Title:  Quality Assurance Manager

Applications are invited for the abovementioned role within Supply Chain Manufacturing, Springs

The succesful incumbment will report to the Plant Manager

PURPOSE:

Lead site quality at HEINEKEN Beverages, putting consumers first and developing the people, processes and assurance systems that deliver First Time Right quality.

In this role, you will prevent food safety and quality failures through effective assurance systems, stable processes, well-maintained equipment and material integrity. Working with Cellars/Brewing, Production and Engineering, you will use reliable data to improve process capability, lead the Product Quality (PQ) pillar and drive continuous improvement, New Product Introduction (NPI) and incoming material quality. The role forms part of Supply Chain and reports to the Plant Manager / Brewery Manager.

Role Accountabilities:

• Lead the site quality strategy in alignment with HEINEKEN standards, operating company (OpCo) priorities and consumer needs.
• Identify and prevent food safety and quality risks through reliable data, compliant systems and effective process controls.
• Build a consumer-first quality culture and operational ownership of First Time Right performance.
• Lead the site PQ pillar and the shift towards quality at source and condition-based management.
• Protect consumers, product integrity and the reputation of HEINEKEN Beverages through effective quality governance.
• Maintain and improve integrated quality, food safety and laboratory management systems.
• Embed HEINEKEN standards, specifications, Quality Factors and Q-Points in site routines.
• Lead site NPI quality implementation and support supplier performance improvement for raw, packaging and auxiliary materials.
• Reduce losses and the cost of poor quality through Total Productive Management (TPM), lean practices and advanced Unified Problem Solving (UPS).
• Lead and develop the quality team, strengthen cross-functional capability and demonstrate HEINEKEN Behaviours.
• Report quality risks, incidents, trends and business impact, and manage the QA budget and improvement roadmap.
• Embed safe working practices and contribute to Brewing a Better World sustainability objectives.

Roles and Responsibilities

Lead the site quality strategy and integrated assurance systems

• Implement a consumer-focused site quality vision and strategy covering processes, organisation and people development.
• Maintain and improve integrated quality, food safety and laboratory management systems, procedures, checklists and standards.
• Build a strong quality culture across all site functions, working with OpCo Quality and Global Supply Chain and sharing learning across sites and operating companies.

Lead the PQ pillar, quality at source and continuous improvement

• Lead the site PQ pillar, establish and maintain Quality Factors and Q-Points, and develop autonomous teams to sustain quality conditions.
• Apply advanced Unified Problem Solving to prevent recurring failures, improve First Time Right, reduce losses and work towards zero quality defects.
• Support corrective and preventive actions and transfer PQ tasks to Autonomous Maintenance (AM) and Planned Maintenance (PM), building Production ownership of quality and release within agreed standards.
• Lead measurement management to ensure accurate, reliable and timely results, supporting operational teams with troubleshooting, calibration and equipment verification.
• Analyse product and process data to identify risks and improve process capability. Where capability and controls are established, shift the emphasis from finished-product testing to process and condition control, particularly hygiene.
• Embed lean quality-at-source systems and identify cost and value improvement opportunities across processes, technologies, recipes and materials. Support benchmarking and provide expert technological guidance.
• Develop quality champions and process-owner capability for routine analysis. Production / Brewing is responsible for satellite laboratories and sampling, excluding microbiological sampling; Quality provides technical support.

Protect product integrity and HEINEKEN Beverages’ reputation

• Align site stakeholders with HEINEKEN policies and applicable legislation governing food safety and product integrity.
• Monitor customer and consumer feedback, manage complaint investigations and verify the effectiveness of corrective and preventive actions.
• Support supplier performance monitoring for raw, packaging and auxiliary materials through operational feedback, verification of corrective actions and supplier collaboration.

Lead site New Product Introduction

• Lead site NPI implementation within the stage-gate model. Provide quality input into technological and legislative assessments and the approval of raw, auxiliary and packaging materials and production processes.
• Apply project management and Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) to ensure food safety, conformance, quality and delivery on time and in full.

Lead people development and cross-functional capability

• Build quality control, assurance and food safety skills through training, continuous learning and awareness activities.
• Plan shifts, overtime and temporary labour to meet changing demand and maintain effective quality support.
• Attract, recruit, develop and retain talent.
• Develop end-to-end specialists and encourage knowledge sharing across manufacturing sites and operating companies.
• Manage individual and team performance, fostering engagement, collaboration and cross-functional integration.
• Build process-owner autonomy in advanced problem solving and defect analysis to sustain food safety, quality and reliable delivery.

Manage departmental budgets and costs

• Develop annual operating expenditure (OPEX) and capital expenditure (CAPEX) budgets and business plans for the end-to-end quality assurance roadmap, including process-control equipment and consumables.
• Implement approved plans, monitor monthly expenditure and follow up on variances. Approve goods and services within budget and delegated authority, and plan resources for unexpected demand peaks.

Embed safety, food safety and sustainability

• Embed health and safety in QA workflows, laboratories and associated facilities, including equipment safety checks before use.
• Integrate food safety into operations and NPI. Use safety data and consumer feedback to drive continuous improvement and help ensure products are fit for consumption.
• Contribute to HEINEKEN’s Brewing a Better World sustainability objectives through departmental plans and daily practices.

Manage information and quality reporting

• Report weekly and monthly results, significant incidents, trends and business impact covering food safety, product quality, supplier performance and consumer insights.
• Maintain and improve reporting systems and use data to guide decisions and improve process stability. Monitor applicable measures including PQI, FTR, losses, CVE, NPI delivery, Taste Test Score, OPEX, customer and consumer complaints, supplier performance and system improvement.

Role Requirements

• Minimum bachelor’s degree in Food Technology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Microbiology or Chemical Engineering.
• Experience in quality control, quality assurance and food safety management systems.
• People management and leadership experience, with the ability to lead and develop teams.
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in food and/or beverage production and production technology.
• Experience in laboratory operations within food and beverage production, together with brewing / packaging experience.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English and collaborate across functions.
• Experience applying continuous improvement methodologies such as TPM, Lean or Six Sigma, with strong problem-solving and facilitation skills.
• Planning and project management experience; exposure to Utilities and New Product Introduction (NPI) is preferred.
• Strong data analysis, measurement management and process performance management capabilities.

Core Skills Required:

• People leadership, organisational development and cross-functional collaboration.
• Quality assurance, quality systems and standards, safety and sustainability.
• Strategy development, implementation and excellence in execution.
• Financial planning, cost control and value creation.
• Advanced problem solving and process performance improvement.
• Data management, digitalisation and evidence-based decision-making.