Tupande Soko Avocado Oil Quality Assurance Senior Coordinator (Fixed-Term)

Ensures compliance with food safety, environmental, and regulatory standards and leads a team of QA Officers and technicians to deliver consistent product quality and operational excellence.

• Develop and implement a robust QA strategy, policies, and procedures aligned with company goals and industry best practices.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to elevate product quality and reduce deviations and non-conformities.
• Set quality performance targets, monitor KPIs, and report results to senior leadership.
• Manage and mentor a team of QA Officers and laboratory personnel.
• Oversee staff scheduling, training, performance management, and skills development.
• Ensure the QA team operates efficiently and is well-equipped with tools and training.
• Ensure all operations comply with Food Safety Management Systems FSMS, HACCP, GMP, SHEQ, and local environmental regulations.
• Coordinate and lead internal and external audits; prepare reports and follow up on corrective actions.
• Act as the point of contact for quality and food safety inspections by external bodies.
• Oversee all laboratory testing processes, including dry matter, oil quality, ripening, water, and wastewater analysis.
• Ensure testing equipment is calibrated, maintained, and operated according to SOPs.
• Review and validate test results; investigate and escalate significant deviations.
• Monitor and validate quality at critical control points across receiving, ripening, processing, and storage.
• Approve raw material intake, in-process materials, and finished products based on quality criteria.
• Review QA reports and recommend corrective and preventive actions CAPA.
• Ensure cleaning schedules cover all production areas, equipment, and facilities.
• Review cleaning records and sanitation checklists.
• Approve cleaning and sanitizing chemicals and ensure correct concentrations are used.
• Supervise the sanitation consumable use and stock control.
• Maintain complete and accurate QA documentation, including test records, deviation logs, and audit reports.
• Compile and present weekly/monthly quality reports to management.
• Drive root cause analysis and ensure proper closure of non-conformities.
• Champion food safety culture across the organization.
• Supervise proper waste segregation, disposal, and environmental controls.
• Ensure proper handling of boiler water and wastewater testing for regulatory compliance.

• Minimum academic Qualification: Bachelor's degree or Diploma in Food Science, Chemistry, Food Engineering, Microbiology, or a related discipline.
• Work Experience: Minimum 3–5 years of progressive experience in quality assurance in food manufacturing or agro-processing.
• At least 2 years in a supervisory or management capacity overseeing QA/lab teams.
• Knowledge and experience in the Food safety management system, Environmental, Occupational Health and Safety in the workplace.
• Attention to detail: Ensures all your tasks are completed to the processing needs.
• Analytical skills: Have the ability to identify a problem, investigate to find out relevant facts, and find a logical solution.
• Written and verbal communication: Strong verbal communication skills can help you explain ways to improve processes to other people so they can achieve set quality standards.
• Ability to work as part of a team: Teamwork champion for team work to help all departments deliver their deliverables.
• Time management: Ensures you have adequate time to complete your tasks to the desired output and quality standards.