Quality Assurance Specialist at TalentSquare

Talentsquare is on a mission to make human resource the number one priority for every business in Africa and the wider community. We partner with stakeholders to understand how best to develop and place talents, improving how people launch out in their careers, build or learn to develop their skills.Job Description

The Quality Assurance Specialist will be responsible for developing, implementing, and continuously improving the company’s quality management systems to ensure all garments meet premium standards, customer specifications, and international compliance requirements.
This role is central to safeguarding brand reputation by enforcing quality controls from raw material intake through to final product release, applying recognized standards such as ISO 9001 and AQL, and driving a culture of defect prevention and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities
Quality Planning & Policy Implementation:

Develop, maintain, and communicate the company’s quality policy in line with ISO 9001 and AQL standards.
Ensure QA systems align with buyer requirements, ethical manufacturing standards, and global compliance regulations.
Lead the creation, review, and enforcement of Quality SOPs.
Identify and implement process improvements to enhance first-pass yield and reduce defect rates.

Raw Material & Fabric Inspection:

Inspect incoming fabrics, trims, and accessories against approved specifications.
Approve or reject materials before production begins.
Document and escalate non-conformances, collaborating with procurement and suppliers for resolution.

In-Process Quality Control:

Conduct in-line, mid-line, and end-line inspections during cutting, stitching, and finishing stages.
Benchmark work-in-progress against approved samples, patterns, and technical specifications.
Partner with technicians and supervisors to resolve issues swiftly and prevent defective bulk output.

Final Product Inspection & Approval:

Carry out final inspections using AQL standards and internal benchmarks.
Approve or reject finished goods prior to packing and shipment.
Validate size sets, prints, embroidery, washes, and finishing requirements before release.

Compliance, Audits, Documentation & Reporting:

Ensure production processes meet ISO 9001, buyer-specific, and ethical manufacturing guidelines.
Maintain QA documentation, inspection records, defect logs, and compliance reports.
Provide weekly and monthly quality performance updates to the Head of Factory Operations.

Team Leadership, Training & Continuous Improvement:

Supervise and mentor QA staff, including garment technicians.
Deliver training to production teams on SOPs, inspection standards, and defect prevention.
Identify recurring quality issues, propose corrective actions, and lead process improvements.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Defect Percentage: Maintain defect rate within approved limits.
First-Pass Yield: Increase percentage of garments passing inspection without rework.
Audit Scores: Maintain or exceed compliance audit targets.
Complaint Reduction: Reduce quality-related customer complaints over time.
Inspection Timeliness: Complete all scheduled inspections without delays.
Inspection Accuracy: Ensure alignment between inspection results and buyer feedback.
Training Effectiveness: Demonstrate measurable post-training improvement in team performance.

Requirements
Qualifications:

Bachelor’s Degree or diploma in Textile Technology, Garment Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
Minimum 5 years of quality control/assurance experience in garment manufacturing, with at least 2 years in a senior QA role.
Certifications in Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, or ISO Quality Management Systems preferred.
Proven track record in reducing defect rates and improving quality consistency.

Skills & Competencies:

Strong knowledge of garment construction, production processes, and quality assurance techniques.
Proficiency in AQL inspection methods and ISO 9001 standards.
Exceptional attention to detail, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
Strong communication and collaboration abilities to influence production teams.
Ability to work under pressure and meet strict production deadlines.
Familiarity with ERP or production management systems for quality tracking (advantage).