Key duties and responsibilities

A.Quality Management Systems

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve the Company's Quality Management System (QMS), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and quality standards across manufacturing and supply chain operations.
• Ensure effective implementation and maintenance of HACCP, GMP, ISO, and other applicable food safety and quality frameworks.
• Drive standardization, process discipline, and quality governance across all manufacturing activities.
• Monitor compliance with internal quality systems and recommend improvements to strengthen operational effectiveness.
• Lead periodic reviews of quality systems to ensure they remain relevant, effective, and aligned to business requirements.
• Promote a culture of quality ownership and continuous improvement throughout the organization.

Expected Output

A robust, sustainable, and auditable quality management framework that supports operational excellence and protects the Company's brands.

B.Product Quality and Food Safety

• Lead quality assurance activities across the manufacturing process to ensure products consistently meet defined quality and food safety standards.
• Establish and monitor critical quality control points throughout production and packaging operations.
• Drive implementation and continuous improvement of HACCP, GMP, sanitation, hygiene, and food safety programmes.•Investigate quality deviations, non-conformances, and food safety incidents, ensuring effective root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Support product release processes by ensuring compliance with approved specifications and quality standards.
• Promote proactive risk management to prevent product quality failures and protect consumer safety.

Expected Output:

Consistent production of safe, compliant, and high-quality products with zero critical food safety incidents.

C.Operational Cost Analytics

• Ensure compliance with all applicable regulatory, statutory, customer, and Company quality requirements.
• Coordinate and lead internal, external, customer, and regulatory quality audits.
• Maintain readiness for certification and surveillance audits relating to food safety and quality management systems.
• Drive timely closure of audit findings and corrective action plans.
• Monitor changes in legislation and industry standards and ensure appropriate implementation across the business.

Expected Output

Full compliance with regulatory and certification requirements and successful audit outcomes.

D.Supplier Quality and Material

• Establish and maintain supplier quality standards and approval processes.
• Monitor the quality performance of raw materials, packaging materials, and critical suppliers.
• Coordinate supplier audits and quality improvement programmes where necessary.
• Investigate supplier-related quality issues and implement appropriate corrective and preventive actions.
• Partner with Procurement and Supply Chain teams to ensure reliable and consistent input quality.
• Support new supplier and material qualification activities.

Expected Output

Reliable supplier performance and consistent availability of quality raw and packaging materials.

E.Continuous Improvement & Cost of Quality

• Monitor and analyse quality performance indicators, defects, waste, product losses, and customer complaints.
• Lead root cause analysis and continuous improvement initiatives aimed at reducing quality-related losses.
• Partner with Manufacturing to improve process capability, operational efficiency, and product consistency.
• Drive initiatives to reduce the Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ) and improve overall manufacturing performance.
• Support innovation and process optimization projects through quality and food safety expertise.
• Promote a culture of learning and continuous improvement across the Quality function.

Expected Output

Reduced quality defects, lower operational losses, and continuous improvement in manufacturing performance and product quality.

F.Quality leadership and Performance Reporting

• Provide leadership and direction for the Quality function, ensuring effective implementation of quality standards, food safety requirements, and operational quality objectives across the manufacturing environment.
• Develop and maintain quality dashboards, scorecards, and management reports that provide visibility of quality performance, compliance, risks, and improvement opportunities.
• Analyse quality trends, product performance, customer complaints, audit findings, and emerging risks to provide proactive recommendations and drive continuous improvement.
• Work collaboratively with Supply Chain, Procurement, Commercial, Research & Development, and other business functions to ensure alignment on quality standards, supplier performance, and product integrity.
• Develop the capability of the Quality team through effective coaching, training, succession planning, and performance management.
• Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and quality ownership across the business, ensuring that quality remains an integral part of operational excellence.

Expected Output

Strong quality leadership, effective quality governance, and data-driven insights that enhance operational performance, protect the Company's brands, and sustain consumer confidence.

Working relationships

Internal Relationships:

• Head of Manufacturing: to provide leadership and oversight on quality assurance, food safety, regulatory compliance, quality performance, and continuous improvement initiatives across manufacturing operations.
• Production & Plant Teams: to ensure consistent adherence to quality standards, manufacturing specifications, process controls, and food safety requirements throughout production.
• Supply Chain & Logistics: to support product integrity, storage and handling standards, inventory quality management, and effective management of quality risks across the supply chain.
• Procurement Team: to establish supplier quality standards, monitor supplier performance, support supplier audits, and ensure the consistent quality of raw materials and packaging materials.
• Commercial Team: to support management of customer complaints, market quality feedback, product performance monitoring, and protection of the Company's brands and consumer experience.
• Finance Team: to provide visibility on quality-related losses, cost of poor quality, waste reduction initiatives, and quality improvement projects that support business performance.
• Senior Leadership Team: to provide quality performance reporting, compliance updates, emerging risk visibility, and data-driven recommendations that support strategic decision-making and operational excellence.

External Relationships:

• Regulatory Authorities: to ensure compliance with applicable food safety, quality, environmental, and statutory requirements and to support regulatory inspections and reporting.
• Certification & Audit Bodies: to coordinate certification activities, surveillance audits, and maintenance of the Company's quality and food safety management systems.
• Suppliers of Raw Materials and Packaging: to establish quality expectations, monitor supplier performance, manage quality issues, and drive continuous supplier improvement.
• External Laboratories and Technical Service Providers: to support specialized testing, product verification, calibration services, and quality assurance initiatives where required.

Knowledge, experience and qualifications required

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Food Science and Technology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Industrial Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline from a recognized institution.

Professional Qualifications

• Professional certification or formal training in HACCP, GMP, ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, Food Safety Management Systems, or related quality frameworks will be an added advantage.
• Lead Auditor certification in ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, or equivalent quality and food safety standards is desirable.
• Additional training in Root Cause Analysis, Continuous Improvement, Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or Quality Management Systems will be an added advantage.

Experience

• •Minimum of seven (7) to ten (10) years' relevant experience in Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Food Safety, or Technical Services within an FMCG, beverage, food processing, or manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience in implementing and managing Quality Management Systems (QMS), HACCP, GMP, and other food safety and quality assurance programmes.
• Proven track record in managing regulatory compliance, certification audits, customer audits, and quality governance processes.
• Experience in supplier quality management, raw material and packaging quality assurance, and management of supplier quality improvement initiatives.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, process controls, quality risk management, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to investigate quality deviations, lead root cause analysis, and implement effective corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Experience working collaboratively with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Procurement, Commercial, and Technical teams to drive operational excellence and protect product integrity.
• Proficiency in ERP systems, Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), quality reporting platforms, and Microsoft Office applications will be highly desirable.

Competencies

Technical & Behavioural competencies

Technical Competencies

• •Quality Management Systems (QMS)-Ability to develop, implement, maintain, and continuously improve quality management systems, policies, procedures, and operational standards.
• Food Safety Management – Strong understanding and practical application of HACCP, GMP, ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, sanitation, hygiene, and other food safety frameworks.
• Quality Assurance & Process Control-Ability to establish, monitor, and improve quality control processes to ensure consistent product quality and manufacturing excellence.
• Regulatory Compliance & Auditing- Knowledge of local and international regulatory requirements, quality standards, certification processes, and the ability to lead internal and external audits.
• Root Cause Analysis & Corrective Action Management- Ability to investigate quality deviations, identify underlying causes, and implement effective corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Supplier Quality Management- Ability to establish supplier quality standards, conduct supplier evaluations and audits, and drive continuous improvement in raw material and packaging quality.
• Quality Data Analysis & Reporting- Ability to analyse quality performance data, identify trends, develop dashboards and reports, and provide actionable insights to support operational decision-making.
• Continuous Improvement Methodologies-Working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, process improvement techniques, and quality optimization tools.

Behavioural Competencies

• Analytical Thinking-Ability to evaluate complex quality and operational issues, identify patterns, and develop practical solutions.
• Leadership & People Development-Ability to lead, coach, and develop high-performing teams while fostering accountability and continuous learning.
• Attention to Detail -Maintains a high degree of accuracy, discipline, and consistency in quality systems, documentation, and compliance activities.
• Business & Operational Acumen -Demonstrates an understanding of how quality performance impacts manufacturing efficiency, cost management, customer satisfaction, and overall business success.
• Ownership & Accountability-Takes responsibility for quality outcomes, regulatory compliance, and the effective delivery of the Quality function.
• Problem Solving & Decision Making- Proactively identifies risks, investigates issues, evaluates alternatives, and implements effective solutions.
• Communication & Stakeholder Management -Effectively communicates quality requirements, performance insights, and improvement opportunities while building strong working relationships across the business.
• Adaptability & Continuous Improvement-Embraces change, drives innovation, and continuously seeks opportunities to improve quality systems, processes, and operational performance.

Responsibility for finances and physical assets

• The role does not carry direct custodial responsibility for significant Company financial resources or physical assets other than standard Company-issued equipment, laboratory tools, testing equipment, quality systems, and other operational resources entrusted to the employee in the course of duty.
• The role is responsible for safeguarding the integrity, accuracy, confidentiality, and appropriate use of quality records, laboratory results, product specifications, quality management systems, audit documentation, and other quality and food safety information used to support operational and regulatory decision-making.
• The position supports the protection of Company assets by ensuring that raw materials, packaging materials, work-in-progress, and finished products consistently meet defined quality and food safety standards, thereby minimizing waste, product losses, customer complaints, and quality-related financial exposure.
• The role contributes to the effective management of quality-related costs through the monitoring and analysis of product defects, process deviations, supplier quality issues, customer complaints, and the overall Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ), while supporting initiatives aimed at improving operational efficiency and protecting the Company's brands and reputation.

Decision-making

The job holder exercises judgment within established quality management systems, food safety standards, regulatory requirements, Company policies, and operational governance frameworks. The role provides technical leadership and quality oversight to support effective operational and strategic decision-making across the business.

Decision-making responsibilities include:

• Prioritizing and coordinating quality assurance activities, food safety programmes, audit requirements, and quality improvement initiatives to ensure the consistent delivery of safe and compliant products.
• Identifying, investigating, and escalating significant quality deviations, food safety risks, supplier quality issues, regulatory non-compliance, and product integrity concerns requiring management intervention.
• Evaluating quality performance data, operational trends, customer complaints, and audit findings to support recommendations aimed at improving product quality, reducing waste, and strengthening manufacturing performance.
• Supporting the consistent implementation and application of quality management systems, HACCP, GMP, food safety standards, laboratory controls, and quality governance processes across the organization.
• Providing independent technical challenge and guidance on manufacturing processes, product specifications, raw material quality, and operational practices to ensure compliance with established quality standards.
• Contributing to cross-functional decision-making by translating quality and operational data into practical recommendations that protect the Company's brands, strengthen consumer confidence, and support business objectives.

Job Hazards

• The role involves regular exposure to manufacturing, laboratory, warehouse, and raw material storage environments where the job holder may encounter production equipment, moving machinery, chemicals, cleaning agents, compressed air systems, noise, and other operational hazards associated with beverage manufacturing.
• The job holder is required to conduct routine factory inspections, product evaluations, line audits, supplier assessments, and quality investigations, which may involve prolonged standing, walking across operational areas, and occasional use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Exposure is also associated with general office-related risks such as prolonged screen time, administrative workload pressures, and work-related fatigue arising from audit schedules, product investigations, regulatory inspections, quality incidents, and business-critical production timelines.