Tupande Senior Quality Assurance Supervisor (Fixed-term)

How to Apply: Interested and qualified candidates should apply through the One Acre Fund job board at job-boards.greenhouse.io. Visit the application link to submit your application.

Prove Your Food Safety Systems Knowledge Before the Interview

Quality assurance roles in food processing attract many applicants, but hiring managers quickly filter for real ISO 22000, HACCP, or BRCGS experience. This role demands someone who can hold a line on moisture specs, catch mold before it spreads, and keep records that would survive an audit. Your CV and interview answers need to show you have done exactly that.

1. Map your food safety certifications to the job: The posting explicitly asks for ISO 22000, HACCP, FSSC 20000, or BRCGS experience. On your CV, list each standard you have worked with and briefly note the scope—was it implementation, internal auditing, or daily compliance? If you have led a team through a BRCGS audit, say so and mention the outcome. Hiring managers want to see that you understand the difference between a certificate on the wall and a system that actually prevents contamination.

2. Quantify your defect-catching record: Instead of saying you have attention to detail, give numbers. For example, "Reduced customer complaints by 15% by tightening incoming raw material checks" or "Identified a recurring mold issue during in-process sampling that saved 2 tons of product from rejection." The job description emphasizes early detection of immature nuts, insect damage, and mold, so any example where you caught a defect before dispatch is gold. Prepare to explain the sampling method you used and how you escalated the finding.

3. Prepare for questions on hold-and-release authority: This role gives you the power to place batches on hold if they fail moisture specs or show contamination. Interviewers will probe how you handle pushback from production managers who want to keep the line moving. Have a story ready where you held a batch, documented the reason, and worked with operations to resolve it without compromising quality. Show that you can be firm but collaborative.

4. Show you can manage shift rotas and peak season pressure: The posting mentions managing shift rotas to ensure no production line runs without QA presence. Be ready to discuss how you have scheduled teams during high-volume periods, handled absenteeism, and maintained coverage. If you have experience with macadamia or other tree nuts, highlight it—the job says macadamia processing experience is preferred. Even if you have not worked with macadamia, explain how you quickly learned a new product's critical control points in a previous role.

5. Demonstrate training and competency matrix experience: You will be responsible for maintaining training matrices for QA and sanitation teams. Interviewers may ask how you assess competency, especially for sanitation staff on chemical safety or QA staff on sampling validity. Describe a time you identified a training gap and closed it. For example, "I noticed new hires were misreading moisture meters, so I created a one-page visual guide and ran a refresher session." That shows you build systems, not just check boxes.

6. Brush up on prerequisite programs and pest control: The role involves routine PRP inspections covering sanitation, pest control, glass and hard plastic control, and waste management. Review common PRP elements and be ready to discuss how you have monitored them. If you have reviewed pest control service reports and escalated adverse trends, mention it. Interviewers may give you a scenario where pest activity spikes—walk them through your investigation and corrective action steps.

7. Emphasize your ability to monitor the monitors: The job description stresses that you are responsible for the accuracy of your team, including verifying CCP records to prevent falsification. This is a trust-heavy role. Prepare examples of how you ensured data integrity, such as conducting independent verification checks or spot-auditing records. If you have ever discovered a discrepancy in monitoring logs, explain how you handled it—retraining, disciplinary action, or process change—without throwing anyone under the bus.

8. Connect your experience to customer and export standards: The role requires ensuring finished products meet internal specifications, export standards, and customer-specific requirements. Research common macadamia export standards (e.g., size, color, defect limits) and be ready to talk about how you have translated customer specs into daily grading criteria. If you have worked with international buyers, mention how you handled their audits or quality complaints. This shows you understand the commercial stakes behind every quality decision.