Specialist, Food Safety & Quality Systems
Date: 17 Oct 2025
Location: HK
Company: McDonald's Corporation
Company Description
McDonald’s is proud to be one of the most recognized brands in the world, with restaurants in over 100 countries that serve 70 million customers daily. As the global leader in the food service industry, our legacy of innovation and hard work continues to drive us.
From drive thru updates to delivery to mobile order and pay, we are innovating quickly and growing. Joining McDonald's means thinking big and preparing for a career that can have influence around the world.
The Specialist, Quality Centre APMEA (Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa), reports to the APMEA Quality Center Lead. The incumbent supports the APMEA Quality Center with operational and technical responsibilities, including but not limited to the overall arrangement of sample shipment and product evaluations sessions. The role involves close collaboration with suppliers and internal teams/markets to ensure smooth processes and timely execution.
Department Overview
McDonald’s is proud to be one of the most recognized brands in the world, with restaurants in over 100 countries serving 70 million customers daily. As the global leader in the food service industry, our legacy of innovation and hard work continues to drive us forward.
At McDonald’s, we view each day as an opportunity to make a positive impact. Our value - centered on inclusivity, service, integrity, community and family, guide everything we do. From supporting Ronald McDonald House Charities to advancing youth opportunities and sustainability initiatives, we are committed to using our scale for good: good for our customers, our people, our industry and our planet.
Duties
Principal Responsibilities
Functional
Quality Center Operations
- Coordinate sample shipment requests in line with the Quality Centre Calendar and activities
- Manage import permissions where applicable
- Liaise with freight forwarders and customs authorities
- Receive samples and ensure accurate documentation, data entry, and storage
- Review and verify freight forwarder invoices
- Prepare product evaluation sessions in accordance with SOPs
Sensory Program
- Participate in product evaluation sessions, with possibility to co-facilitate/lead some
- Monitor target samples stocks and shelf lives
- Support the McDonald’s Target Program
- Implement sensory evaluation tools and procedures, including sensory scoresheets, SOPs, and glossaries
- Manage Target Sample Program and perform sensory tests
- Report sensory results to suppliers
- Assist in planning and executing sensory training programs, and market calibrations depending on skills and experience
- Active participation alongside Quality Center peers in Global Sensory Team meetings
People/Relationship Management
- Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and internal teams (Quality Systems, Menu, Equipment, RSG)
- Embrace and promote McDonald’s Supply Chain culture
- Act as an extended member of the Global Sensory Team (GST) to ensure alignment and calibration on Global Gold Standards products and equipment initiatives
Qualifications
Skills and Competencies
Aligned with McDonald’s BEST talent model, the ideal candidate will demonstrate:
- A strong desire to learn, ask questions and solve problems
- Ability to deliver high-quality work efficiently
- Independence in execution while collaborating effectively with colleagues and suppliers
- Strong organizational navigation and networking skills
- Resourcefulness in leveraging internal and external expertise to achieve goals
- Ability to lead through influence and represent the Global Quality Center with credibility
- Excellent skills and ability to work well across cultures, levels, and functions
- Strong analytical and project management capabilities with attention to detail
- Proficiency in spoken and written English
- Tech savviness, with strong skills in Excel, PowerPoint and Word
Qualifications and Work Experience
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Quality Systems, Food Science, Food Service or a related field highly desirable
- Minimum 2 years of relevant experience, background in Food & Beverage or Catering is an advantage
- Experience in sensory evaluation and its application in food is a plus
- Candidates with more experience may be considered for the role of Consultant, Quality Centre APMEA
- Occasional travel may be required, depending on the candidate’s experience, capability, and involvement in related initiatives
Competencies
Additional information
At McDonalds we are People from all Walks of Life...
People are at the heart of everything we do, and they make the McDonalds experience. We embrace diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture that means people can be their best authentic self in our restaurants and offices, which helps us to better serve our customers. We have a strong heritage of diversity and representation within our communities, which we are proud of. The diversity of our people, customers, Franchisees, and suppliers gives us strength.
We do not tolerate inequality, injustice, or discrimination of any kind. These are hugely important issues and a brand with our reach and relevance means we have a very meaningful role to play.
We also recognise our responsibility as a large employer to continue being active in our communities, helping to develop skills and drive aspirations that will help people to be more aware of the world of work and more successful within it, whether with McDonalds or elsewhere.