Manager – Supply Chain Quality Control

Role Overview

This position oversees all aspects of laboratory quality control within the concentrate operations at the site. The incumbent manages the evaluation and approval of finished goods and raw materials, maintains essential lab documentation, and drives continual process improvements. Ensuring full compliance with Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), regulatory standards, and internal quality procedures, this role is crucial to upholding the company’s strict product quality and safety standards.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Supervise lab operations including timely testing, approvals, and meticulous documentation according to defined turnaround times.
• Maintain comprehensive compliance with Quality Policy Procedures (QPP), Test Methods (TM), Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), Indian Standards (IS), and GLP relevant to concentrate labs.
• Analyze concentrates according to required quality benchmarks and monitor essential KPIs such as caffeine levels, titratable acidity (TA), and right-first-time results (RFT).
• Liaise with production, stores, and planning teams to ensure streamlined plant processes.
• Uphold hygiene, housekeeping, sanitation, and ongoing GLP adherence in laboratory environments.
• Implement all quality processes and SOPs from the Supply Chain Quality Group, providing consultative support to plant teams on food safety and product quality.
• Assist in compliance with local regulations regarding quality and food safety standards.
• Facilitate onboarding training for new plant staff regarding product quality and compliance requirements.
• Coordinate new raw material vendor development and qualification efforts, and support procurement in resolving SQA-related issues.
• Oversee compliance with annual operating plans, process technical reviews (PTRs), and capital requirements for the quality department.
• Lead monthly quality system meetings with senior plant leadership, as well as all food safety and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) training for site teams.
• Manage change control, quality reserves program, and non-conformance investigations, including site-based tracking tools (e.g., Trackwise).
• Liaise with external stakeholders on QC-related matters and ensure proficiency scheme compliance.
• Support validation and commissioning of new lab equipment and oversee local oil approvals.
• Spearhead plant chemical control initiatives, lab performance tracking, and laboratory simplification programs.
• Direct cleaning, sanitation programs, and their annual validation; ensure compliance with hazardous materials (HAZMAT) protocols.
• Ensure proper functioning of water treatment systems and participate in relevant water projects.
• Conduct lab safety audits and lead 3S (Sort, Set in order, Shine) program in the quality lab.
• Provide backup for food defense coordination.

Qualifications & Additional Information

• Postgraduate degree in Biotechnology, Chemistry, or Food Technology.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in a food manufacturing facility, preferably with multinational corporations.
• Strong understanding of laboratory operations, instrumentation, and a range of chemical, biological, and physical testing procedures as well as water treatment processes.
• Knowledge and hands-on experience with quality systems (e.g., FSSC), instrumentation processes, budget management, GMP, and food safety audits.