Quality Assurance Associate

APM Terminals

 Position – Quality Assurance Associate (On site)

 Location - Maersk CFS, Ground Floor No 78, Anuppam pattu village, Minjur, Ponneri Taluka, Thiruvalluvar dist, Chennai- 601204

Description -Responsible for ensuring quality, food safety, regulatory compliance, cold-chain integrity, and QMS implementation across the warehousing and cold storage facility.

Work closely with Operations, Engineering/Maintenance, Safety, Commercial and customers to ensure that products are stored and handled in accordance with customer requirements, approved SOPs, food safety standards, statutory regulations and company policies. Act as the key quality interface for customer audits, regulatory inspections, complaints, CAPA, HACCP/FSMS implementation, temperature management and continuous improvement initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

Operational Management -

• Ensure operations are optimized and warehousing services are delivered under the highest service quality possible in the area.
• Ensure maintenance and renewal of applicable licenses, registrations and statutory approvals, including FSSAI, EIC, MPEDA and other applicable regulatory requirements, depending on the products handled.
• Participation in internal and external audits (Food safety audits, ISO audits, customer audit, third party certification audits, etc)
• Review temperature records, deviations and corrective actions on a regular basis.
• Ensure proper functioning, calibration and validation of temperature monitoring devices, data loggers, sensors and measuring equipment.
• Develop, review and implement SOPs, work instructions, quality manuals, checklists and formats for warehouse and cold storage operations.
• Ensure effective implementation of GMP, GHP, hygiene, sanitation and food safety practices across the facility.
• Ensure timely customer complaints handling with effective root cause analysis. 
• Keeping records and manual in the QMS documentation updated with revision as per standards.
• Prepare the facility for planned and unplanned audits and inspections. Ensure closure of audit observations within agreed timelines.
• Handling of government officials visiting facility.

• Ensuring effective pest control program for site.
• Prepare quality manuals for various categories of products stored in the facility.
• Assist in implementing various business excellence projects and initiatives at the site.
• Conduct quality, food safety, GMP/GHP, HACCP, hygiene, QMS and SOP-related training for warehouse employees.
• Monitor quality trends and provide recommendations to Site Management.

Client Relationship Management -

• Client audits.
• Product sampling.
• Quality Dashboard.

Accountable For

• Effective implementation of QMS, FSMS, HACCP and PRPs at the facility.
• Addressing all complaints / queries within timelines as per escalation matrix.
• Leading all quality audits for the facility.
• Quality documentation and record control.
• Training and awareness of warehouse personnel on quality and food safety requirements.

Critical Competencies

• Strong knowledge of QMS, FSMS, HACCP, GMP, GHP and PRPs.
• Understanding of ISO 9001 and ISO 22000 standards.
• Strong knowledge of SOP preparation and implementation.
• Ability to perform Root Cause Analysis and CAPA.
• Strong audit management and documentation skills.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.

Key Metrics

•  Handling Customer complaints & ensuring high customer satisfaction Score.
• QMS implementation and standardization.
• Regulatory license and statutory compliance.
• Successful completion of certification audits and observations closed within timelines.

Education Qualification & Experience:

• B.E. Food Tech/ Science Graduate (microbiology/Biotech/Food Technology)
• 3-4 Experience in Food manufacturing/handling (specially frozen food)
• Certification/training in ISO 9001:2015, ISO 22000, HACCP will be preferred.
• Experience in handling customer audits, food safety audits and regulatory inspections will be preferred.

Maersk is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we embrace different styles of thinking. Maersk is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants without regard to race, colour, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy or parental leave, veteran status, gender identity, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with all legal requirements.

We are happy to support your need for any adjustments during the application and hiring process. If you need special assistance or an accommodation to use our website, apply for a position, or to perform a job, please contact us by emailing  accommodationrequests@maersk.com.