Food Quality Expert, based in Bangkok

Vacancy Notice

The ICRC Regional Delegation in Bangkok seeks to fill the following position:

Food Quality Expert, based in Bangkok

We are looking for a spirited team player with a can-do attitude to join our dynamic team.

The Food Expert is responsible for implementing food quality policy also to ensures compliance with the policy and good practices for quality of food purchases in the region Asia Pacific.

ACCOUNTABILITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Quality Management System

• Analyzes current practices within the Supply chain (& Procurement Unit), with suppliers, laboratories and proposes areas of improvement to ensure quality of foodstuffs in the region.
• Identifies the risks associated with foodstuffs purchased by the ICRC concerning product quality and food safety, and proposes solutions to control these risks (e.g. risk management approach (FMECA), root cause analysis, implementation of corrective and preventive actions, including during transport and storage operations).
• Provides technical support to ICRC Delegations in areas related to food quality, analyzes the results of product testing and verifies compliance with ICRC quality specifications as well as those of national and international authorities.
• Provides support in terms of monitoring compliance levels and proposes solutions in case of identification of potential risks and non-conformities (e.g. corrective actions such as rejection or sorting of batches, validation of corrective actions and follow-up of these actions with suppliers).
• Implements performance monitoring of food purchases, laboratories and suppliers using QC results, QSE audit reports, and appropriately communicates results using Quality Dashboards.
• Implements throughout the supply chain food Quality control systems and operational methods such as RED BOX, supplier selection and Quality Management best practices.
• Proposes technical answers regarding product specifications and their contractual applications (implementation and monitoring of acceptable quality levels AQL).
• Responsible to organizing training for Quality Controllers, Quality Agents and anyone involved in food quality.
• Advise and support transport and warehouse processes on best practices.
• Encourages continuous improvement of the Quality Management System (QMS).
• Upon request performs measuring, examining, testing or gauging of items in order to ensure that the quality requirements are met.

Items Specifications

• Supports and creates Acceptance Quality Limit (AQL) document, ensures that the validation process has been correctly performed and then, publishes the AQL on GVA Quality Management database and ensures proper communication with the team.
• Ensures that validated AQL is used in RFQ, RFT and Contracts in order to enable Quality Controller and/or Inspection Companies to inspect the purchased products correctly (measuring, examining, testing or gauging characteristics of a product or service).
• Advises quality team and internal customers on specification improvements.
• Ensures to have an overall knowledge of the projects, for which specific needs are requested.
• Helps Internal Customers, SCA and Purchasers to define the description and coding, advises requester on specifications and quality issues/differences and seeks clarifications with the requester if needed.
• Works in close collaboration and supports Purchasers regarding corrective action and supports/advices for any update needed for goods specifications, collects and validates required Certificate of Analysis.
• Ensures that the JD Edwards quality-management module is properly used.

Quality Control and Management of Inspection Service Contracts

• Supervises the Food quality-control process (documentation, Equipment and Sample Management), ensuring that only the latest versions and standard QC documents are used by Quality Controller or Inspection companies.
• Ensures that food Quality Control and Inspection Company’s work is performed according to ICRC standards, in a transparent and accountable manner.
• Ensures that QC equipment (and used by inspection companies) is regularly calibrated, identified and registered.
• Prepares and communicates inspection report forms to inspection companies and prioritizes inspections tasks.
• Validates and releases food inspection reports (reference-samples testing, internal Quality Control, quality inspection reports prepared by subcontracted Inspection companies and lab reports).
• Communicates results/ validated food inspection reports to Purchaser, Warehouse Manager, and Quality Manager respecting QM reporting rules.
• Investigates any discrepancy in quality, or quantity of items received from Suppliers, before further actions.
• Suggests corrective actions in case of non-conformity (i.e. quality penalty, or lot rejection)
• Ensures adequate control of nonconforming products and follows corrective action plans requested to suppliers/manufacturers.
• Responsible for Annual Tender & Frame Agreement(s) for food Inspection Services.
• Performs Quality Social and Environmental assessments/audits of inspection companies/laboratories using ICRC standard procedures.
• Evaluate regularly the performance of food inspection companies for selection process and suspension.
• Carries out prospecting of the market in order to identify new Inspection Companies.
• Ensures that Inspection Companies’ registration and validation is completed in cooperation with the Hop, and Quality Manager.

Assessment/evaluation of ICRC Suppliers

• In close cooperation with Senior Purchasers conducts supports and follows Quality Social and Environmental assessment of food suppliers’ manufacturing sites in the country.
• Gives feedback (based on QC and QSE assessment standard reports) and suggests improvements (using Corrective action plan form) to the Buyers based on findings.
• Supports buyers when communicating Corrective Action Plan to suppliers, monitors the implementation and provide coaching if needed.
• Monitors and follows up on aspects of supplier-relationship management (SRM) linked to the quality-control and assessment processes.
• Support for QSE assessment of suppliers and QC including short support missions when necessary.
• Performs Food quality training to international organizations part of the QSE working group (UNHCR, UNICEF, IFRC, IOM and MSF) in coordination with Quality Manager.

PEOPLE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

• Understands and supervises the Performance Management & Development (PMD) activities for employees under their supervision
• Makes sure that deadlines for the PMD cycle are met
• Engages in ongoing and continuous feedback and support, particularly for employees under their supervision, but also other staff members
• Organizes regular meetings within their team to ensure optimal coordination of the work and proper flow of information
• Ensures that job descriptions for employees under their supervision are up to date; seeks feedback and support from the HR Department if needed
• Plans and coordinates the annual leave of the employees under their supervision ensuring continuity of the operations throughout the year and making sure that there are no outstanding holiday balances at the end of the year
• Coordinates and supports the employees under their supervision in their personal development by coaching and advising them on internal and external training and development possibilities

YOUR PROFILE:

• Master’s degree or engineering diploma related to agri-food production.
• 4 years of professional experience in the field of food quality, production management and/or food trade.
• Proven experience in assessments/audits.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English. French is a plus
• Advanced computer skills (Word, Excel, Power Point, Databases) and fluent internet user
• Able to write clear and concise documents and assess legal aspects of supplier/manufacturer capacity
• Precise with keen eye for details, rigorous with high sense of confidentiality and integrity;
• Team spirit and good communication skills with a customer focus orientation;
• Analytical and organizational skills;
• Able to work efficiently under pressure with minimum supervision;
• Independent with sense of responsibility and initiative;
• Staff supervision and management skills
• Able to travel for short support missions within the region

WE OFFER:

• Dynamic and challenging work in the humanitarian sector and international environment
• Competitive salary with benefits, good working conditions and in-house training/development
• Initial 1-year employment (resident contract) with possibility of renewal into open-ended contract (subject to performance review)

Preferred starting date: 1 March 2023

Submission deadline for applications: 07 January 2022

The ICRC values diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of background, race, religion, gender, age, disability, or status.