Market Quality Expert Manager

Job Description

Job Description:

“Quality” is our first principle in our 5 principles, and it sets the fundamentals of our business towards our Petcare and Confectionary business visions. The role is responsible for quality performance in Japan for products / services of petcare and confectionary business from assigned factories.

This role is also responsible for supporting the implementation of QMS program and/or standards in the market together with the line Manager.

This position would be required to come to the TOK office more than 40% of the month (normally about two days per week) when required.

What will be your key responsibilities?

Responsible for Quality Performance

• Responsible for measuring and monitoring all quality performance of products / services from assigned factories. This role represents in quality review for products / services for assigned factories in Japan market.
• Seek, propose, improve, and innovate more productive ways of working to drive continuous improvement programs to achieve excellence in market unit Quality collaborating with and influencing assigned factories.
• Facilitate regular quality review with assigned factories to review their performance and agree on priorities as focus improvement.
• Drives understandings of consumers and customers insights and expectations to quality in the market. Communicate such insights / expectation with technical info to the regional and factory R&D team.
• Heighten perspective, collaborate, and influence within cross-functional team and within function by utilizing own expertise.
• Contribute to reviewing products retrieved as part of consumer/customer complaint, and supports Customer Care team in developing communication that includes RCA and CAPA when needed. This includes escalation to sourcing units for investigation.

Quality Incident Management:

• Manage quality issues/incidents in the market including non-conformance management, rework management, and hold & release management.
• In case of quality incident, lead the market unit according to the Mars quality incident management process.
• At the time of a critical quality incident, Co-lead a quality incident management process in the Japan market with Line manager or higher senior leader in the market.
• Act as a single point of contact in Japan market with a factory (or factories) and drive recommendation of actions in the situations when the quality of the products / services from a factory (or factories) are in question.
• Articulate and escalate unresolved quality issues, significant quality risk/concerns that require support from upper managers.

Preventive Actions for new products and/or any change management:

• Contribute minimizing quality related issues for new products introductions and/or any product change management via risk assessment under the project management process in the area of product/package design, supply chain operations, etc. Lead any quality related issue resolution with the project team members.
• Provide inputs to R&D/Quality team by reviewing product and package specification for solid quality requirements and process control management.
• Support new project in artwork development (e.g. labelling, instruction, etc.)

Support Mars Quality Management System (QMS) and Global Standard Compliance

• Support Mars Japan QMS leader for implementation and compliance of QMS and other global standard into the operation in Mars Japan. The role may delegate to lead compliance of a few specific Global Standards.
• Support an audit leader in QMS audits (internal/ regional / LRQA) in Mars and lead external partners audits (warehouse, distributor, copacker).

Support Team Engagement and Talent Developments:

• Support the Line Manager in co-leading/facilitating key team engagement activities.
• Support the Line Manager in developing team members through activities such as peer assistance, coaching and teaching.

Productive Ways of Working:

• Seek, propose, improve and innovate more effective and efficient ways of working in own area of responsibility in terms of when, where, and how to work.
• Identify opportunities and propose new and/or continuous improvement ideas where the team and the cross-functional team (e.g., project team) could work more effectively and efficiently together.
• Lead and drive changes by taking action, practicing, and being the catalyst
• Articulate and escalate challenges and/or issues that require support from upper managers.
• Effectively understand each other genuinely. Actively listen to stakeholders and check for understanding.
• Deliver messages concisely by adjusting style and contents to meet various needs of stakeholders.
• When any gaps are identified, demonstrate a proactive mindset and volunteer to tackle to solve them even beyond own responsibilities.
• Heighten perspective, collaborate and influence within cross-functional team and within function by utilizing own expertise.

Context and Scope

• Own several factories’ quality performance in the market unit (Petfood and/or Chocolate). Interface to those factories, typically outside of Japan. Communication will be in English via telephone, email, and face-to-face meeting.

• Report to a local market unit Head of Quality Assurance, who reports to Asia Q&FS Director.

• Supervise a supporting contractor for administration / execution support (i.e. data analysis, reworking, and quality checking.)

• Collaborate with Regional quality team for market unit community in the region.

Job Specifications/Qualifications

• Degree in Food Science/Technology or related science/technical discipline

• Experience within an R&D/Q&FS is required and experience in auditing of Quality Management Systems. Science background and a history of delivery; HACCP knowledge.

• 2 yrs. experience working in MARS or similar role in FMCG company.

• Skills/Ability: Understanding of quality management principles, working in teams, process management, conflict resolution, technical problem solving – Root cause analysis.

• English communication skill for meeting, telephone, presentation, and email.

• Is able to perform Quality Morning Panel (assessing consumer return products) on Site (Tokyo office).

• Is able to perform Quality Morning Panel (assessing consumer return products) on Site (Tokyo office).

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.
• Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
• Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
• An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.