ROLE PROFILE |
Position: Head of Quality – (HOQ001) Business: Seba Foods Zambia Limited Reports to: Chief of Operations |
Job purpose |
The Head of Quality is responsible for providing strategic leadership, oversight, and continuous improvement of the quality assurance and control systems within the Beverages and Food Divisions. This role ensures that all products are manufactured in strict compliance with applicable legal and statutory requirements, Zambian regulatory frameworks, and internationally recognized quality standards. The incumbent is tasked with safeguarding consumer safety, enhancing product excellence, and ensuring overall customer satisfaction through the implementation of rigorous quality management protocols. |
Key responsibilities |
1. Quality Management System (QMS) Oversight: o Develop, implement, and maintain a robust quality management system (QMS) for food and beverage production, ensuring compliance with Zambian statutory legislation, Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS), and international standards, i.e HACCP, ISO 22000, and FSSC 22000. o Regularly review and update the QMS to align with changes in Zambian laws, regulations, and industry best practices. o Ensure the QMS integrates with the overall business strategy and operational goals. 2. Regulatory Compliance & Statutory Legislation: o Ensure all products and processes comply with Zambia’s Food and Drug Act, Public Health Act, and other applicable statutory requirements enforced by Zambian authorities. o Stay updated on changes in ZABS standards and regulatory requirements relevant to food and beverage manufacturing (e.g., labelling laws, food safety regulations, packaging standards). o Lead internal audits to assess compliance with ZABS standards and ensure products are safe, correctly labeled, and meet all regulatory requirements. o Manage relationships with regulatory bodies such as the Zambian Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and ZABS, ensuring all necessary certifications and licenses are obtained and maintained. 3. ZABS Standards Compliance: o Ensure that all food and beverage products adhere to the latest ZABS standards for food safety, quality, and packaging. o Participate in the ZABS certification process, preparing products for certification and ensuring timely compliance with any updates to ZABS standards. o Facilitate ZABS inspections and audits of manufacturing facilities and products, ensuring corrective actions are taken to address any non-compliance issues. 4. Product Quality Assurance: o Oversee product testing, quality assurance, and quality control (QC) procedures to ensure that products meet ZABS specifications and internal quality standards. o Monitor all stages of production to ensure that food and beverage products meet predefined specifications and quality criteria. o Implement corrective actions in response to quality issues and ensure that new products undergo thorough testing to meet quality and regulatory standards. 5. Supplier and Raw Material Quality Management: o Oversee the quality of raw materials and ingredients sourced from suppliers, ensuring compliance with ZABS quality specifications and food safety standards. o Conduct supplier audits to verify adherence to both ZABS and international standards for food safety and quality. o Ensure suppliers provide necessary documentation, including ZABS certificates, quality assurance reports, and regulatory compliance records. 6. Risk Management: o Identify potential risks related to food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance and develop strategies to mitigate these risks. o Ensure product traceability and work with relevant authorities to handle food safety issues, recalls, or contamination events. o Develop and maintain crisis management plans in alignment with Zambian regulatory requirements. 7. Customer Satisfaction and Continuous Improvement: o Work closely with customer service teams to resolve customer complaints related to product quality, in compliance with Zambian consumer protection laws. o Drive continuous improvement initiatives based on feedback, complaints, and audit results. o Maintain high levels of quality and regulatory compliance while meeting consumer expectations for food and beverage products. 8. Data Analysis and Reporting: o Provide regular reports on quality performance and regulatory compliance to senior leadership. o Analyze quality data to identify trends and areas for improvement, particularly in relation to ZABS standards and food safety regulations. o Prepare for and manage internal and external audits, ensuring that audit results align with Zambian statutory requirements and ZABS certifications. 9. Training and Development: o Ensure all quality team members are trained on ZABS standards, food safety regulations, and the company’s quality procedures. o Foster a culture of compliance, quality, and continuous learning across all production teams. o Ensure regular training on Zambian food laws and changes in ZABS standards to maintain compliance. |
Key Qualifications & Requirements |
o Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Microbiology, Chemistry, or a related field. o 10–15 years of progressive experience in quality assurance, quality control, or food safety management within the food and beverage industry. o Extensive knowledge of food safety regulations, quality standards (e.g., HACCP, ISO 22000, FSSC 22000), and compliance requirements. o Strong leadership and team management skills with the ability to drive a culture of continuous improvement. o Excellent interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills. o Ability to manage multiple stakeholders and resolve quality-related challenges effectively. o Proficiency in quality management systems, audit procedures, and regulatory compliance. o Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills. Key Competencies: o Certification in Quality Management Systems (e.g., Six Sigma, ISO Lead Auditor, or equivalent). o Experience in liaising with regulatory bodies and certification agencies. o Proven experience in managing quality systems in compliance with ZABS, Zambian Food and Drug Act, HACCP, FSSC 22000 and ISO 22000 standards. o Experience in successfully leading quality teams, implementing continuous improvement programs, and driving compliance with local and international food safety standards. o Expertise in process optimization and implementation of best practices in food safety and quality control. o Knowledge of laboratory testing, statistical process control, and risk management in food production. o Strong leadership and team management skills. o Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills. o Analytical skills to assess and resolve quality issues in production and regulatory compliance. o Ability to handle audits, inspections, and compliance assessments effectively Strong problem-solving skills and ability to lead corrective actions effectively. o Ability to conduct a thorough RCA, DMAIC and knowledge of statistical analysis of historical data is a must o Hands on knowledge of implementation of Kaizen methodology, managing Quality control circles, Poke Yoke shall be mandatory |
Contact |
For all interested candidates, please email an updated CV and relevant qualifications to careers@260brands.com with “Head of Quality” in the subject line. Please also fill in the short candidate assessment survey by clicking the link below. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RXFN23D Female Candidates are encouraged to apply |