Senior FSQA Manager at Oceana Group Limited

Purpose of the role:

The Senior Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager is responsible for leading the FSQA function and ensuring that Lucky Star products meet all required food safety and quality standards. Key focus areas include overseeing Lucky Star’s Quality Management Program whilst working in close liaison with Facility Managers, Operational and Food Safety Teams to achieve the highest food safety standards and industry leading quality. The incumbent is also tasked with building strong relationships with relevant industry stakeholders whilst ensuring regulatory compliance in all territories where Lucky Star products are produced and sold. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the Lucky Star Food Safety and Quality Assurance (FSQA) function
• Provide technical input and take accountability for the implementation of the FSQA strategy
• Ensure that all Lucky Star products sold locally and internationally meet required food safety and quality standards and comply with relevant regulatory requirements
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of Import and Export Food Regulations in key markets and ensure compliance
• Ensure that only vetted suppliers produce Lucky Star products
• Conduct supplier audits using Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) standards for all food products, ingredients, additives, direct and indirect packaging utilized by Lucky Star
• Lead factory and product process audits in own and outsourced production facilities
• Oversee the implementation of HACCP programs at own and outsourced supplier production facilities
• Identify and manage critical control points (CCPs) within production facilities and ensuring that suppliers identify and manage their CCPs correctly
• Work closely with facility managers to ensure we have true verifiable support for Food Safety & Quality and buy in from all staff.
• Oversee finished product quality inspections and microbiological testing. 
• Cold Storage and Distribution auditing to ensure we have verifiable confidence in the “Chain of Quality” from Harvest to Plate
• Maintain positive stakeholder relationships through active liaison and engagement
• Serve on relevant industry and regulatory forums viz. South African Pelagic Fishing Industry Association (SAPFIA), SABS - SANS 0234 Technical Committee, NRCS etc.
• Participate in and provide support and direction on all food safety, quality, opportunities, and initiatives
• Keep abreast of emerging risk in the food-manufacturing sector to ensure we are proactively prepared
• Assume overall responsibility for the Customer Care and Product Recall Processes
• Ensure thorough knowledge and understanding of the Lucky Star Product Recall Policy and ensure compliance at production facilities to minimize potential recall incidents
• Contribute towards the product category strategy, ensuring innovative and safe products of consistent quality are always produced
• Provide technical input into the development and launch of new canned food products
• Ensure accurate nutritional information and date marking/coding on finished product labelling
• Oversee product shelf-life assessments and implementation
• Lead and Drive a Culture of Quality throughout the Lucky Star team.
• Manage FSQA related costs and drive ongoing cost savings and process improvement opportunities.

This job description may be amended at any time to address emerging risk to our food safety and quality assurance program.

Qualifications and Experience:

• BSc Food Science or BTech Food Technology degree
• 10 – 15 years’ industry experience within the FMCG Industry
• Practical experience in and understanding of different food preparation stages and processes
• Proven, relevant industry experience and knowledge across a wide range of food products

Knowledge, Skills and Attributes & Essential Competencies:

• Knowledge of technical processes and principles, i.e. HACCP, GMP, root cause analysis, supply chain, raw materials, allergen management, and micro management
• Understanding of high and low-risk food processing and the correct management of cross flow
• Understanding of cold chain management and critical control factors for maintaining food products in their optimum state
• Technical product knowledge, i.e. product characteristics, raw material sourcing, manufacturing processes, and quality and safety parameters
• Knowledge of packaging functionality and application
• Understanding of environmental management and sustainability
• Flexible, with an ability and willingness to travel
• Fluent in English and Afrikaans, with excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent computer skills in all facets of use as a technical tool
• Good leadership skills
• Good interpersonal skills
• Ability to influence
• Accurate and analytical
• Ability to work under pressure

Essential Behavioural Competencies:

• Decision Making and Judgement
• Good business acumen
• Ability to build relationships
• Attention to detail
• Good planning and organizational skills
• Good verbal & written communication skills
• Resilient with high stress tolerance
• Assertiveness