Assistant Manager – Quality Operations

Overview

The Assistant Manager – Quality Operations plays a crucial role in overseeing quality control activities in Saudi Arabia and supervising supplier and QC standards in India. The position ensures adherence to food safety regulations, evaluates supplier compliance, and fosters quality excellence across warehouses and supply chains.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and verify the accuracy, compliance, and integrity of all QC reports from Al Maha Team and third-party labs, resolving discrepancies with corrective actions.
• Conduct supplier audits in India involving sample testing, milling, processing, and storage inspections at the origin.
• Ensure Al Maha and suppliers meet established SLAs and quality benchmarks throughout the supply chain.
• Lead formal performance evaluations and hold accountable Al Maha for necessary improvements.
• Detect deviations in supplier submissions, escalate critical matters, and maintain detailed audit documentation.
• Undertake regular field visits to India to audit quality practices firsthand and uphold organizational standards.
• Assist in supplier qualification by participating in audits, analyzing data, and developing performance scorecards.
• Monitor supplier metrics including defect rates, complaints, SLA adherence, and rejection ratios.
• Implement and track corrective and preventive actions with suppliers until resolution.
• Ensure uniform quality of raw materials across batches and suppliers.
• Collaborate with procurement and Al Maha to mitigate supplier-related risks and quality issues.
• Enhance and maintain the supplier quality management system continuously.
• Oversee resolution processes of supplier quality issues, coordinating root cause analyses with stakeholders.
• Escalate major issues promptly with documented corrective histories and report supplier quality to senior leadership.
• Identify systemic supply chain quality gaps and design improvement initiatives to reduce rejections and costs.
• Standardize audit criteria, reporting methods, and inspection processes across sourcing origins.
• Use quality trend insights to advance inbound product consistency.
• Supervise KSA warehouse quality, ensuring compliance with storage, hygiene, and handling standards through site visits and reporting accuracy verification.
• Manage daily laboratory functions, ensuring SOP adherence, reviewing test outcomes, and maintaining equipment calibration and operation.
• Support lab technicians in troubleshooting and ensure proper use of laboratory tools.
• Act as deputy to the Senior Quality & Transformation Manager making quality decisions in their absence.
• Lead quality review meetings and facilitate escalation forums.
• Coordinate cross-functionally with warehouse, procurement, operations, and sales for quality alignment.
• Provide technical quality support for customer inquiries as needed.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, or a closely related discipline.
• 4 to 6 years of experience in supplier quality, quality control, or IMS management within FMCG, with a preference for rice or grain commodities.
• Ability and willingness to travel occasionally to India for audits and supplier engagement.

Preferred Attributes

• Master’s degree and certifications such as HACCP Practitioner or ISO 22000 Lead Auditor.
• Experience managing supplier relationships in India or South Asia and familiar with Al Maha or similar structures.
• Arabic language skills are advantageous.