Purpose / Objective (of this position) :
- To execute and coordinate regional quality assurance activity for non-food including packaging, small ware and lifestyle merchandise across multiple markets within ZUS Coffee.
- The role ensures product safety, regulatory compliance, supplier quality, and brand consistency, supporting the QA Lead from product development to deployment.
Position Responsibilities :
Part 1 – Primary roles of the job which are measurable and may be used as part of OKRs.
1. Regional QA Framework & Standardization
- Support to develop standardized QA protocols, testing requirements, and inspection criteria for packaging and lifestyle products across countries.
- Set Acceptable Quality Limits (AQL) by product category and risk profile; ensure regional adaptation where needed.
- Monitor regional regulatory updates (e.g., FDA, EU FCM, ASEAN food contact laws, EN71) and update QA standards accordingly.
2. Supplier Assurance & Qualification
- Support supplier audits and assessments for packaging and non-food merchandise suppliers across the region.
- Assess supplier capability documentation (e.g., test reports, certifications, CAPA history).
- Maintain a regional supplier performance scorecard and drive improvement plans for underperforming vendors.
3. Product Testing & Compliance Oversight
- Manage testing plans with accredited labs for food-contact packaging and lifestyle goods (e.g., tumblers, textiles, toys).
- Review laboratory reports for physical, chemical, and regulatory compliance; escalate any non-conformances.
- Oversee golden sample control and ensure mass production aligns with approved specifications.
4. Cross-Functional & Market Launch Support
- Collaborate with Product, Marketing, ESG and Regional Ops teams to provide QA validation during new market launches.
- Act as the QA supporting role in go-to-market processes for packaging and lifestyle items, ensuring timely signoffs and documentation readiness.
- Support country teams on QA alignment, technical inquiries, and product release decisions.
5. Incident Management & Product Recall
- Coordinate regional responses for product complaints or quality incidents, including root cause analysis and supplier CAPA.
- Lead risk assessments for defective or non-compliant goods; manage withdrawal or rework actions with market teams.
- Prepare incident reports and trend summaries for regional QA and senior management.
6. Data Analysis & Continuous Improvement
- Analyze regional QA metrics (e.g., defect rates, inspection findings, complaint trends) and generate insights for continuous improvement.
- Drive initiatives to reduce quality issues, improve supplier consistency, and align product standards regionally.
- Maintain QA documentation, reports, and audit records in compliance with internal and regulatory standards.
7. Sustainability Integration
- Work closely with the ZUS ESG team to embed sustainability goals into packaging and lifestyle merchandise QA processes.
- Support the transition toward recyclable, biodegradable, and lower-impact packaging materials (e.g., PAS 9017-compliant plastics).
- Engage suppliers to validate sustainable sourcing practices and manufacturing transparency.
- Ensure sustainability-related claims are supported by testing, documentation, and aligned with regulatory standards across all markets.
Part 2 – Secondary roles which supports the primary roles above.
1. Cross-Category QA Support
- Provide backup support for other QA categories (e.g., food packaging, drink ingredients, or lifestyle F&B merchandise) during audits, product launches, or incident investigations.
- Share QA best practices and defect learnings across categories to enhance overall quality culture
2. Innovation & R&D Collaboration
- Provide QA input during early-stage packaging and merchandise innovation projects to ensure feasibility, durability, and compliance are addressed from concept to execution.
- Collaborate with Marketing and R&D to assess new material risks (e.g., plant-based plastics, recycled content) and support pilot evaluations.