QA Specialist Brewing Jobs in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa at The HEINEKEN Company

Title: QA Specialist Brewing

Company: The HEINEKEN Company

Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

Purpose of the position

Drive product and process quality improvements across the end-to-end value chain, with emphasis on supplier and customer interfaces.
Foster continuous skill development in technology and quality within the department.
Strengthen collaboration with suppliers of raw materials and services.
Proactively lead the brewing department’s technology and quality initiatives.
Oversee the brewing department’s NPI execution.

Key responsibilities of the role include, but is not limited to:

SAFETY, FOOD SAFETY AND SUSTAINABILITY

Ensure all Brewing & Utilities activities related to technology and quality comply with HEINEKEN’s Safety, Food Safety, and Sustainability standards.
Constructively challenge these standards through close collaboration with Global functions.
Support the implementation of safety improvement initiatives to maintain a safe and sustainable production environment.

QUALITY OF THE PROCESS AND PRODUCT

Lead the brewing department’s technology, NPI, and quality agenda.
Ensure compliance with raw material, process, and product quality standards.
Support the implementation and continuous improvement of quality systems and procedures.
Apply and contribute to the development of HEINEKEN production and quality control standards.
Identify quality risks and develop local procedures and work instructions aligned with HEINEKEN Rules, Standards, and applicable regulations.
Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to proactively prevent quality issues across brewing and malting process phases.
Oversee the technological implementation of recipes and NPI requirements, ensuring On-Time In-Full (OTIF) delivery.
Lead the routine quality agenda within the brewing department, with a focus on condition-based quality management in close alignment with the PQ pillar.

TPM AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

Define priorities and address key losses within the area of responsibility, leading improvements across TPM activities (AM Brewing, PM Maintenance, AM Utilities).
Challenge and support the development of enhanced operational standards through active participation in pillar teams such as AM and PQ.
Facilitate continuous improvement and optimization of brewing processes.
Initiate and support improvements within the Autonomous Maintenance (AM) team, fostering strong collaboration with the PQ Quality Pillar and other TPM pillars.
Evaluate task efficiency and effectiveness, identifying opportunities for improvement and implementing corrective or preventive actions.
Actively contribute to quality improvement initiatives and cross-functional teams.

PROCESS MANAGEMENT

Report deviations from HEINEKEN Brewing Process Standards within the area of responsibility.
Investigate improvement opportunities and communicate effectively with higher management, ensuring timely closure of all non-conformities.
Lead or contribute to analytical improvement initiatives, implementing corrective or preventive actions as needed.
Drive and support the execution of NPI implementation within the Brewing & Utilities department, with an end-to-end focus.
Prioritize consumer-centric technological optimizations and proactively address related challenges.

EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT

Understand equipment capabilities and performance requirements to meet technological expectations with an end-to-end focus.
Identify root causes of out-of-stock situations and implement preventive actions to avoid recurrence.
Anticipate risks and apply countermeasures proactively.
Maintain workplace standards in line with Autonomous Maintenance (AM) and 5S principles; actively participate in related teams.
Ensure optimal performance of analytical equipment through close collaboration with suppliers and the Quality department.

ORGANIZATION AND PEOPLE MANAGEMENT

Coach and train Brewing & Utilities personnel to enhance quality awareness and capability.
Collect and assess technician performance data, providing input for individual evaluations.
Systematically improve technological and quality delivery by refining standards and developing technician skills.
Lead brewing quality initiatives in close collaboration with the Quality department.
Guide, train, and support technicians on technological matters, fostering agility and high performance in both processes and equipment.
Support the responsible handover from Utilities to Brewing, ensuring continuity and quality.

MANAGEMENT OF INFORMATION AND REPORTING

Collect and process relevant data to generate accurate brewing reports within the scope of responsibility.
Follow established reporting lines within and beyond the Brewing & Utilities department as needed.
Own and manage data within the area of responsibility, using insights to propose performance improvements.

PLANNING AND EXECUTION

Plan and manage the department’s basic quality budget.
Lead cost optimization initiatives within the department, including CVE activities, focusing on production materials and technological processes.

SUPPLIER MANAGEMENT

Ensure execution of all contracts and agreements with material and service providers, fostering strong collaboration and exceeding expectations in production, technology, and quality.
Collect and manage supplier performance and quality data to support informed decision-making and lead quality-related communication with suppliers.
Initiate and lead supplier collaboration on innovation and problem-solving initiatives.

Requirements of the role include:

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Food technology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Microbiology or Chemical Engineering

Experience

Qa Hired