Quality Assurance Manager

Arabian Ethicals; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the UAE is seeking a Quality Assurance Manager to oversee compliance and quality systems in the pharmaceutical sector. The role involves leading a QA team, ensuring adherence to regulatory standards, and managing audits. Candidates should have a pharmacy degree, relevant certifications, and strong leadership skills. Fluency in English and Arabic is essential for effective communication with regulatory bodies and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• 6-8 years of experience in Quality Assurance within the pharmaceutical industry.
• Minimum of 2 years in a management role leading QA teams.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and improve the QMS for healthcare products in compliance with regulations.
• Lead the QA team in implementing quality systems and documentation.
• Manage internal and external audits to ensure inspection readiness.

Skills

Knowledge & experience of regulatory process

Knowledge of MOH and government regulations

Fluency in English

Fluency in Arabic

Strong leadership skills

Problem-solving skills

Education

Bachelor's or master's degree in pharmacy

Certification in Supply Chain Management

Certification in Quality Assurance Management

Tools

SAP

Oracle

MS Office

Job description

Arabian Ethicals, a member of the Ghobash Group, was formed in the early 1970's as a pharmaceutical distributor. Over the years, it has expanded its core business to become one of the leading pharma distributors in the UAE, but also diversified into adjacent segments such as veterinary, nutrition, and consumer products. Today, Arabian Ethicals is the trusted partner of global brands such as Merck-Serono, Sandoz, Acino, Nuk, and many others. With offices and warehouses in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and a team of over 120 dedicated employees, Arabian Ethicals is distributing to all major pharmacies, hospitals, supermarkets and other retail outlets across the country. Making an impact in the daily lives of the people in UAE, Arabian Ethicals serves with passion and aims to deliver through positive advancements in the healthcare industry. Touching Lives Everyday

Job Description

Quality Assurance Management

• Oversee, maintain, and continuously improve the QMS covering all GxP and health-regulated activities related to the storage, distribution, and commercialization of healthcare products within the UAE, ensuring compliance with MOH, GDP, and principal company requirements.
• Lead the QA team in implementing and maintaining quality systems, procedures, and documentation aligned with regulatory and corporate policies.
• Develop, implement, and enforce Quality Assurance standards and SOPs, ensuring operational alignment and readiness for inspections by regulatory authorities and principal company auditors.
• Oversee all QMS activities, including CAPAs, deviations/investigations, change control, document control, and product release according to partner and regulatory obligations.
• Implement and manage best practice systems across all warehouse and distribution operations, covering delivery, storage, temperature control, expiry management, damage handling, and disposal, ensuring adherence to quality and regulatory standards.
• Monitor temperature control mechanisms within the warehouse, ensuring operations stay within validated parameters and defined guidelines.
• Ensure compliance with Good Distribution and Storage Practice (GDSP) guidelines as issued by MOH, fostering operational excellence across the supply chain.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure quality-related contractual obligations are fulfilled across business partners, vendors, and internal functions.
• Oversee the qualification process of vendors, verifying their quality systems and compliance with GDP, regulatory, and contractual requirements.
• Manage and oversee internal and external audits, ensuring inspection readiness, facilitating successful inspections by MOH, Municipality, Quality Assurance, and principal companies, and minimizing the risk of violations or penalties.
• Facilitate and conduct training programs, providing tools, techniques, and guidance to ensure the team achieves and sustains high quality standards and regulatory compliance.
• Monitor and report quality metrics to senior management, providing insights and recommendations to support quality improvement and decision-making.
• Identify and report quality violations, lead root cause investigations, and implement effective corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs) to address non-conformances.
• Ensure timely, accurate submissions of regulatory filings and reports, maintaining strict adherence to deadlines and compliance requirements.
• Manage all Quality Agreements with business partners and vendors, ensuring their validity, continuous updates, and relevance.
• Oversee the execution of the Individual Training Program to maintain continuous qualification of employees in accordance with regulatory and corporate standards.
• Adequately identify, assess, and manage quality risks, escalating issues to senior management where necessary.
• Oversee the efficient management of product recalls, returns, and destruction, including regulatory notifications, dispatch of recall letters to pharmacies, and coordination with MOH approval and collection processes in line with internal SOPs.

Imports Exports & Logistics

• Import and Export permit and approval for shipment release from MOH
• Follow up with Logistics department for any import permit requirement
• Communicate with principal companies for the required documents
• Coordinate with the regulatory department to ensure the required documents are attached before submission for registration (valid registration certificate, packing list etc.)
• Coordinate with Head of Import/Export at MOH for timely approval.
• Ensure that all the required documents are attached with the import permit before signing (valid registration certificate packing list)
• Ensure physical verification of the shipment as per the import permit and supplier invoice (item description, quantity, batch number, expiry date etc.) before MOH release submission
• Submission of release form along with supplier invoice and a sample from each batch for MOH release approval
• Re-export any item or shipment rejected by MOH and liaise with MOH officials
• Update Logistic team on products for shipment.
• Receive dispatch report from the Quality Officer and ensure timely deliveries
• Ensure the cold storage goods are received by customers in good quality as per the international quality procedure and MOH policy
• Monitor Semi controlled goods from the stage of importation to dispatch ensuring all records are up-to-date as per MOH and DOH requirements and submit monthly reports to MOH.
• Receive periodic customer complaint report and ensure necessary actions are taken to enhance customer satisfaction
• Receive and review the report of expired/near expiry items from QA Officer/Assistant
• Ensure that the expired/near expiry goods (within 3 months) have been kept aside of shelves and Oracle is updated with the new location details
• Coordinate with the Department Managers, Finance, Principal companies and MOH for necessary approvals to dispose-off expired/near expiry items

Relationship Management

• Establish healthy & effective relationship with all concerned personnel at MOH.
• Maintain professional relationship with regulatory authorities
• Communicate with regulatory bodies in Ministry of Health to facilitate successful product launch.
• Ongoing visits and intensive call to all concern people

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's degree in pharmacy
• Certification in Supply Chain Management, Quality Assurance Management, or Lean Six Sigma is desirable.
• Certification in Supply Chain management / QA Management is desirable

Additional Information

Skills & Professional Requirements:

• Knowledge & experience of regulatory process
• Knowledge of MOH and government regulations relevant to ARABIAN ETHICALS products
• Experience in working with systems such as SAP / Oracle etc.
• Proficient in MS Office, especially Excel and Power Point
• Language Skills: Fluency in English and Arabic
• Knowledge of quality processes, standards and GMP

Experience Requirements:

• 68 years of progressive experience in Quality Assurance within the pharmaceutical or healthcare industry.
• Minimum of 2 years in a management role leading QA teams or functions.
• Proven track record of managing quality systems, regulatory inspections, and audits (internal and external).
• Experience in developing, implementing, and managing process quality controls and designing and delivering training programs.
• Experience with ISO requirements and electronic Quality Management Systems (QMS) in pharmaceutical sector.
• Demonstrated ability to lead change, influence stakeholders, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.

Attributes and Behaviours:

• Strong knowledge of GMP, GDP, ICH guidelines, and regulatory requirements applicable to pharmaceutical distribution and commercialization.
• Familiarity with MOH and government regulations relevant to healthcare products.
• Fluency in English and Arabic (written and spoken).
• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong strategic mindset with a hands-on, proactive approach to quality management.
• High attention to detail, with strong analytical and organizational skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, highly regulated environment, managing ambiguity and multiple priorities.
• Strong customer service orientation and collaboration skills, fostering positive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.