QA Specialist Brewing at The Heineken Company

Purpose of the position

• Drive product and process quality improvements across the end-to-end value chain, with emphasis on supplier and customer interfaces.
• Foster continuous skill development in technology and quality within the department.
• Strengthen collaboration with suppliers of raw materials and services.
• Proactively lead the brewing department’s technology and quality initiatives.
• Oversee the brewing department’s NPI execution.

Key responsibilities of the role include, but is not limited to: 

SAFETY, FOOD SAFETY AND SUSTAINABILITY 

• Ensure all Brewing & Utilities activities related to technology and quality comply with HEINEKEN’s Safety, Food Safety, and Sustainability standards.
• Constructively challenge these standards through close collaboration with Global functions.
• Support the implementation of safety improvement initiatives to maintain a safe and sustainable production environment.

QUALITY OF THE PROCESS AND PRODUCT

• Lead the brewing department’s technology, NPI, and quality agenda.
• Ensure compliance with raw material, process, and product quality standards.
• Support the implementation and continuous improvement of quality systems and procedures.
• Apply and contribute to the development of HEINEKEN production and quality control standards.
• Identify quality risks and develop local procedures and work instructions aligned with HEINEKEN Rules, Standards, and applicable regulations.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to proactively prevent quality issues across brewing and malting process phases.
• Oversee the technological implementation of recipes and NPI requirements, ensuring On-Time In-Full (OTIF) delivery.
• Lead the routine quality agenda within the brewing department, with a focus on condition-based quality management in close alignment with the PQ pillar.

TPM AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

• Define priorities and address key losses within the area of responsibility, leading improvements across TPM activities (AM Brewing, PM Maintenance, AM Utilities).
• Challenge and support the development of enhanced operational standards through active participation in pillar teams such as AM and PQ.
• Facilitate continuous improvement and optimization of brewing processes.
• Initiate and support improvements within the Autonomous Maintenance (AM) team, fostering strong collaboration with the PQ Quality Pillar and other TPM pillars.
• Evaluate task efficiency and effectiveness, identifying opportunities for improvement and implementing corrective or preventive actions.
• Actively contribute to quality improvement initiatives and cross-functional teams.

PROCESS MANAGEMENT

• Report deviations from HEINEKEN Brewing Process Standards within the area of responsibility.
• Investigate improvement opportunities and communicate effectively with higher management, ensuring timely closure of all non-conformities.
• Lead or contribute to analytical improvement initiatives, implementing corrective or preventive actions as needed.
• Drive and support the execution of NPI implementation within the Brewing & Utilities department, with an end-to-end focus.
• Prioritize consumer-centric technological optimizations and proactively address related challenges.

EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT 

• Understand equipment capabilities and performance requirements to meet technological expectations with an end-to-end focus.
• Identify root causes of out-of-stock situations and implement preventive actions to avoid recurrence.
• Anticipate risks and apply countermeasures proactively.
• Maintain workplace standards in line with Autonomous Maintenance (AM) and 5S principles; actively participate in related teams.
• Ensure optimal performance of analytical equipment through close collaboration with suppliers and the Quality department.

ORGANIZATION AND PEOPLE MANAGEMENT

• Coach and train Brewing & Utilities personnel to enhance quality awareness and capability.
• Collect and assess technician performance data, providing input for individual evaluations.
• Systematically improve technological and quality delivery by refining standards and developing technician skills.
• Lead brewing quality initiatives in close collaboration with the Quality department.
• Guide, train, and support technicians on technological matters, fostering agility and high performance in both processes and equipment.
• Support the responsible handover from Utilities to Brewing, ensuring continuity and quality.

MANAGEMENT OF INFORMATION AND REPORTING

• Collect and process relevant data to generate accurate brewing reports within the scope of responsibility.
• Follow established reporting lines within and beyond the Brewing & Utilities department as needed.
• Own and manage data within the area of responsibility, using insights to propose performance improvements.

PLANNING AND EXECUTION

• Plan and manage the department’s basic quality budget.
• Lead cost optimization initiatives within the department, including CVE activities, focusing on production materials and technological processes.

SUPPLIER MANAGEMENT

• Ensure execution of all contracts and agreements with material and service providers, fostering strong collaboration and exceeding expectations in production, technology, and quality.
• Collect and manage supplier performance and quality data to support informed decision-making and lead quality-related communication with suppliers.
• Initiate and lead supplier collaboration on innovation and problem-solving initiatives.

Requirements of the role include:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Food technology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Microbiology or Chemical Engineering

Experience 

• Minimum 3 years’ experience in food and/or beverage production 
• Quality and Food Safety Management Systems 
• Brewing / Quality of Brewing / Biotechnology / Microbiology in FMSG companies.
• Continuous improvement methodologies like TPM / Lean / 6 Sigma 
• Planning & Project Management