QA Lead Upstream

About the role

Due to an internal promotion we are currently looking for a QA Lead Upstream. This role is crucial to managing Food Safety and Quality in the Upstream department. Putting customers first, this role is critical to investigate complaints and perform root causes analysis of complaints and incidents.

Key responsibilities include

• Perform and/or coordinate root cause analysis of incidents, complaints or other repeated non-conformities in order to drive continuous improvement


• Manage the hold & release process within the area of responsibility with or without support from the Food Safety Manager and/or Quality Assurance Manager and assure all documented evidence is foreseen


• Manage, identify, coordinate and follow up of action plans related to QMS standards compliance and or non-conformities coming from incidents, complaints, audits or other quality related items


• Perform trend analysis on the identified KPI’s to set priorities on QA related matters in order to drive compliance and continuous improvement in his/her area of responsibility


• Lead the quality agenda during the different established meetings and projects following the Nemoto principle meetings and participate in GEMBA walks


• Motivate, coach and support non-hierarchical subordinates and colleagues to ensure the overall performance on quality matters and achievement of the business goals and to embed the quality culture


• Manage, within specific guidelines, specialized quality related projects (incl new machinery and/or adaptions to process and machine park) and ensure its results are integrated, validated for compliance with QMS standards and adding value to the overall business objectives


• Ensure local compliance to corporate QMS systems (guidelines, procedures and SOP’s) and participate in internal (incl GMP) and external (with customers, certification bodies, authorities, …) audit programs as auditor and /or auditee


• Ensure proper and well-structured operational documents and training, enabling QA and operations to respond quickly, with high quality and adequately to act and react correctly in terms of QA management and to customers


• Co-lead of the Food safety team of the own department to perform hazard control plan review, preparing verifications and trend analysis and assure updates are done and communicated when required


• Back up of the other QA leads

About you

• Master education in a sciences education or equivalent by experience


• Minimum of 5-7 years in a Quality role in the food industry


• HACCP, GSFI audit knowledge


• Root cause analysis techniques


•  Good communicator


•  Good organizer


•  Team player


•  Action & result driven


•  High standards demanding