Quality Assurance Manager

ASR Group is the world’s largest refiner and marketer of cane sugar, with an annual production capacity of more than 6 million tons of sugar. The company produces a full line of grocery, industrial, food service and specialty sweetener products. Across North America, ASR Group owns and operates six sugar refineries, located in Louisiana, New York, California, Maryland, Canada and Mexico. In Europe, the company owns and operates sugar refineries in England and Portugal. ASR Group also owns and operates mills in Mexico and Belize. The company’s brand portfolio includes the leading brands Domino, C&H, Redpath, Tate & Lyle, Lyle’s and Sidul.

Overview

Direct Report to the Quality Technical Manager , this role is going to ensure the maintenance of Quality & Food Safety Management Systems and corporate requirements.

Detailed Roles & Responsibilities

• Supports the maintenance of Quality & Food Safety Management Systems.
• Supports the determination of the department needs and supports the development of plans & solution implementation.
• Supports third party and Customer audits.
• Act as deputy to the Quality Technical Manager, supporting the decision-making in their absence, and ensuring continuity of quality and food safety operations.
• Coordinates and supports the daily activities of two Quality Technologists, ensuring alignment with departmental objectives, providing guidance, and fostering their development and performance.
• Supports the maintenance and continuous improvement of the HACCP system, in alignment with ASR Group policies, Codex Alimentarius principles, applicable legislation, and IFS Food Standard requirements. Ensures the plan is up to date, validated, and effectively implemented, with risk assessments systematically reviewed and updated whenever there are modifications and new projects. Coordinates the food defence plan, ensuring threat assessments, access controls, and emergency procedures are in place and tested annually
• Ensures the maintenance and continuous improvement of the document control system, guaranteeing that all procedures and records, are accurate, up to date, traceable, and readily accessible Ensures full compliance with IFS requirements and ASR corporate documentation policies.
• Coordinate the internal audit program, including the planning and scheduling audits across all departments and processes, assigning qualified and independent auditors, and ensuring that audits are conducted in a timely manner. Also includes managing findings and reporting results.
• Ensure the effective management and follow-up of all non-conformities resulting from internal and external audits, internal incidents, customer complaints, and other relevant sources. This includes coordinating and conducting follow-up meetings with area managers to monitor the implementation of defined corrective actions, verifying their effectiveness, and ensuring timely closure within agreed deadlines. Maintain updated records of all actions and escalate delays or critical issues to senior management, when necessary, in alignment with IFS Food Standard requirements and ASR Group policies.
• Develops and delivers training and orientation materials about HACCP, Quality and Food Safety topics (GMPs, product control, etc.).
• Lead the continuous improvement of the food safety culture program, ensuring measurable objectives are defined, communicated, and reviewed annually.
• Participate in or lead continuous improvement initiatives.
  
  

Work Experiences

• Minimum of 3-year effective management experience on food safety and quality systems.
  
  

Essential Capabilities (knowledge, Skills, Abilities And Personal Attributes)

• Technical Knowledge Skills - Proven professional experience and in-depth knowledge of Quality and Food Safety Management Systems (e.g., HACCP, IFS, Codex Alimentarius).
• Communication Skills - Excellent verbal and written communication skills in Portuguese and English, with the ability to clearly convey technical information and training content to diverse audiences.
• Leadership & Influence: Demonstrated ability to lead initiatives, coordinate cross-functional teams.
• Organizational Skills : Strong planning and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
• Team Collaboration : Ability to work collaboratively with different departments, fostering a culture of quality, safety, sustainability and continuous improvement.
• Analytical Skills: Strong ability to assess risks, analyze root causes, and implement effective corrective and preventive actions. Ability to use data insights to support decision-making and drive continuous improvement. Comfortable working with digital tools and systems to monitor performance.
  
  

Education Requirements

• Chemical, Food engineering or any Science university degree. (preferential)
• Preference with Audit certifications.
• Preference with Trainer certification.
  
  

For more than 100 years, our employees have taken pride in “Making Life a Little Sweeter” by providing our customers and consumers with quality service and sugar products. Our commitment to that principle drives us in all that we do and encourages us to uphold our company’s high ethical standards of business conduct to ensure our continued success.