pack claims. Ensure Legal Metrology compliance for packaged goods, including registrations, net quantity, MRP declarations and weighing equipment. Review product and marketing claims for regulatory compliance before use. Coordinate packaging EPR and plastic waste compliance with EHS and Purchase. Raw material and supplier quality Set approved specifications for milk, khoa, paneer, ghee, sugar, flours, edible oils and fats, dry fruits, nuts, spices, colours, flavours, additives, silver varq and other ingredients. Approve, audit and rate suppliers through risk assessment, documentation, audits and performance review; verify applicable licences and product-specific declarations. Control the main adulteration and contamination risks: adulterated milk products and ghee, synthetic colours, aflatoxin in nuts and dry fruits, rancid oils, residues, pests and foreign matter. Define receipt checks for vehicle hygiene, temperature where relevant, packaging condition, batch identity, shelf life and supplier Certificates ofAnalysis. Maintain quarantine, sampling, acceptance and rejection controls; hold or reject non- conforming lots and prevent use of materials pending release. Investigate supplier failures, arrange controlled returns or disposal, and verify corrective action. Monitor trends and escalate repeated failures. Packaging material compliance and acceptance Approve specifications for primary, secondary and tertiary packaging, including material composition, dimensions, sealing performance and transport strength. Verify food-contact suitability, applicable migration and printing-ink compliance, supplier declarations and supporting test reports. Validate packaging for product compatibility, shelf life, cold chain, export transit and tamper evidence where required. Implement incoming sampling, defect classification, acceptance limits and documented rejection. Control obsolete artwork and prevent packaging mix-ups. Head of Quality and Compliance — Job Description Page 3 of 10 Production and product quality Define product specifications, process checkpoints, sampling plans, test methods and acceptance limits for all product categories. Define critical controls for cooking, cooling, frying, holding, packing and storage, with special focus on high-risk milk sweets; verify critical limits and escalation procedures under the food safety plan. Manage frying-oil quality through TPC monitoring, discard rules and oil reuse compliance. Oversee incoming, in-process and finished-product inspection, including sensory quality, weight, appearance, texture, packaging integrity and relevant safety parameters. Keep recipes, taste, texture and appearance consistent across batches and units through sensory panels and standard specifications. Control allergens, foreign bodies and cross-contamination through segregation, validated cleaning, line clearance and suitable detection or screening systems. Verify sanitation effectiveness, pest control and personal hygiene through records, surface checks and risk-based environmental monitoring. Run shelf-life studies and set "best before" periods by product, season and storage condition; approve changes before commercial implementation. Control rework, intermediate stock and work-in-progress through documented identity, time limits, storage requirements and approved disposition. Ensure traceable release of finished goods and investigate deviations before dispatch. Coordinate calibration of quality instruments. Retail stores and customer experience Create store-level standards for receiving, storage, display, serving, replenishment, cleaning and product withdrawal. Enforce FIFO rotation, "best before" labelling on trays, batch/date identification and defined display life, especially for short-shelf-life products. Prevent mixing fresh and older batches. Maintain clear withdrawal times and documented segregation and disposal of unsaleable stock. Audit display temperatures, refrigeration, utensil sanitation, personal hygiene, pest control, cleaning, allergen communication and protection of ready-to-eat foods. Ensure every store has a FoSTaC-trained Food Safety Supervisor. Conduct planned and unannounced inspections; grade findings by risk and verify closure with evidence. Head of Quality and Compliance — Job Description Page 4 of 10 Online and third-party channels Set quality and shelf-life-at-delivery standards for e-commerce, quick commerce, modern trade, corporate orders and gifting channels. Audit fulfilment partners and distributor warehouses for storage, rotation, temperature and hygiene. Approve, audit and monitor contract manufacturers and co-packers against agreed specifications and quality agreements. Cold chain, warehousing and distribution Define and validate product-specific chilled, frozen and ambient storage and transit conditions; establish maximum exposure times during handling. Oversee qualification and temperature mapping of cold rooms, freezers, refrigerated vehicles and display equipment with Engineering and Supply Chain. Implement calibrated temperature monitoring, data loggers, alarm limits and documented checks at dispatch, receipt and store handover. Assess temperature excursions using product risk, duration and available evidence; authorise hold, release, rejection or disposal decisions. Control cold chain and transport hygiene from production to stores and for e- commerce and corporate orders, including loading, pre-cooling, packaging, unloading and delivery practices; prevent uncontrolled thawing and refreezing. Audit logistics partners and warehouse practices, including segregation, hygiene, pest control, traceability and contingency arrangements for equipment or power failure. Import and export quality and compliance Ensure imported ingredients and packaging meet FSSAI import clearance requirements. Assess destination-market and customer requirements before approving products, ingredients, labels and packaging for export; maintain required facility and product registrations. Coordinate required testing, quality certificates and supporting documentation with export teams, approved laboratories and relevant agencies. Validate shelf life and packaging against actual transit duration, distribution conditions and expected storage at destination. Approve export specifications and shipment release checklists; verify batch traceability, container/vehicle condition and temperature records where applicable. Support overseas customer audits, importer queries and complaint investigations; maintain market-specific product dossiers and change controls. Head of Quality and Compliance — Job Description Page 5 of 10 Establish withdrawal/recall coordination across importers and distributors; communicate quality risks promptly through agreed escalation routes. Complaints,traceability and recalls Maintain batch traceability from raw material lot to store; run mock recalls at least twice a year across sites and channels. Investigate customer complaints and social media issues with Retail and Production using batch, store and distribution records; assess affected stock and drive corrective action. Own the product recall plan; lead withdrawals or recalls with the crisis team when needed. ETP and STP quality and compliance oversight Review the overall working of the ETP and STP with Engineering/EHS and ensure they operate effectively against applicable consent conditions, discharge or reuse requirements and internal standards. Define risk-based sampling and testing schedules; review relevant parameters such as pH, BOD, COD, suspended solids and other applicable limits. Verify laboratory reports, operating logs and corrective actions for out-of-limit results; identify risks from overflow, odour, leakage and inadequate treatment. Review sludge handling, disposal records and service-provider documentation with EHS; escalate non-compliance and require documented closure. Verify safe segregation of treated water and approved reuse arrangements, including identification of pipelines and prevention of cross-connections. WTP, RO and process water assurance Ensure all water in contact with food or food-contact surfaces meets potable water standards; define water-quality requirements at source, treatment, storage and point of use. Set sampling locations and chemical/microbiological testing schedules based on use and risk. Trend results and investigate deterioration. Verify filtration, RO, disinfection and other relevant treatment controls, including instrument calibration, maintenance and sanitisation records. Review tank hygiene, distribution loops, dead legs and cross-connection risks; coordinate corrective work and verify effectiveness. Define isolation, alternate-water and product-risk assessment procedures for water failures; approve return to use based on satisfactory evidence. Head of Quality and Compliance — Job Description Page 6 of 10 Working accountability: Engineering retains day-to-day plant operation and maintenance; EHS coordinates environmental permits and statutory submissions. The Head of Quality and Compliance owns quality standards, regulatory compliance, verification, food safety risk assessment and escalation, and works with both functions to close gaps. People and culture Build, lead and develop a capable QA team across production sites and stores, with clear responsibilities, site coverage, succession plans and escalation routes. Run food safety training for production, store and logistics staff and food handlers, and build a culture where hygiene is everyone's job. Partner with Production, Retail, Purchase, Supply Chain, Engineering, EHS, Marketing and Product Development on preventive controls and new launches. Present a monthly quality dashboard to the Vice President – Operations. Manage the QA budget, including laboratory, testing, certification, audit and pest control contracts; reduce avoidable losses without weakening safety or release standards. Decision-making authority Hold or reject non-conforming raw materials, packaging, intermediate stock and finished products under approved procedures. Stop an affected process, dispatch or sale when food safety is at risk; escalate promptly to Operations. Block release of any non-compliant label, listing or claim. Approve quality disposition and restart/release only after satisfactory evidence and required corrective action. Recommend supplier or contract-manufacturer suspension, packaging or process changes, and additional controls based on documented risk. Key performance indicators The targets below are suggested starting points; final numbers are set with management. KPI Suggested target Certification (ISO 22000 / FSSC 22000, BRCGS / SQF) Certification achieved to plan; zero major non-conformities at audits Regulatory compliance Zero FSSAI notices or failed official samples; zero lapsed licences Head of Quality and Compliance — Job Description Page 7 of 10 Qualifications and experience Essential Bachelor's or Master's degree in Food Technology, Food Science, Dairy Technology, Microbiology or a related field. 12–15 years in food QA/QC, with at least 5 years leading quality across multiple production sites or a retail chain. Hands-on experience in Indian sweets, namkeen, dairy, bakery, chocolates or QSR/food retail, covering both manufacturing and multi-location retail. Has led an organisation through ISO 22000 / FSSC 22000 and BRCGS / SQF certification audits. Strong working knowledge of the FSS Act 2006 and FSSAI regulations, especially licensing, labelling, sweet-shop display rules and contaminant limits; working knowledge of Legal Metrology. Direct responsibility for FSSAI audits, regulatory inspections, responses to observations and corrective-action closure. Hands-on experience in export quality compliance and chilled/frozen cold chain management. Quality oversight of contract or third-party manufacturers. KPI Suggested target Store hygiene audit score ≥ 90% average across all stores FSSAI Hygiene Rating "Excellent" (5 smileys) for all eligible stores Consumer complaints < 1 per 10,000 bills Lab results within spec ≥ 98% of samples (micro and chemical) Internal audit NCs closed on time ≥ 95% Mock recall traceability 100% of lots traced within 4 hours Food safety training completed 100% of production and store staff Supplier and partner quality Repeat supplier failures and partner audit findings trending down; target set with management Cold chain and utility assurance Excursions and water failures with timely disposition; target set with management Head of Quality and Compliance — Job Description Page 8 of 10 Experience overseeing ETP/STP and WTP/RO quality monitoring and compliance, working with Engineering and EHS. Lead Auditor certification (ISO 22000 / FSSC 22000) and HACCP Level 3 or above. Preferred Experience with milk-based sweets and their microbial risks. Has run hygiene programmes for a chain of 10+ retail outlets. FoSTaC trainer certification, or FSSAI Hygiene Rating auditor experience. BRCGS / SQF practitioner qualification. Experience with e-commerce food packaging and shelf life. Working knowledge of Telugu or Hindi to train shop-floor and store teams. Skills and competencies Area What good looks like Technical Dairy and sweets microbiology, adulteration testing, frying-oil management, shelf-life and packaging science, sensory evaluation Systems Designs practical SOPs and checklists that work in a busy kitchen and store; comfortable with digital audit and traceability tools Leadership Builds and coaches a team spread across production and stores; sets clear standards and enforces them fairly Influence Works with leadership, production, purchase and store operations; can stop a batch or a launch, and explain why Problem solving Uses root-cause tools (5 Whys, fishbone, 8D) and makes decisions from data Communication Trains shop-floor staff simply; confident with food safety officers, auditors and customers Integrity Puts consumer safety ahead of festive-season volume pressure Head of Quality and Compliance — Job Description Page 9 of 10 Key interfaces and working conditions Internal: management and directors, production heads, purchase, stores and retail operations, supply chain and logistics, engineering and EHS, marketing (labels, packs, claims), product development, HR (training) and customer service. External: FSSAI and GHMC/state food safety officers, Legal Metrology officials, certification bodies, NABL-accredited labs, raw material and packaging suppliers, contract manufacturers, logistics and fulfilment partners, pest control agencies, and corporate, e-commerce and export customers. Working conditions: based at the Hyderabad central production unit, with daily time on the production floor. Regular unannounced store visits; extended hours during festive peaks (Diwali, Sankranti, Rakhi, wedding season).

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Head of Quality and Compliance

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