Sixolisiwe Boko
Food Safety Manager
About
Quality Manager with demonstrated experience gained in the Spice Manufacturing & Distribution as well as various FMCG environments. Detailed deliverables incorporate ensuring company quality standards are maintained; verifying integrity of all raw materials; updating/ creating /implementing quality standards; ensuring food safety objectives are adhered to; managing/ implementing HACCP/ VACCP/ TACCP system; setting up annual food safety schedule based on trending/ impact/ severity; managing pest control; ensuring that hygiene/ sanitation conditions are maintaining; maintaining good housekeeping procedures; managing/ driving/ trending customer complaints/ non-conformances/ root cause analyses; ensuring all PRPs are in place/ maintained/ verified/ adhered to; maintaining supply food safety database; remaining up to date with food safety best practices to support supplier food safety programs; auditing; verifying all incoming materials (raw materials/ process aids/ packaging) against specification; ensuring implementation of Food Safety System (FSSC 22000) by updating documents and procedures to adhere to legislation/ regulations. Adept at calibrating\ verifying equipment; ensuring micro non-conformance is communicated and closed; monitoring raw material/ packaging at receiving; verifying OPRP records; assisting in development projects from initial concept to launch; sourcing suitable suppliers according to food safety/ price/ capacity/ terms; creating/ maintaining raw material/ packaging/ in-process/ finished product specifications; solving production challenges relating to new/ existing products; ensuring COA is received where applicable; documentation control; management reporting; key stakeholder engagement.
Experience
Food Safety Manager - Malinco Foods
(2026-03)
- Develop, implement, maintain, and continuously improve the Food Safety Management System (FSMS) in accordance with HACCP, GMP, ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, and retailer requirements.
- Ensure company compliance with food safety legislation, customer specifications, regulatory requirements, and internal quality standards.
- Conduct hazard analyses and risk assessments to identify food safety risks and implement effective preventive controls.
- Lead and manage HACCP team activities, including reviews, validations, verifications, and updates of HACCP plans.
- Monitor Critical Control Points (CCPs), Operational PRPs, and quality assurance processes to ensure product safety and compliance.
- Manage internal audits, supplier audits, and external certification audits, ensuring successful audit outcomes and close-out of non-conformances.
- Investigate customer complaints, non-conformances, deviations, and food safety incidents, and implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
- Review and approve raw materials, ingredients, product specifications, labels, packaging materials, and supplier documentation for compliance.
- Ensure allergen management controls are effectively implemented, maintained, and verified throughout production processes.
- Oversee environmental monitoring, microbiological testing programs, product sampling, and trend analysis to ensure product safety and quality.
- Monitor hygiene, sanitation, pest control, and housekeeping programs to ensure compliance with food safety standards.
- Conduct routine factory inspections and GMP audits to verify operational compliance and identify improvement opportunities.
- Manage traceability systems, mock recalls, product withdrawals, and recall procedures to ensure effective product tracking and crisis readiness.
- Train and mentor employees on food safety, hygiene, HACCP, allergen control, GMPs, and company procedures to promote a strong food safety culture.
- Collaborate with Production, NPD, Procurement, Warehousing, and technical teams to ensure food safety requirements are incorporated into product development and manufacturing processes.
- Review and verify Certificates of Analysis (COAs), supplier approvals, sanitation records, calibration records, and quality documentation.
- Ensure accurate completion, control, and retention of food safety records, SOPs, work instructions, and technical documentation.
- Monitor and trend quality and food safety KPIs, analyse data, and prepare management reports with recommendations for continuous improvement.
- Liaise with regulatory authorities, certification bodies, laboratories, customers, and suppliers regarding food safety and compliance matters.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance product quality, operational efficiency, compliance, and food safety performance.
Quality Manager - Spice Mecca (Manufacturer & Distributor of Pure, Ground & Whole Spices)
(2023-02 - 2026-02)
Ensure that the Company’s quality standards are maintained by:
- Conducting training and competence evaluation, communicating the results, implement and follow-up on corrective actions.
- Verifying outsourced products, packaging, and pre-requisite programmes.
- Verifying the integrity of all raw materials received and communicates the outcome.
- KPI’s
- Food Safety System
- Responsible for internal training requirements within the Food safety parameters.
- Ensure all operators handle equipment as per the correct Standard operational procedure
- Update, create, & implement procedures as needed.
- Lead Food Safety & Technical team meetings, and ensure changes are communicated timeously.
- Ensure the food safety objectives are adhered to and trended accordingly.
- Manage and implement HACCP, VACCP, & TACCP system.
- Set up annual food safety schedule based on trending, impact, & severity.
- Manage pest control, and ensure fogging is conducted at least 3 times a year.
- Verify correct & thorough completion of all records.
- Processing, Quality & Food Safety
- Ensure that the hygiene and sanitation conditions are maintained in the factory by conducting monthly micro swabbing for testing in external laboratory.
- Manage, drive, and trend Customer complaints, non-conformances, and root cause analyses.
- Ensure all Halaal and food safety certificates are up to date.
- Ensure all PRPs are in place, well maintained, verified, and adhered to.
- Maintain the supplier food safety database (supplier assessments, etc.).
- Remain engaged with food safety best practices to support supplier food safety programs.
- Ensure that the correct product specifications, for products being produced, are available.
- Assist with third party audits (FSSC, Environmental audits).
- Ensure GMP audit is done on time, properly, and all findings are closed out.
- Ensure the daily production and QC records are fully completed, and that any deviation from the norm is reported.
- Ensure that non-conformances are reported timeously and formally.
- Certificates of Analysis (COA’s) of raw materials received must be verified and kept on file in an organised manner.
- Draw up customer complaints and report to all the relevant parties (Sales, Dispatch etc.).
- Verify all incoming materials (raw materials & process aids & packaging) against specification, and ensure action is taken where needed.
- Ensure implementation of Food Safety System (FSSC 22000) by updating documents and procedures to adhere to legislation and regulation.
- Manage and oversee quality control supervisors and ensure that they are fulfilling their mandate in the company.
- Corrective action preventative action trending of NCRs
- Trending of NCRs.
- Ensure that all identified NCRs are closed, and corrective action implemented.
- Calibration and verification of equipment
- Ensure that calibration matrix is up to date and all calibration certificates are valid.
- Sign off verification records, ensure that verification of equipment is done as per specified frequency.
- Micro-monitoring procedure
- Ensure that micro-schedule is up to date.
- Ensure that micro non-conformance is communicated and closed.
- Training
- Conduct Training for all factory staff and quality control supervisors as per Site Training matrix.
- Product Recall and Retrieval procedure
- Conducting of mock recall when required.
- OPRP Monitoring
- Monitor raw material and packaging at receiving.
- Verify OPRP records.
- Product development
- Assist Project manager in development projects from initial concept to launch.
- Conduct factory trials and first productions on new lines.
- Evaluate samples, and coordinate tastings and bench-marking sessions.
- Conduct shelf-life tests to validate product shelf stability.
- Assist Procurement Manager in sourcing suitable suppliers according to food safety, price, capacity, and terms.
- Review technical supplier documentation on new suppliers / raw materials required in new developments.
- Create and maintain raw material, packaging, in-process, and finished product specifications.
- Assist in creating of artwork briefs according to relevant legislation, check artwork, and sign off print runs and online approval.
- Solve production challenges relating to new or existing produ
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