Quality Sustainability & Lab Manager

Job Summary:

The role is required to lead 3 key areas of business operation:

• Development / implementation of the Saosa Quality Management System to meet customer compliance requirements on product quality and food safety
• Setting the agenda to support the expected sustainability credentials of the Saosa operation
• Provision of a laboratory function to supply off line analysis to assist process control, along with product quality control and assurance

The QSL Manager is a member of the Senior leadership team at Saosa and the role should set direction for the business to maintain compliance with customer quality and sustainability requirements.

Key Duties

Quality

• Provide a Quality Management System compliant with the ISO9001 standard
• Ensure that internal audit of the quality system is effective with identified non-conformances tracked and closed out in a timely way
• Monitor relevant legislation for food ingredient products and ensure that Saosa meets these requirements
• Liaise with the Commercial team in UK and USA to support product assurance and product development requirements
• Lead investigations into customer complaints relating to product quality

Sustainability

• In close liaison with key stake holders, evaluate existing sustainability measures and monitor their performance
• Develop a plan for sustainability improvement and own the progress whilst engaging the required resources across the business to deliver it.
• Contribute to benchmarking sustainability performance across the Finlays group
• Report on sustainability performance as required

Laboratory

• Provide an off line analysis function to support efficient and compliant production within the plant
• Provide QC and QA services to ensure that all products despatched meet the customer specifications
• Support the development of World Class Operations by working closely with the Production Manager and Finished Goods Manager to identify opportunities to improve plant and product performance

Occasional duties:

• Participation in cross group technology transfer and benchmarking activity
• Visits to other extract plants within the Finlay group and to technology suppliers
• Attendance at technical conferences to network and find new ideas

Supervisory Responsibilities

• This role is a functional head. It has 3 direct reports and is responsible for the laboratory team consisting of xx employees.
• The role will involve leading project activity and engagement of 3^rd parties as required to meet the business objectives.

Responsibility for resources:

Finances

• Sustainability projects of value up to $5m are likely to be generated with the right business case

Customer

• All product analysis is carried out via the laboratory, and Saosa maintains compliance with 13 quality / sustainability standards. This is essential to maintain customer confidence and ongoing sales.

Suppliers

• Effectively network with 3^rd parties over various geographical locations to generate new ideas

Financial Impact:

• Poor performance in this role may lead to loss of customers and / or inefficient plant operation.
• Continuous improvement in plant performance is required in order to remain competitive in the extracts market.

Job Context:

• Normal conditions for a manufacturing environment-High temperatures, chemical risks, noise, dust, and involves the use of relatively uncomfortable safety equipment;
• The job involves walking, standing, climbing, bending, sitting, working with computers-minor screen glare
• Involves travelling and supervision of some activities at weekends and holidays
• Tight deadlines which lead to working under stress

Related Job Experience

• 5-10 years progressive experience in a Technical / Laboratory role with primarily food production or fine chemicals experience.
• Practical understanding of Quality Management Systems and programmes such as Fair Trade and Rain Forest Alliance
• Experience of being involved in Health and Safety Management objectives

Educational Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Chemistry or other relevant science course.

Breadth of job related knowledge:

• Good understanding of the equipment and techniques used in industrial laboratories for process and product analysis.
• Experience of management of change systems
• Ability to translate customer requirements into ideas for process development to meet product specification demands

Analysis:

• The job holder is required to solve day-day problems incurred at the work-place.
• Creating and analysing trends in performance is important to support troubleshooting activity
• Action teams must be formed to tackle larger problems, in particular product non conformances

Judgement and Decision-Making:

• Fully accountable for the laboratory function delivering its objectives and KPIs
• Makes recommendations on the day-day plant operations
• Make decisions on options for delivering new ideas to be able to present the best 2 or 3

Contact:

• Saosa Factory  Engineering, Production, Supply chain and HR management functions, as well as UK based resources, Group Engineer, Head of Operations Finance FTE, Head of Procurement FTE, Technical Director FTE and Operations Director.

Additional Information:

• The job requires that the incumbent is readily available on call or physically present at the plant outside working hours in the event of an emergency in area of accountability.