Associate Specialist - Distribution Quality, Mea

Job Purpose:

The distributor model used in markets across MEA is unusual within Mars in that product ownership and thus product control is not the sole responsibility of Mars. This means that Mars must work in partnership with our distributors and 3PLs to ensure that product reaches consumers in the same condition as it left our factories, and that Mars is able to trace, hold and release stock when circumstances dictate.

This role is responsible for maintaining distribution quality across the MEA Cluster; this includes development and implementation of standards, auditing and driving continuous improvements with market units and distributors, handle customer and consumer complaints, and leading the implementation of Mars QMS across MEA markets,

Key Responsibilities:

Warehouses and Distribution:

• As the primary technical resource at the area of QID, the job holder will be responsible for contributing to the development of, and interpreting and application of quality standards relating to improving Q&FS in the supply chain, specifically between the factory gate and the retail outlet.
• Provide ongoing auditing of market warehouses and distributors, and is responsible for driving CI, agreeing and verifying the completion of corrective and preventative actions to ensure compliance with Mars Q&FS standards
• Provide expertise, tools and systems to enable the markets to manage product Q&FS in the outbound supply chain
• Responsible for in market problem solving and will be the first point of escalation for incidents that are caused and/or detected in the market.
• Implement Mars’ requirements regarding traceability and Recall and continuously test effectiveness of the system.
• Work closely with manufacturing sites during incidents to support Risk assessments and other related incident management tasks.
• Manage trade, customer and consumer complaints for MEA markets

Mars Quality Management Standard (QMS)

• Accountable for the implementation of the requirements of the Mars Quality Management Process (QMS) at the MEA markets level.
• Responsible for building mutual relationships between cluster’s Q&FS, Supply, Market Units and 3PLs/distributors; championing the QMS and providing training and consultancy.
• Ensures management reviews at the market unit level and communication of outcome.
• Create appropriate forums or project teams to enable continuous improvement PDCA

Freshness & In Market Quality:

• Define the requirement for measurement and reporting of Quality & Freshness information and ensure that this is met by all parties.
• Use the data to review performance, highlight issues, propose solutions and escalate where appropriate.

Work closely with third party auditing company to ensure audits are conducted at the expected level of quality and accuracy and communicate any changes if needed

Education:  a degree in food science: food Technology, Process Engineering, Chemistry or Physics

Experience: At least 3-5 years’ experience within a Quality Management environment and strong knowledge of Quality Management Systems. Technical depth and detailed knowledge of transportation and warehousing standards as well as Food Processing requirements in GMP/ GHP. Knowledge of quality assurance techniques