Quality Health Safety Environmental and Sustainability Director

The QHSES Director leads global quality, health, safety, environmental, and sustainability efforts. This role ensures product quality standards, compliance with regulations, and develops strategies for QEHSS and sustainability.

Job Summary:

The QHSES Director provides leadership in Quality Management  and Health and Safety non-alcoholic beverage manufacturing company with a global reach. The incumbent sets and reinforces product quality standards for production facilities and with partner bottlers, co-packers and/ or joint ventures for the region. Ensures compliance in all aspects of QEHS with all local laws in the respective operating juridisctions. Develops a holistic QHSES strategy that supports the company's strategic pillars. Excels in project management of development initiatives in new product development. Defines industrial sustainability strategic roadmap. 

Role and Responsibilites: 

• Lead, manage, and develop the QHSES team.
• Manage and optimize technical resources, ensuring the QHSES team is fully functional and ready to support all aspects of QHSES.
• Define the development, maintenance, and review of the Group QEHSR Policy, QA & QC Standards, such as developing the SMJ Quality Book and Manufacturing Quality Requirements (MQR), Incident Management Manuals, and in close coordination with the R&D team.
• Provide leadership and technical support to generate comprehensive programs to implement the Group QEHS Policy and Standards, ensuring QEHS compliance with Group requirements. Ensure KPIs are determined and used to drive market product quality performance improvement to a world-class level.
• Develop a regional QHSES strategy for a 3-year cycle focusing on the company vision, ambition, and key strategic pillars, as well as finding optimum alignment with key QHSES objectives set forth by QEHSS strategic pillars—product quality, principles such as food safety, support sustainable packaging use, and help achieve CO2 and water reduction targets, among others.
• Promote a Center of Excellence with a strong “ALL FOR THE QUALITY CULTURE,” have a second-to-none safety record based on Behavioral Based Safety (BBS), achieve OEE targets with low waste of ingredients and packaging, syrups, WIP, and finished goods.
• Promote the application of sound QEHS management principles and techniques throughout the Group. Identify and communicate priority QEHS risk issues and recommend proactive mitigation, not limited to but supported by a comprehensive QEHS auditing plan.
• Ensure management and quality improvement of current and future packaging and ingredient suppliers.
• Provide resource support to the COVI YOY program to ensure success in cost reduction programs.
• Define the Group Incident Management (IM) policy, training, and act as the principal IM coordinator for QEHS-related incidents. Manage and resolve significant incidents affecting the total value chain, such as product contamination/recall and other threats to the Group’s brands.
• Lead the institutionalisation of new products required by Marketing and R&D, focusing on high-quality levels and first-time quality guarantees, efficient production, and cost minimization.
• Manage compatibility between packaging, beverage, and industrial equipment to maintain and improve the quality of the product within the stated shelf life.
• Validate Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) and ensure proper product quality analysis and indicators are kept at optimum levels.
• Guard the optimum image of our product on the shelf, from primary packaging to secondary packaging, to ensure good customer satisfaction levels. Regularly follow up with the Product Quality Assurance Program to be developed for continuous improvement and to have VOC indicators.
• Develop a training program for the QHSES department and beyond to production teams as it relates to process capabilities, food safety, and food defense, that will be an enabler to create a strong quality culture.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, or Food Science from an accredited institution.
• Ideally, a Master’s degree in Science in an appropriate field such as Chemistry, Biology, or Food Science.
• Familiarity with Bottling Engineering and Project Management.
• Languages: Fluent in English and working proficiency in French or Spanish; ideally fluent in all three languages.
• Ability to travel extensively across Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean.
• Proven managerial skills at the Director level, supported by continuing education in business management.

Experience:

• 10 to 15 years of total industry experience in an FMCG company, with a minimum of 5 years in Product Quality Management in the Food Bottling Industry, including 3 years in a QEHS Director role.
• Proven ability to manage quality across multiple industrial sites, dealing with suppliers, and focusing on cost/process orientation.
• Knowledge and experience of Good Manufacturing Practices.
• Relevant experience in Health & Safety management, with the capability to create a Zero Accident Culture.
• Relevant experience in Environmental management.
• Proven people management skills, with the ability to interact with senior corporate executives internally and externally.
• Demonstrated experience and passion for sustainability in the supply chain.
• Proven experience in the development of a strategic roadmap and follow up on key actions and projects to reach 2050 carbon neutrality.