Technical Manager – Quality & Regulatory (Food Science & Halal Management)

Lotus's Malaysia; Kuala Lumpur; On-site; MYR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Lotus's Malaysia seeks a seasoned Regulatory & Halal Compliance professional to lead halal certification and ensure ongoing regulatory compliance across Own Brand and Exclusive Brand products. You will coordinate the Internal Halal Committee, manage HAS enhancements, and liaise with authorities and certification bodies.

You will develop training, handle investigations of food safety and halal-related issues, and drive continuous improvement in quality standards while maintaining accurate

Qualifications

• Degree with minimum 5 years in food regulatory, quality, and/or halal management.
• Strong knowledge of food legislation, safety standards, and halal requirements.
• Professional Halal certification or auditor/trainer credentials are advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and evaluate changes in food regulations, halal standards, government requirements, and enforcement trends with timely impact assessments.
• Manage regulatory compliance activities including price-controlled listings and stakeholder communications.
• Maintain halal certification for Own Brand and Exclusive Brand products and ensure timely certification of new/existing products.
• Lead Internal Halal Committee meetings quarterly and promote halal best practices.
• Develop and improve the Halal Assurance Management System and liaise with bodies on audits and compliance.
• Develop and conduct training on food safety, halal compliance, pest control, and regulatory requirements.
• Manage complaints related to food safety, quality, legality, and halal compliance with investigations and CAPAs.
• Lead product withdrawal and recall activities and compile closure reports.
• Oversee pest control management across stores and distribution centres and coordinate corrective actions.
• Monitor KPI reporting and maintain up-to-date certifications and compliance records.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem solving

Risk management

Decision making

Negotiation

Communication

Education

Degree in Food Science / Halal Management

Tools

MS Office

Job description

• Monitor and evaluate changes in food regulations, halal standards, government requirements, and enforcement trends, providing timely business impact assessments and recommendations to ensure ongoing compliance.
• Manage regulatory compliance activities, including maintaining price-controlled product listings and ensuring accurate, timely communication of compliance-related updates to relevant stakeholders
• Manage and maintain halal certification for Own Brand and Exclusive Brand products, ensuring compliance with halal requirements and timely certification for new and existing products.
• Lead and coordinate the Internal Halal Committee, including quarterly meetings, and support the implementation of halal best practices across the business.
• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve the Halal Assurance Management System (HAS), while liaising with certification bodies and regulatory authorities on halal-related matters, audits, and compliance requirements.
• Develop and conduct training related to food safety, hygiene, halal compliance, pest control, and relevant regulatory requirements for colleagues across stores, distribution centers, and head office functions, to strengthen compliance culture and operational standards throughout the organization.
• Manage food safety, quality, legality, and regulatory-related complaints for Own Brand and Exclusive Brand products, coordinating investigations, root-cause analysis, and corrective/preventive actions with suppliers and relevant stakeholders to ensure timely and effective resolution.
• Lead product withdrawal and recall activities when required, including issuing withdrawal communications, tracking product retrieval, monitoring corrective actions, and compiling closure reports to support continuous product quality improvement.
• Oversee pest control management across stores and distribution centres, monitor pest trends, and work with service providers and operations teams to ensure effective corrective actions and continuous improvement.
• Manage the Product Assessment Centre’s operations, resources, and budget, ensuring Own Brand and Exclusive Brand products undergo accurate and efficient quality testing, benchmarking, and specification verification.
• Drive continuous improvement in product assessment and testing processes to strengthen product quality standards and support business requirements.
• Ensure timely KPI reporting and maintain accurate, up-to-date technical data, trackers, certifications, and compliance records, providing management with relevant quality, regulatory, and halal performance insights.
• Undertake any other duties, projects, or assignments as directed by the business and/or line manager.

Job Requirements:

• Degree or equivalent in Food Science, Food Technology, Halal Management, or a related Science discipline, with a minimum of 5 years’ experience in food regulatory, quality, and/or halal management, preferably within the food manufacturing or retail industry.
• Strong knowledge of food legislation and regulations, food safety and quality standards, halal requirements, and Halal Assurance Management Systems, with the ability to interpret and apply requirements to the business.
• Professional Certified Halal Executive, certified auditor for GMP, HACCP, FSSC 22000, ISO 22000 or certified trainer will be an advantage.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, risk management, decision-making, negotiation, and communication skills, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively across functions.
• Excellent organizational, prioritization, and presentation skills, with strong attention to detail and proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Proactive, positive, adaptable, and commercially minded, with the ability to anticipate issues, identify opportunities, and provide practical recommendations to support business objectives.