Regional Assistant Manager, Quality Assurance

Position Responsibilities

To lead frontline execution of supplier quality assurance program with strong governance role over compliance, risk management and onboarding food, drink ingredients, FMCG suppliers across operating markets. This role serves as key enabler of the Guardian QA function – protecting product safety and brand integrity through audit execution, technical documentation validation, supplier performance monitoring and incident responses.

• Lead and monitor team members in daily execution of supplier QA responsibilities.
• Validate team members (PSR, audit CAPA, Supplier Performance Scoreboard) to ensure alignment with internal and regulatory standards.
• Provide coaching and support to develop junior QA team members capability, accuracy and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Review technical submission and approve routine Product Safety Review and escalate high-risk suppliers to superior for further decision-making.

• Conduct supplier audit across operating markets, including approval, renewal and ad-hoc audits.
• Ensure execution and follow up of supplier audit CAPA closure.
• Support audit harmonization efforts across markets in terms of checklists, scorecard and tiering models.

• Track and update Supplier Performance Scorecards including incident frequency, closure efficiency, audit outcomes, and CAPA timelines.
• Lead internal quality reviews for underperforming suppliers and support escalation for offboarding or requalification.
• Contribute to the supplier risk tiering model, ensuring classification is based on performance and criticality.

• Act as QA incident lead for ingredient-related complaints, foreign object reports, or spec non-conformance.
• Coordinate supplier-side investigation, validate root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions (RCA/CAPA), and ensure timely resolution.
• Document and report incidents, feeding into regional dashboards and trend reviews.

• Support evaluation of supplier readiness for new market launches, ensuring regulatory, Halal, and logistical compliance.
• Confirm that shelf life, labeling claims, and source approvals are suitable for receiving country markets.
• Coordinate with Regulatory Affairs and Procurement during early sourcing decisions.

• Support QA digital tools implementation (e.g., PSR dashboards, audit trackers, defect trend databases).
• Represent QA in operational and sourcing readiness meetings as delegated by the Manager.
• Support third-party laboratory coordination for external verification testing as required.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives including SOP updates, checklist reviews, and supplier QA workflows

Qualification and Experience

• Degree in Food Science, Food Science & Technology, Quality Assurance, Engineering or other related disciplines.
• Formal background or training in technical areas relevant to FSMS standards (HACCP / GFSI) and supplier compliance systems.

• Minimum 4 years of experience in Supplier and Retails QA, or Quality Compliance roles, preferably within F&B, FMCG or Quick Restaurant Services line.
• Minimum 1-2 years in leadership or supervisory role with exposure to multi-market or cross-border sourcing preferred.
• Experience in audit execution, documentation review, and incident CAPA management is essential.

• Fluent in English, Chinese and Malay (spoken and written).
• Good knowledge of supplier management, negotiation, audit performance communication and incident debrief.
• Proven project management and stakeholder leadership across business units.
• Data driven mindset, experience with dashboard, audit tools and quality analytics.

• Agile and pragmatic; comfortable with fast-paced environments and shifting sourcing landscapes
• Proactive, structured and adaptable to cross-cultural work settings
• Strong communicator and problem solver, with regional stakeholder engagement capability
• Committed to quality integrity, detail-orientated, and organized in multitasking
• Able to articulate new information quickly and react positively to new and challenging opportunities.
• Possess own transport and wiling to travel

a Necessity, not a Luxury