Quality Manager

Founded in Japan in 1887, Kao is passionate about making a difference in people's lives with our high quality products and services to create a Kirei Life for all - a beautiful life that respects the needs of our consumers and customers as well as the planet. We never compromise on quality and craft our products with care for the consumer and the environment.

As a company driven by purpose and strong corporate values we pride ourselves to be listed among the World's Most Ethical Companies since 19 consecutive years. Our corporate philosophy, the Kao Way, guides us in everything we do - acting with integrity, courageously driving innovation and treating each other with trust and respect.

Kao is built on a strong heritage of innovation and a cultural philosophy to always walk the right path. With over 130 years of experience, we’ve become a global leader in the FMCG industry, committed to providing care and enrichment to both people and the planet. Behind iconic brands like Bondi Sands, Bioré, John Frieda, Bio-Oil, Curel, Biozet Attack, Goldwell, and KMS, we’re making everyday routines feel extraordinary.

We are on the lookout for a proactive and detail-driven Quality Manager to join our team and play a pivotal role in ensuring our products meet the highest standards across our global beauty portfolio.  

What is the role?

As the Quality Manager, you will be the quality powerhouse behind some of the most loved beauty brands in the market. You will take the lead on quality for our Bondi Sands portfolio, ensuring our products meet the highest standards of quality, safety and performance while also supporting quality operations across our broader Kao brands.

You will partner closely with our central Quality function, Kao USA and work cross-functionally to embed best-practice quality assurance across the business, maintaining Kao’s commitment to quality standard and cGMP guidelines.

Key areas of responsibility will include:

• Establish and build relationships with 3rd party manufactueres and suppliers.
• Lead their qualification, development, and auditing against cGMP and Kao standards, preparing audit reports, recommendations, and follow-through actions.
• Investigate quality issues related to complaints, out of spec results, inspections, and non-conformances from distribution centers, 3PMs or other sources. Conduct root-cause analysis and implement corrective and preventive actions in coordination with relevant departments and suppliers
• Review Annual Product Review (APR) reports and prepare annual complaints summaries for all relevant products, ensuring accuracy and timely follow up with 3PMs as necessary.
• Collaborate with procurement, production, logistics, R&D, and other cross functional teams to ensure quality standards are met
• Partner with the Customer Experience Team to monitor, trend, and analyse consumer complaints, coordinating investigations and leading resolution activities.
• Oversee inspections processes (e.g. incoming goods, investigational, etc) and ensure regulatory standards are upheld.
• Act as the main point of contact with regulatory agencies and government authorities in Australia and across the AEMEA region, ensuring facility registrations, and compliance verifications, and regulatory requirements are met.
• Work closely with Austrailian 3PMs in collaboration with internal and external partners to establish and maintain product compliance.

The Ideal Candidate

Success in this role will come from demonstrated experience, a solutions focused mindset, and the ability to influence decision making across the business. You will have the confidence to lead conversations, guide quality strategy, and partner with teams to deliver innovation and product excellence across the Bondi Sands portfolio and broader Kao brand family.

Our ideal Quality Manager will have:

• 5+ years’ experience in Quality Management within the beauty, personal care, or cosmetics categories, ideally with exposure to suncare or FMCG products
• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biology or relevant scientifc discipline
• Accredited Quality Audit Certification
• Experience working within Global Quality, regulatory environments, or regulated manufacturing settings
• Excellent organisational, analytical, and communication skills, with the ability to present clear, actionable insights to stakeholders
• Proven problem-solving skills and experience investigating quality issues, implementing CAPAs, and leading process improvement initiatives
• Proficiency in Statistical Process Control (SPC) and other quality tools to evaluate process capability and drive continuous improvement
• Ability to build strong cross-functional relationships across internal teams and external partners.

Our offer to you

Based in Port Melbourne, you will join a team of passionate, hands-on, dedicated employees who work collaboratively in an open space. You will be rewarded with a competitive salary package, great learning & development, health & wellbeing initiatives & benefits, paid parental leave, flexibility, discounted products through our staff shop, glowing culture, and the rare opportunity to contribute your expertise to a global, market leading brand! 

Do you have what it takes? Apply now with your CV & cover letter.

Bondi Sands and Kao Corporation is committed to creating a diverse workplace that provides an equal opportunity for all. We value talent of diverse backgrounds and experiences at Kao and encourage all to apply to become a part of our journey.