Food Quality and Safety Lead Job Vacancy at Natural Extracts Industries Ltd (NEI)

Food Quality and Safety Lead Job Vacancy at Natural Extracts Industries Ltd (NEI).

Background
Food Quality and Safety Lead (1 post)
Natural Extracts Industries Ltd (NEI) is a social enterprise company pioneering the sustainable flavour extract manufacturing industry in Tanzania, focusing on vanilla, cocoa, and coffee. The company works in all areas from cultivation, to post-harvest processing, to value-add manufacturing and to international sales and marketing. The supply chain currently integrates over 7,300 farmers from eight regions in Tanzania and two regions in Uganda, and through this sourcing model NEI aims to deliver long-term socioeconomic impact, increasing smallholder household net income by 50%, on average. The company is undertaking an aggressive growth journey, featuring European and US market expansions (including partnerships and potential joint ventures), establishing a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, and expanding supply- side volumes.

Job Overview
The food safety Lead be responsible for overseeing food safety at all Company processing branches (e.g., Moshi, Bukoba, Kampala, and in future other regions of Tanzania and Uganda), to build and maintain an effective Food Safety and Quality culture across the company, and overseeing the activities for implementing Kosher, Halal, Organic, ISO/FSSC 22000:2018v5.1, etc., including developing, implementing, and maintaining the quality management system. The role will be based in Bukoba, Kagera, with regular travel to Kampala, Uganda.

Job Responsibilities
1. Food Quality and Safety Certification Compliance

• Ensure all standards, policies and procedures for FSSC 22000:2018, Kosher, Organic and other certifications are established, implemented, respected and followed by production employees and compliance with any new required certification.
• Ensure the food quality and safety procedures outlined in the NEI Food Quality & Safety Management System (e.g., Food Safety Manual and NEI HACCP documents) are communicated to all necessary personnel and correctly implemented.
• Assist in preparing a monthly written report for management recapping food safety and quality issues, trends, corrective actions, and preventive measures taken.
• Serve as a HACCP/Food Safety Team Lead
• Review the HACCP system and all prerequisite programs
• Track completion of corrective action and verify preventative actions
• Issue corrective actions for the incorrect or ineffective implementation of the NEI Food Quality and Safety Management System (FQSMS) and identify improvement opportunities for the NEI FQSMS
• Complete food supplier audits/Customer document registrations (evaluated per the NEI FQSMS implemented) identifying corrective actions required and escalation of major concerns and ensure action thereof as required.
• Coordinating and assisting the Quality Assurance Manager to manage and develop the competencies of the QA team (and other relevant employees) via technical training and team management, with particular attention to the operational aspects of the food safety program, pest control, environmental, operational methods and personnel practices, and maintenance for food safety and hygiene /cleaning practices
• Work with the QA Manager on developing and revising policies and procedures as they pertain to food quality and safety requirements.
• Assist in investigating customer complaints, process failure or any non-conformity using quality /brainstorming tools such as root cause analysis and 5 WHYs, Process Failure Mode Effect Analysis (PFMEA), Statistical Process Control (SPC) etc. and work with product managers to determine what corrective and preventative actions are necessary
• Monitoring food safety and quality throughout the production processes, including collection and submittal of samples for analysis (internal and external).
• Verify audit reports from various QA process auditing functions, including Curing, Cocoa processing, Extraction and Packaging.
• Oversee correct recording and filing of all relevant record logs, forms and documentation

Food Quality and Safety Lead Job Vacancy at Natural Extracts Industries Ltd (NEI)

2. Statutory and Legal Compliance

• Assist in liaising with both Local Authority Inspectors (TBS, UNBS, OSHA, NEMC, etc) /
  enforcement officials and foreign inspectors (US FDA, EFSA) as required
• Assist in establishing and maintaining a regulatory watch system
• Participate in the SHEQ and other committees as may be required

3. Management and Team Working

• Ensure adequate allocation of resources to support NEI’s FQSMS, including monitoring and validating effectiveness and compliance with regulatory and legal requirements such as FDA, EU, SPS, Organic, TBS, TMDA, UNBS, OSHA, Fire, Sugar Board, NEMC, ISO/FSSC
  22000:2018, etc.
• Assist in nurturing good working relationships within and across departments under the
  Food Quality & Safety Management System.
• Interact with regulatory personnel, food safety auditors, and customers to maintain positive and responsive relationships and ensure rapid corrective actions through dynamic leadership and timely documentation.
• Work closely with other safety roles within the company – assisting as required and developing a supportive relationship.
• Meet weekly with the QA Manager to track and set team priorities and address issues and problems.
• Leads annual management review- any changes made and verifies compliance with food safety and quality standards.
• Anything else within the Company’s quality policy scope that may be required from time to time to ensure the QA Manager or the Management Team may require food quality and safety.

Qualifications & Essential Skills

•  Associate degree in Microbiology, Food Science and Technology, Bioprocessing and Post
  Harvest Engineering or equivalent related field
• Excellent Computer literacy (Compulsory) with productivity applications (MS Office, Google Workspace).
• Valid ISO 22000:2018 or ISO 9001:2015 training certificate
• Related experience of at least three years in a food production context; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

View also: Technical Operator-Brewing Job Vacancy at Diageo / SBL

Food Quality and Safety Lead Job Vacancy at Natural Extracts Industries Ltd (NEI)

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Experience directly leading and managing (cross-disciplinary) teams.
• Experience with Better Process Control.
• Demonstrated understanding of Food Safety and HACCP systems.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and Google Workspace applications, specifically
  Word/Docs and Excel/Sheets.
• Experience with OSHA and related regulatory authorities.
• Ability to operate/supervise standard lab equipment and reagents, specifically for microbial analysis.
• Excellent time management and task prioritisation abilities.
• Proficient in mathematical concepts.
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced environment.
• Detail-oriented and organised.
• Problem-solving, analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to communicate proficiently in Swahili and English
• Ability to work independently, manage themselves, and manage others
• Ability to read/comprehend, interpret and author documents.

Expression of Interest Application
Interested candidates should submit their cover letter and CV to hr@nei-ltd.com by 31st March
2023. Applicants must indicate the subject line for the role applied, failure to do so will lead to disqualification.

Natural Extracts Industries is an equal opportunity employer.

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