AM/Manager - Quality (Dry Commodities)

DeHaat; Guntur District; On-site; INR 700,000 - 1,100,000; Full time

Job summary

DeHaat is seeking a hands-on Quality Specialist – Dry Commodities to lead spice quality control and assurance across raw materials, laboratory testing, documentation and CAPA processes. The role requires strong knowledge of spices, testing methods, and supplier quality management.

The ideal candidate will handle customer complaints, audit trails, SOPs and regulatory alignment, while coordinating with labs and suppliers to ensure product quality from sourcing to dispatch.

Qualifications

• Experience in QC/QA for spices, dry commodities or agri-commodities.
• Knowledge of testing methods and documentation requirements.
• Experience with CAPA reports and corrective actions.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate sampling and testing of raw materials and finished products.
• Review COAs and laboratory reports for deviations and risks.
• Maintain product specifications aligned with customer/regulatory needs.
• Support supplier quality through inspections and audits.
• Investigate customer complaints and perform root cause analysis (RCA).
• Assist in QA systems implementation across procurement, processing and warehousing.
• Drive process improvements to reduce rejections and non-conformities.

Skills

Spices knowledge

CAPA reporting

Lab testing

Quality assurance

Supplier quality

Education

Bachelor's in Food Science or QA

Tools

COA interpretation

SOP writing

Job description

We are looking for a hands-on Quality Specialist – Dry Commodities with strong knowledge of spices and dry agricultural commodities and practical exposure to both Quality Control and Quality Assurance.

The ideal candidate should have strong product and testing knowledge, understand the quality risks associated with different spices and their varieties, and be comfortable working across raw material quality, laboratory testing, specifications, documentation, customer complaints and CAPA.

Key Responsibilities

1. Spices & Product Quality

• Develop a strong understanding of various spices, including their varieties, grades, origins, physical characteristics, components and quality parameters.
• Understand the key quality risks associated with whole spices, powdered spices and other dry commodities.
• Establish and monitor product-specific quality parameters such as moisture, colour, size, volatile oil, foreign matter, infestation, adulteration, microbial load, aflatoxin/mycotoxins, pesticide residues, heavy metals and other applicable parameters.
• Understand how different quality parameters are tested, including the appropriate sampling and analytical methods used for each parameter.
• Evaluate raw materials and finished products against defined specifications and identify deviations.

2. Quality Control & Laboratory Testing

• Coordinate sampling and testing of incoming raw materials, in-process materials and finished products.
• Prepare appropriate sampling plans and testing requirements based on product, customer and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate directly with external testing laboratories for routine and specialised testing.
• Liaise with laboratories regarding test methods, sample requirements, turnaround time, testing frequency and commercial terms.
• Review and interpret laboratory reports and Certificates of Analysis (COAs), identifying deviations and potential quality risks.
• Support the organisation in evaluating suitable laboratories for future in-house testing capabilities.

3. Product Specifications & Quality Documentation

• Ensure specifications are aligned with customer, regulatory and destination-market requirements.
• Maintain quality records and documentation to ensure audit and customer readiness.

4. Supplier & Raw Material Quality

• Support supplier quality management through raw material inspections, sampling and testing.
• Evaluate supplier-provided COAs and other quality documents against internal specifications.
• Identify recurring quality issues and work with suppliers to improve raw material quality.
• Participate in supplier assessments/audits and support supplier quality improvement initiatives.
• Maintain records of supplier quality performance and deviations.

5. Customer Complaints, RCA & CAPA

• Investigate customer complaints, quality deviations, rejections and product claims.
• Conduct Root Cause Analysis (RCA) using appropriate problem-solving methodologies.
• Prepare clear and comprehensive CAPA reports for customers within defined timelines.
• Translate CAPA findings into practical changes in internal processes, controls, SOPs or supplier requirements.
• Follow up on preventive actions to ensure that corrective measures are actually implemented and sustained.
• Track recurring complaints and identify systemic quality issues.

6. QA Systems & Compliance

• Support implementation and maintenance of quality and food safety systems across procurement, processing, packing, warehousing and dispatch.
• Develop and update SOPs, quality checklists, inspection formats and process controls.
• Working knowledge of relevant food safety and quality systems such as HACCP, ISO 22000/FSSC 22000, BRCGS and GlobalG.A.P.
• Exposure to customer/social compliance standards such as SMETA, BSCI and Fairtrade will be an advantage.
• Working knowledge of applicable requirements of FSSAI, Spices Board, APEDA, AGMARK, Codex and export-market regulations.
• Support internal, supplier, customer and certification audits and assist in closure of observations/non-conformities.

7. Process & Quality Improvement

• Identify quality risks across the dry commodities supply chain and recommend preventive controls.
• Work closely with Procurement, Operations, Warehouse, Export and Commercial teams to resolve quality issues.
• Support improvement of sampling, testing, inspection and documentation processes.
• Identify opportunities to reduce quality rejections, wastage, customer complaints and product deviations.

Required Skills & Competencies

• Strong knowledge of spices including varieties and their individual components.
• Will be based in Guntur and should be willing to travel frequently to Unjha and other sourcing, supplier, processing and operational locations as required.
• Should be comfortable with relocation to another business location in the future, based on organisational requirements.
• Good understanding of physical, chemical and microbiological quality parameters relevant to spices.
• He should know how to issue Specification sheets, MSDS, Certificates of Analysis, and other documents required for products to be dispatched / sold.
• Should have knowledge of, and experience writing, various CAPA (Corrective Action & Preventive Action) reports for customers when complaints arise, and see how to change the internal systems to implement the suggested preventive actions.
• Should already be directly dealing / negotiating with various testing laboratories
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced, lean and entrepreneurial environment.

Preferred Experience

• 4+ years of experience in Quality Control / Quality Assurance within spices, dry commodities, food processing or agri-commodities.
• Candidates who have worked in lean/start-up environments and have gained cross-functional exposure across QC, QA, laboratory testing, documentation, customer complaints and supplier quality will be preferred.