About the Role
The Quality Assurance Supervisor is responsible for assisting the Quality Assurance Manager in the overall management, coordination, and supervision of all Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Hygiene, Health, Safety, and Environment (QHSE) activities across the company. The role also leads and supports the execution of Quality Assurance and Quality Control activities to ensure all dairy products consistently meet company, statutory, and customer requirements while safeguarding product safety, consistency, regulatory compliance, and adherence to the company's quality standards.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Allocate duties and responsibilities effectively to quality staff.
- Supervise and monitor employee performance to ensure work is completed accurately, efficiently, and within set timelines.
- Maintain high standards of discipline, teamwork, motivation, and performance among quality staff.
- Provide coaching, guidance, and on-the-job training to quality staff and interns.
- Participate in employee performance evaluations and recommend development initiatives.
- Ensure strict adherence to company safety policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
- Promote a safe working environment and enforce the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Identify and report unsafe acts, unsafe conditions, and potential hazards.
- Conduct regular safety briefings and ensure compliance with workplace health and safety standards.
- Monitor stocks of all laboratory consumables and additives and initiate requisitions as per the established requisition protocols.
- Ensure accurate reconciliation and accountability for all laboratory consumables, reagents, apparatus and equipment.
- Participate in product promotional activities and farmers field days while providing information on specific product knowledge.
- Coordinate inter-laboratory and external laboratory analysis.
- Participate in inter-departmental activities as directed by the Quality Assurance Manager.
- Monitor quality key performance indicators (KPIs) and prepare periodic management reports.
- Ensure all production processes comply with approved specifications, procedures, and sanitary standards.
- Monitor inputs, processes, and outputs to guarantee consistent product quality and food safety.
- Develop, implement, and monitor process control tools (e.g., CCPs, OPRPs, GMPs, control charts) and drive corrective and preventive actions.
- Authorize product release through a formal positive release system.
- Inspect and approve incoming materials to ensure compliance with company specifications.
- Conduct supplier audits and develop supplier quality improvement programs.
- Monitor raw milk quality and collaborate with relevant stakeholders to promote clean milk production practices.
- Develop and enforce sanitation, hygiene, and housekeeping standards across the factory.
- Conduct routine hygiene verification (swabs, rinses, inspections) and ensure compliance.
- Ensure staff medical examinations and protective clothing standards comply with public health requirements.
- Oversee laboratory operations, ensuring accuracy, reliability, and integrity of test results.
- Maintain and calibrate laboratory equipment and ensure proper usage.
- Train staff on testing procedures and address competency gaps.
- Implement and maintain integrated management systems, including HACCP, ISO 9001:2015, ISO 22000:2018, ISO 14001:2026, Occupational Health & Safety Standards, and HALAL.
- Act as Management Representative for quality and food safety systems.
- Ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements, including participation in standards development (e.g., KEBS).
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives (Kaizen, quality circles).
- Analyse quality trends, customer complaints, and market returns to drive improvements.
- Report on quality performance and improvement plans to management.
- Lead troubleshooting and root cause analysis teams.
- Investigate customer complaints and market feedback using root cause analysis.
- Implement corrective and preventive actions to eliminate recurrence.
- Conduct competitor product analysis and advise management on quality positioning.
- Monitor waste treatment systems to ensure compliance with company standards and regulatory requirements.
- Promote a strong quality and food safety culture across the organization.
- Support new product development initiatives by providing quality and technical input.
- Ensure proper documentation and transfer of product knowledge to relevant teams.
- Participate actively in management meetings and decision-making processes.
Qualifications, Experience & Skills
- Bachelor’s degree in Food Science and Technology, Dairy Technology and Management, Microbiology, or a related field.
- Minimum 3 years’ experience as a Quality Assurance Supervisor or Quality Assurance Officer, preferably in dairy or FMCG.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
- Excellent leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills.
- Attention to detail and high integrity.
- Excellent reporting skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
- Demonstrated experience in team management.
- Strong knowledge of dairy processing operations and laboratory management.
- Excellent understanding of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Good Hygiene Practices (GHPs), Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), HACCP, Food Safety Management Systems, and quality control procedures.
- Ability to work under pressure.
- Strong organizational and planning skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, ERP and quality reporting systems.
- Commitment to continuous learning and adoption of new testing technologies and best practices.
