A leading FMCG food retail and distribution company based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is now actively hiring an experienced and analytical Quality Control Manager to lead QC operations across their Distribution Centre (DC). This full-time leadership role is responsible for ensuring QC Inspectors apply quality SOPs and standards to all inbound and outbound deliveries — covering Fresh Produce, Chilled Meat, Frozen, FMCG Food, and Non-Food categories — while maintaining full compliance with SFDA regulations and driving continuous quality improvement across all DC operations.
About the Role — Quality Control at DC Level, Riyadh KSA
Industry: FMCG Food Retail & Distribution — Riyadh Distribution Centre Operations
Scope: Full QC management for inbound/outbound deliveries across Fresh, Chilled, Frozen, FMCG categories
Compliance: SFDA regulatory compliance, corporate QA standards, and food safety management systems
Team: Leads and develops a team of QC Inspectors across all DC receiving and storage operations
Reporting: Reports to NPI & QC Manager with KPI and performance dashboards for senior leadership review
SFDA Compliance & Regulatory Focus
Authority: Saudi Food & Drug Authority (SFDA) — primary regulatory framework for all food safety compliance
Food Alert: Manages food recall procedures including destructive sampling and full escalation reporting
Audit Ready: Conducts annual DC QC audits verifying compliance with food safety and hygiene standards
Documentation: Full traceability documentation for regulatory compliance, auditing, and vendor performance management
Position Overview
The Quality Control Manager in Riyadh is a senior operational role responsible for the full management of quality control activities across a busy FMCG Distribution Centre. This professional ensures QC inspectors correctly apply quality SOPs and produce specifications during receiving inspections, manages acceptance, partial rejection, and rejection decisions on deliveries, handles supplier conformance documentation across all food categories, and leads data-driven reporting on vendor performance and rejection rates. If you are an experienced bilingual quality professional actively searching for Quality Control Manager jobs in Riyadh or Saudi Arabia in 2026, this comprehensive role offers outstanding scope, real leadership responsibility, and a direct contribution to food safety across one of Saudi Arabia’s most dynamic FMCG distribution operations.
Why This Role Matters: As Quality Control Manager in Riyadh, you directly safeguard consumer safety by ensuring all inbound and outbound FMCG deliveries meet SFDA regulations and company quality standards, lead and develop a team of QC Inspectors across Fresh, Chilled, Frozen, and FMCG product categories at a major Riyadh DC, manage critical supplier rejection decisions and vendor performance scorecards that directly impact the company’s supply chain quality and commercial relationships, drive annual DC audits, food recall procedures, and pest control programs that protect customers from food safety hazards, and build a high-impact quality management career within Saudi Arabia’s fast-growing food retail and distribution sector.
Key Responsibilities
QC Operations — Receiving & Inspection Management
- Ensure the QC team complies fully with the agreed receiving process, checking products based on SOPs and newly agreed Produce Specifications, and determines the accurate sample size for Fresh and FMCG product inspection on every delivery
- Manage Receive, Partial Reject, or Reject delivery recommendations and communicate directly with buyers to ensure appropriate actions are taken with suppliers so that accepted products fully comply with established specifications
- Manage daily receiving supplier and product conformance documentation across Produce, Chilled Meat, Frozen, FMCG Food, and Non-Food categories in full compliance with SFDA’s regulatory requirements to avoid violations at DC and store level
- Ensure physical and system stock identification is aligned to correct storage specifications — maintaining a right-stock-in-right-place approach across all DC storage zones
Food Safety, Recalls & Near-Expiry Management
- Ensure full compliance with the food alert procedure and manage product recalls at the DC by applying destructive sampling and submitting complete, timely reports to the Head of NPI and QC for proper escalation
- Manage the inspection of product stock nearing expiry or at risk of deterioration — aligning the inventory team and commercial stakeholders on outcomes including system locking, supplier redelivery requests, or financial deductions
- Support DC team on managing pest control programs for quality and hygiene purposes, ensuring the distribution centre remains compliant with all relevant food safety and sanitation standards
- Conduct annual DC QC audits to verify full compliance with standard requirements, protecting customers from potential food safety hazards and upholding the highest hygiene standards across the facility
Team Leadership, Training & Capability Building
- Continuously train QC team members in their specific area of operation to ensure full compliance with quality standards, build individual capabilities, and maintain a consistently skilled and high-performing QC inspection team
- Contribute to creating and updating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) related to daily DC store operations including Receiving, Storage, Personal Hygiene, and Food Safety to comply with regulatory and company requirements
- Manage and maintain all documentation related to DC activities for auditing and traceability requirements including training records, audit reports, and handover documentation
- Lead by example in embedding a culture of quality excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement across the entire QC team and wider DC operation
Data Management, Reporting & KPI Tracking
- Manage monthly status reports covering minor and major quality-related matters to be shared and discussed with the NPI & QC Manager as part of an ongoing continuous improvement program
- Manage and maintain all receiving and rejection data records — sending daily, weekly, monthly, and annual reports to Commercial, Supply Chain, and QA teams based on vendor performance and rejection rate data for performance analysis
- Establish and report KPIs that demonstrate continuous achievement of performance in accordance with all DC SOPs and work instructions, providing management with clear and actionable quality performance visibility
- Leverage data analysis and Statistical Quality Control knowledge to identify trends, flag risks, and drive evidence-based improvements in supplier quality and DC receiving performance
Qualifications & Requirements
Educational Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree or Diploma in Microbiology, Agricultural Engineering, Biology, Food Science, or a closely related scientific field — mandatory for all applicants
- Additional professional certifications in HACCP, ISO 22000, FSMS, or food safety management are considered a valuable advantage for this senior role
Experience Requirements
- 3 to 5 years of progressive experience including a minimum of 3 years in a quality control management position within the FMCG food retail or distribution industry
- Sound hands-on knowledge and experience of food items across Fresh Produce, Meat, Bakery, Deli, and Fishery categories is an important requirement for managing the full receiving inspection scope
- Familiarity with QA regulations set by the Corporate QA Team and a strong working understanding of SFDA’s food safety and compliance requirements in Saudi Arabia
Key Skills
- Proficiency in both spoken and written English and Arabic — bilingual communication is essential for this role given the need to work with diverse supplier, team, and management stakeholders
- Data analysis skills and working knowledge of Statistical Quality Control methods for vendor performance tracking and rejection rate analysis
- Basic knowledge of JDA and WMS (Warehouse Management Systems) for stock identification, system locking, and inventory compliance management purposes
- Understanding of banana ripening, other fruit ripening techniques, and testing procedures for dry and produce items relevant to the fresh category quality inspection scope
- Knowledge of chemicals and sanitizers used at warehouse level and their correct application in maintaining DC hygiene and food safety standards
Career Opportunity in Saudi Arabia’s FMCG & Food Retail Sector
Sector Growth: Saudi Arabia’s FMCG food retail and distribution industry is one of the Kingdom’s fastest-growing sectors under Vision 2030
SFDA Demand: Rising demand for experienced SFDA-compliant quality management professionals across Riyadh’s expanding DC network
Career Path: Quality Control Manager roles provide a clear pathway to Head of Quality, QA Director, and Supply Chain Quality leadership positions
Strategic Role: Quality managers in DC operations are increasingly seen as strategic business partners in Saudi Arabia’s retail supply chain transformation
About the Hiring Organization
This opportunity is with an established and prominent FMCG food retail and distribution company operating a major Distribution Centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The organization manages the supply of Fresh Produce, Chilled, Frozen, and FMCG food and non-food products across a network of retail stores, maintaining strict quality and food safety standards in full compliance with SFDA regulations and corporate QA requirements. As Saudi Arabia’s food retail and distribution sector continues its rapid expansion under Vision 2030, the Quality Control Manager role has never been more strategically critical — making this an outstanding career opportunity for the right quality management professional in the Kingdom today.
Apply: Submit your application through the relevant job listing portal — candidates with bilingual QC management experience in FMCG DC environments will receive priority consideration.
Who Should Apply?
- Microbiology or Agricultural Science Graduates: With 3–5 years of QC management experience in FMCG food retail or DC operations in Saudi Arabia or GCC
- QC Managers in Distribution: With hands-on experience managing inbound/outbound inspection, SFDA compliance, and supplier rejection processes
- Bilingual Quality Leaders: Fluent in English and Arabic with strong data analysis and statistical quality control capabilities
- Food Safety Compliance Specialists: With deep knowledge of Fresh Produce, Chilled, Frozen, and FMCG food category inspection and handling standards
- Experienced DC Quality Professionals: With WMS/JDA system knowledge and a proven track record of leading QC teams in fast-paced food retail distribution environments
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