Lab Manager

Mondelez International Inc.; Gqeberha; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Mondelēz International in Sub-Saharan Africa seeks a Laboratory Quality Assurance lead to oversee analytical and microbiological activities, ensure GLP/GMP compliance, and drive continuous improvement. You will manage a team, calibrate equipment, and release materials in SAP, while maintaining rigorous quality standards across the facility.

The ideal candidate has a BSC in Microbiology with 5+ years in food/pharma labs and 3+ years of people management, with strong statistics, problem-solving

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in a food or pharmaceutical microbiological laboratory.
• Minimum 3 years people management experience.
• ISO 14001, ISO 22000, PAS220 and OHSAS 18001 knowledge and auditing.
• Experience with ISO-based system implementation and HACCP/GMP.
• Strong communication, project management and problem-solving skills.
• Laboratory instrumentation knowledge and statistics familiarity.

Responsibilities

• Complete routine laboratory analyses and track analytical trends.
• Lead quality assurance activities to maintain high daily standards.
• Develop HACCP procedures and manage calibration of equipment.
• Ensure compliance with GLP, GMP, health and safety policies.
• Release materials in SAP and manage lab inventory.
• Coach and develop laboratory staff to reach required competencies.
• Investigate out-of-spec results and implement corrective actions.

Skills

People management

Quality assurance

Statistical analysis

Project management

ISO/GMP knowledge

HACCP

Lean / 5S

Communication

Laboratory instrumentation

Problem solving

Cross-functional teamwork

Education

BSC Microbiology

Tools

SAP

Job description

Job Description

Are You Ready to Make It Happen at Mondelēz International?

Join our Mission to Lead the Future of Snacking. Make It With Pride.

You ensure quality in the factory and are responsible for meeting quality targets. You are fully responsible for the people, machinery and the identification and elimination of quality losses and problems in the department. You grow your team’s capabilities and coordinates departmental activities in accordance with corporate standards, local requirements and ISO standards. In this role, you report directly to the plant manager with dotted line responsibility to corporate quality.

How you will contribute

You will ensure that all quality objectives, goals and targets in the factory (including regional and global commitments) are met. You will develop and track your department’s budget and eliminate losses. With your team, you will conduct regular plan-do-act-check assessments to plan how targets will be met, executing the plan and periodically checking and taking action to stay on track. In addition, you will ensure that there is strict adherence with all appropriate laws, food safety quality standards and consumer requirements of all manufactured products and manage crisis situations internally and externally in ways that support the company’s image, policies and business. As a people leader, you are responsible for recruitment and structuring of the department to ensure there are sufficient resources to deliver on plant objectives, set and assess performance goals, and coach and mentor team members.

What you will bring

A desire to drive your future and accelerate your career and the following experience and knowledge:

• Relevant experience (operations, quality and/or R&D)
• Project management and managing multiple priorities
• Commercial strategy process, product/package development process, food safety, plant commercialization, ingredient and package technology and training and coaching technical material
• Communicating effectively and leading cross-functional teams
• Statistical processes and problem-solving techniques
• Working with external manufacturing suppliers to ensure compliance to our policies and procedures and technical vendors to support compliance
• Working with customers on quality related issues

Purpose:

This role involves developing, managing and continuously improving the analytical and microbiological laboratory. This encompasses employee safety, equipment, and infrastructure and people development in order to ensure quality and safe food for our consumers.

Key Responsibilities:

• Completing routine laboratory analysis
• Statistically analyze data and provide trend analyses, recommend/suggest corrective action, manage and report on analytical and microbiological trends
• Implement policies and procedures-ensure GLP standards are adhered to lead quality assurance to maintain the highest standards on a daily basis
• Develop and implement HACCP procedures as part of the HACCP implementation team
• Identify and manage continuous improvement projects re laboratory response time
• Ensure proper functioning of equipment and that calibration is conducted timeously as well as asset care and maintenance of the laboratory equipment
• Ensure prompt and accurate analysis of all incoming raw materials, packaging material and finished product
• Ensure prompt response time on results
• Manage and control day to day operation and efficiency in the analytical and microbiological laboratories
• Provide support with regulatory compliance, GLP and GMP, Health and Safety and Corporate standards
• Investigate out of specification results according to QMS OOS Guidelines and solve technical problems
• Check raw data and approve final results
• Conduct internal audits where required
• Leading, guiding and support Laboratory staff, as well as developing staff to competent levels, while ensuring that self and staff behaviour are aligned with company values and expectations and where necessary, uses the company disciplinary process to correct behaviour
• Manage rejection process of all non-conforming ingredients and packaging material
• Compiling, approving, reviewing and accepting Work Instructions
• Raw material, packaging material and finished product release on SAP
• Responsible for maintaining the inventory of raw materials and general lab supplies
• Performing any other duties as assigned by the Quality Manager

Requirements:

• Minimum BSC Microbiology or higher
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in a food or pharmaceutical microbiological laboratory
• Minimum 3 years people management experience
• ISO 14001, ISO 22000, PAS220 and OHSAS 18001 management systems knowledge and auditing
• Working knowledge of ISO based system implementation and management
• Working knowledge of HACCP and GMP
• Excellent verbal and written communication, interpersonal, presentation, facilitation, project management, pro-activeness, good decision-making and change management are also essential to the performance of this position
• In addition to this, the candidate should display influential, accountable and adaptable behavior and have high drive.
• Laboratory instrument knowledge and experience
• Strong problem-solving capacity
• Applied Statistics / Statistical Process Control
• Continuous Improvement skills/knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and 5S Housekeeping.
  

No Relocation support available

Business Unit Summary

Mondelēz International’s Sub Saharan Africa Business Unit is made up of three key focus areas namely Southern Africa, West Africa and the Rest of Africa Markets. The Business Unit is home to approximately 1000 Makers and Bakers who strive to bring only the best quality and loved brands to our consumers. Mondelēz International in Sub Saharan Africa is proud to house global legacy brands including Cadbury Dairy Milk, Oreo, Halls and Bournvita, together with local jewels such as Cadbury LunchBar, Chappies, TomTom and Dentyne. The Business Unit’s Markets have consistently been awarded Top Employer certification, and has been recognised as a Top Employer in Africa.

Mondelēz International is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Job Type

Regular

Supply Chain Quality Assurance

Product Quality, Safety and Compliance