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.
