Thomas Foods International — one of Australia’s largest family-owned food businesses, operating since 1988 with teams across Australia, the US, China, Japan, and Europe — is hiring an enthusiastic Quality Assurance Officer at its Cavan, South Australia site. Paying $65,000 – $69,000 plus superannuation, this full-time role reports to the QA Manager and covers pre-operational inspections, product and carton checks, temperature monitoring, quality records, customer specification liaison, sampling, and internal and external audits — a stable, progressive career opportunity for QA professionals with red meat or AUS-MEAT experience.
About Thomas Foods International — Premium Meat & Seafood Producer
Mission: Feeding families globally through premium quality products
Heritage: Family owned since 1988 — one of Australia’s largest family-owned food businesses
Global Reach: Teams across Australia, the US, China, Japan, and Europe supplying premium meat and seafood worldwide
Site: Cavan, Adelaide, South Australia — a major red meat processing location
Reporting Line: Reports directly to the QA Manager within a supportive, secure working environment
Career Growth & Quality Impact in South Australia
Stable Career: A secure, progressive career path with ongoing employment in a growing, industry-leading team
Competitive Package: $65K–$69K plus super — a competitive salary for QA officers in Australian food manufacturing
Global Exposure: Work with customer quality teams across international markets served by Thomas Foods
Specialist Skills: Build valuable red meat quality assurance and AUS-MEAT experience in a respected export business
Position Overview
The Quality Assurance Officer at Thomas Foods International in Cavan supports the QA Manager in maintaining product quality and food safety standards across the red meat operation. The role includes early-start pre-operational inspections, maintaining quality records and product specifications, implementing and following up on the company’s Quality Policy and documented Quality Management System, liaising with customer quality teams to keep specifications current, completing product checks against TFIA and customer specifications, monitoring storage temperatures, inspecting cartons for specification and temperature compliance, collecting samples, and taking part in internal and external audits.
Why This Role Matters: As QA Officer at Thomas Foods, you are the first line of defence for product quality in a business that ships premium meat to customers around the world. Your pre-operational inspections make sure the plant is ready before production starts, your product and carton checks confirm every shipment meets specification, your temperature monitoring protects the cold chain, and your records and audit support keep the business compliant and trusted by demanding international customers. Careful, consistent QA work here directly protects the Thomas Foods brand and the families it feeds.
Key Responsibilities
Pre-Operational Inspections & Product Checks
- Carry out pre-operational inspections, including early starts, to confirm the plant is ready and compliant before production begins
- Complete product checks to ensure products meet TFIA and customer specifications
- Inspect cartons for compliance with specification and temperature requirements
- Collect relevant samples as required for testing and verification
Quality Records, Systems & Documentation
- Maintain quality records, product specifications, and other quality data to support Quality Assurance reporting structures
- Initiate and follow up on implementation of the Company’s Quality Policy and documented Quality Management System
- Keep documentation accurate, current, and ready for review at any time
- Use computer applications confidently for record keeping, reporting, and data management
Temperature Monitoring & Cold Chain Compliance
- Monitor temperature requirements for storage of products across the facility
- Identify and report any temperature deviations promptly so corrective action can be taken
- Support compliance with cold chain requirements that protect product safety and shelf life
Customer Liaison & Audits
- Routinely liaise with customer quality teams to ensure specifications are up to date — allowing the maximum amount of compliant product without harming the consumer experience
- Participate in internal and external audits, supporting evidence gathering and corrective action follow-up
- Communicate clearly and confidently with colleagues, supervisors, and customer representatives
Qualifications & Requirements
Experience & Qualifications
- A minimum of 12 months of experience in a similar quality assurance field
- Relevant qualifications in Quality Assurance — Certificate IV in QA is desirable
- Experience in red meat quality assurance is strongly preferred
- AUS-MEAT food production experience is preferred
Skills & Personal Qualities
- Computer application and user skills for quality records and reporting
- Organised and detail oriented, with a careful approach to inspection and documentation
- Strong communication and leadership skills
- Willingness to work early starts as required for pre-operational inspections
What Thomas Foods Offers
- Secure Employment: Work within a growing team with secure, ongoing employment
- Industry Leader: Work for one of Australia’s leading family-owned food businesses
- Competitive Salary: $65,000 – $69,000 plus superannuation
About Thomas Foods International
Thomas Foods International has been family owned since 1988 and has grown into one of Australia’s largest family-owned food businesses. With teams across Australia, the United States, China, Japan, and Europe, the company grows, supplies, and distributes premium meat and seafood around the world, guided by a simple mission — to feed families globally through premium quality products. The Cavan, South Australia site offers QA professionals a stable and progressive career within a supportive working environment, where careful quality work is recognised as central to the company’s reputation with customers worldwide.
Career Excellence: Join Thomas Foods International in Cavan as Quality Assurance Officer — protecting premium meat quality through rigorous inspection, accurate records, and strong customer collaboration, with a competitive salary and secure ongoing employment.
Who Should Apply?
- QA Officers & Technicians: With 12+ months of food manufacturing quality assurance experience in Australia
- Red Meat Quality Specialists: With AUS-MEAT knowledge and hands-on meat processing QA experience
- Certificate IV QA Holders: Ready to build a progressive career in a stable, export-focused business
- Audit-Ready Food Professionals: Comfortable supporting internal and external audits and maintaining accurate quality records
- Early-Start Team Players: Reliable, detail-focused people who enjoy working with customer quality teams
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