Senior Manager / Manager – Quality Assurance & Quality Control (QA/QC)

Position Summary

Agro Snow Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. is seeking an experienced and hands-on QA/QC leader to establish and lead the Quality Assurance and Quality Control function for our new food ingredient manufacturing facility. This role is critical in supporting the start-up and commissioning phase of the plant by developing quality systems from the ground up, obtaining food safety certifications, building the QA/QC team, and ensuring readiness for commercial operations.

The ideal candidate must have proven experience in a greenfield/start-up food manufacturing environment, preferably within food ingredients, dairy ingredients, plant protein, or spray drying operations.

Key Responsibilities

Greenfield / Start-up Responsibilities

• Lead the establishment of the QA/QC department for a new food manufacturing facility.
• Develop and implement QA/QC strategies, policies, SOPs, specifications, forms, and documentation from scratch.
• Support plant commissioning, equipment qualification, trial runs, and commercial start-up activities.
• Establish laboratory operations, testing programs, and analytical procedures.
• Develop quality standards and specifications for raw materials, packaging materials, intermediates, and finished products.
• Build, recruit, train, and lead the QA/QC team.
  
  

Food Safety & Certification

• Lead the initial implementation and certification of:
• FSSC 22000
• HACCP
• Halal
• Kosher
• GMP
• GACC
• FDA
• Act as the Food Safety Team Leader.
• Prepare the facility for first-time customer, regulatory, and certification audits.
• Maintain documentation and compliance requirements throughout the start-up phase.
  

Quality Operations

• Establish incoming, in-process, and finished product inspection programs.
• Oversee laboratory testing activities including microbiological and physicochemical analyses.
• Ensure implementation and verification of CCPs, OPRPs, and food safety controls.
• Lead investigations involving non-conformances, deviations, customer complaints, and CAPA activities.
• Conduct root cause analysis and implement preventive actions.
  
  

Audit & Regulatory Compliance

• Coordinate and lead internal, supplier, customer, certification, and regulatory audits.
• Liaise with certification bodies, government authorities, customers, and external laboratories.
• Ensure compliance with applicable Malaysian and international food regulations.
  
  

Leadership & Continuous Improvement

• Lead and mentor a QA/QC team comprising QA Executives, Food Safety personnel, and Laboratory Technicians.
• Monitor departmental KPIs and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate closely with Production, Engineering, R&D, Procurement, Warehouse, and Supply Chain teams.
• Promote a strong quality and food safety culture across the organisation.
  
  

Requirements

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Microbiology, Chemistry, Biotechnology, or a related discipline.
• Master's degree will be an added advantage.
  
  

Experience

• Minimum 10–15 years of experience in food manufacturing quality functions.
• Minimum 3–5 years in a managerial role leading QA/QC teams.
• Proven involvement in at least one greenfield/start-up food manufacturing project.
• Hands-on experience establishing QA systems and documentation from the beginning.
• Experience obtaining first-time FSSC 22000 certification is mandatory.
• Experience in Halal and Kosher certification implementation is highly preferred.
• Prior experience in food ingredients, dairy ingredients, plant protein, spray drying, or related sectors will be a strong advantage.
  
  

Technical Competencies

• FSSC 22000
• HACCP
• Halal Certification
• Kosher Certification
• GMP
• Internal & External Auditing
• CAPA and Root Cause Analysis
• Laboratory Management
• Food Safety Team Leadership
• Supplier Quality Management
• Customer Complaint Investigation
• Risk Assessment and Food Safety Compliance
  
  

Leadership Requirements

• Must currently hold or have most recently held the position of QA/QC Manager, Senior QA/QC Manager, or equivalent.
• Demonstrated experience managing a team of at least 3–4 direct reports, including QA personnel and laboratory staff.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Able to thrive in a fast-paced start-up environment and work independently with minimal supervision.
  
  

Preferred Experience

• Food ingredient manufacturing.
• Dairy ingredient processing.
• Plant protein processing.
• Spray drying operations.
• Export-oriented manufacturing environments.
• Multinational company exposure.
  
  

Agrocorp International is a leading global agri-commodities company, connecting farmers, processors, and markets across key regions worldwide. With a strong presence in origination and destination markets, we specialize in sourcing, processing, and distributing high-quality agricultural products. Driven by innovation, sustainability, and a people-first culture, Agrocorp offers a dynamic environment where talent can grow, gain global exposure, and make a meaningful impact in the food supply chain.