Agro QA Lab Lead

This role is responsible to manage Agro QA labs at plant and 3P locations as per PepsiCo standards ensuring lab up keep considering Laboratory, Food Safety and Food Safety Standards, targeting accuracy of results.The role is also responsible to ensure the Agro product quality and coordinate effectively with all stakeholders (Agro field team, Production and chip stock storages) to align and execute action plan for improvement.The role needs to deliver Agro Quality Assurance agenda and manage the compliance to applicable PepsiCo Agricultural standards in procurement, handling, transportation and storage of Agro raw materials.

1. Effective coordination with Cold store, Process and Operations QA team regarding potato testing, results sharing and ensuring uninterrupted production run.
2. Explore productivity and quality improvement initiatives from harvesting till consumption.
3. Support Agro team in selection and finalization of new geography by providing analytical support for seed stock.
4. Work on BIC storage facility models to enhance data visibility regarding tracking of storage parameters including temperature, humidity and CO2.
5. Co-ordinate with field team to educate growers on variety specific agronomy, best practices regarding solids improvement and defects reduction.
6. Develop and monitor E2E seed quality program covering physical part of seed quality testing.
7. Co-ordinate purchase of new lab equipment for Agro QA lab as per requirement.
8. Ensure periodic inspection of cold stores to ensure compliance to QFS standards.
9. Implementation of 5S program, quality and food safety standards at plant and 3P potato lab.
10. Ensuring lab PGP's compliance on potato testing procedure at receiving and consumption end.
11. Leno bags health assessment and compliance report communication to relevant stakeholders
12. Potato quality health assessment through detailed sampling of storage stock as per defined frequency.
13. Manage balanced duty plan for the Laboratory team ensuring work life balance and thorough coverage of team in all shifts. Track PMP for the teams directly reporting to him and ensure development plans accordingly.
14. Make sure QA planned CAPEX utilization with timely processing of CAR, PR, PO, installation and execution part without compromising on quality standards.
15. Ensure timely communication of compliance status regarding stock and vehicle health status and time tracking status during storage season.
16. Ensure internal and external calibrations (slicers, probe thermometer, specific gravity meter) as per PepsiCo quality system guidelines. Also ensure weekly, monthly, and yearly maintenance/calibrations of lab instruments.
17. Ensure timely support during AIB, FSSC and Halal audits to ensure Zero nonconformance.
18. Ensure variety specific testing of heavy Metals & Pesticides analysis to monitor MRL's as per local law.
19. Lead the Agro crops quality monitoring system through YSI trend analysis project on potato crop from sowing to consumption in coordination of Agro field team.
20. Lead the capability development agenda for Agro and QA staff on potato testing and Quality management.
21. Effectively coordination with R&D and supply chain in all raw material development projects
22. Tracking of farmers performance regarding material quality issues along future action plan for improvements.
23. Liaisons with Agro field team to combat quality challenges for potato in field during growing season.
24. Ensure to lead the implementation of Global GAP in field for shortlisted growers across all regions.

1. Master/ bachelor's degree in food technology/ Horticulture
2. Good knowledge of material testing and quality assessment
3. Knowledge of quality and food safety standards