Varun Beverages Ltd. seeks a Deputy Manager - Quality Assurance & Food Safety to lead QA/QC efforts, ensuring product quality, regulatory compliance, and customer satisfaction for extruded snack products.The Deputy Manager - Quality Assurance & Food Safety will play a pivotal role in driving quality excellence across the manufacturing process of puffed and extruded snack products. This role is responsible for implementing and managing quality assurance and food safety systems, ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations, and maintaining a culture of continuous improvement. The successful candidate will lead a team of quality professionals, oversee laboratory testing, and manage supplier quality, contributing to the overall success and reputation of the company's snack products.

Job Description

Position: Deputy Manager - Quality Assurance & Food Safety

Department: Quality Assurance & Quality Control (QA/QC) Reporting To: Quality Head / Plant Head Experience: 5-8 Years Industry: Snacks, Extruded Foods, Namkeen, FMCG Food Manufacturing

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Job Purpose

To lead quality assurance and food safety functions across the manufacturing process of puffed and extruded snack products, ensuring consistent product quality, regulatory compliance, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement through effective implementation of Quality Management Systems, Food Safety Standards, and Process Controls.

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Key Responsibilities

Quality Assurance & Food Safety Management

• Lead and manage Quality Assurance and Quality Control activities for raw materials, in-process products, and finished goods.
• Ensure compliance with FSSC 22000, ISO 22000, HACCP, GMP, GHP, and FSSAI requirements.
• Maintain and continuously improve the Food Safety Management System (FSMS).
• Drive product quality consistency across all manufacturing lines.

Process Quality Control

• Monitor critical quality parameters during extrusion, drying, seasoning, and packaging operations.
• Establish process controls for:
  • Product Expansion
  • Bulk Density
  • Moisture Content
  • Oil Absorption
  • Texture and Crispness
  • Seasoning Uniformity
  • Product Weight Control
• Ensure adherence to SOPs and quality specifications.

Team Leadership

• Lead and develop a team of Quality Officers, Quality Executives, and Lab Analysts.
• Conduct training programs on food safety, quality systems, hygiene, and GMP practices.
• Drive a quality-focused culture across production and support functions.

Supplier & Raw Material Quality Management

• Approve incoming raw materials and packaging materials as per defined specifications.
• Monitor supplier quality performance and conduct supplier evaluations.
• Coordinate supplier audits and corrective action follow-up.

Laboratory & Testing Management

• Oversee physical, chemical, sensory, and microbiological testing activities.
• Review laboratory reports and ensure compliance with quality standards.
• Ensure calibration and maintenance of laboratory equipment.

Audit & Compliance Management

• Lead internal, external, customer, regulatory, and certification audits.
• Ensure timely closure of audit observations and non-conformities.
• Maintain audit readiness at all times.

Customer Complaint & CAPA Management

• Investigate customer complaints related to quality issues.
• Conduct Root Cause Analysis using tools such as:
  • 5 Why Analysis
  • Fishbone Diagram
  • CAPA Methodology
• Implement and monitor corrective and preventive actions.

Hygiene & Sanitation Control

• Ensure compliance with sanitation and hygiene standards across the plant.
• Monitor cleaning validation and environmental hygiene programs.
• Coordinate pest control management activities.

Continuous Improvement

• Drive quality improvement projects to reduce:
  • Product Rejection
  • Consumer Complaints
  • Process Variations
  • Wastage and Rework
• Support TPM, Lean Manufacturing, and Operational Excellence initiatives.

Documentation & Reporting

• Review quality reports, trend analysis, and quality KPIs.
• Present quality performance to plant leadership.
• Maintain all statutory and quality documentation.

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Key Quality Parameters for Puff Corn & Extruded Snacks

• Moisture Content
• Product Expansion Ratio
• Bulk Density
• Texture & Crispness
• Oil Content
• Seasoning Adherence
• Product Dimensions
• Defect Analysis
• Metal Detection Compliance
• Packaging Integrity & Seal Strength
• Shelf-Life Compliance

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Educational Qualifications

• B.Tech/M.Tech Food Technology
• B.Sc./M.Sc. Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry
• Any relevant Food Processing qualification

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Experience

• 8-12 years of experience in Quality Assurance/Quality Control within:
  • Extruded Snacks
  • Puff Corn
  • Kurkure-Type Snacks
  • Namkeen & Savoury Foods
  • FMCG Food Manufacturing
• Experience handling food safety audits and quality systems is mandatory.

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Required Competencies

Technical Skills

• FSSC 22000 / ISO 22000
• HACCP Implementation
• FSSAI Compliance
• Statistical Process Control (SPC)
• Root Cause Analysis
• Food Safety Risk Assessment
• Sensory Evaluation
• Quality Management Systems

Behavioral Skills

• Leadership & Team Management
• Problem Solving
• Decision Making
• Cross-Functional Coordination
• Effective Communication
• Analytical Thinking

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Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Customer Complaints per Million Packs
• Finished Goods Rejection %
• First Pass Yield (FPY)
• Supplier Quality Index
• Audit Compliance Score
• CAPA Closure Effectiveness
• Food Safety Incidents
• Product Hold & Release Compliance
• Quality Cost Reduction
• GMP & Hygiene Compliance Score

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage Quality Assurance and Quality Control activities, ensuring compliance with FSSC 22000, ISO 22000, and other food safety standards.
• Monitor critical quality parameters during extrusion, drying, and packaging operations, establishing effective process controls.
• Lead a team of Quality Officers, Executives, and Lab Analysts, conducting training programs on food safety and quality systems.
• Approve incoming raw materials and packaging, monitor supplier quality, and conduct supplier evaluations and audits.
• Oversee physical, chemical, and microbiological testing, ensuring laboratory equipment calibration and maintenance.
• Lead internal and external audits, ensuring timely closure of observations and maintaining audit readiness.
• Investigate customer complaints, conducting root cause analysis, and implementing corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with sanitation and hygiene standards, monitoring cleaning programs and pest control activities.
• Drive quality improvement projects to reduce product rejections, consumer complaints, and process variations.
• Review quality reports, present performance data, and maintain statutory and quality documentation.

Qualifications

• B.Tech/M.Tech in Food Technology or related field.
• 5-8 years of experience in Quality Assurance/Control within extruded snacks, puff corn, or FMCG food manufacturing.
• Expertise in FSSC 22000, HACCP, and FSSAI compliance, with strong technical skills in quality management systems.
• Leadership and team management abilities, with experience in developing and motivating quality teams.
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills, with the ability to coordinate cross-functionally.
• Strong communication and analytical thinking skills, with a focus on continuous improvement.
• Experience in handling food safety audits and quality systems is mandatory.
• Knowledge of statistical process control (SPC) and root cause analysis techniques.
• Familiarity with food safety risk assessment and sensory evaluation methods.
• A proactive and results-driven approach to quality assurance and food safety management.