About Kerry

About the role

• Location Malaysia
• Reporting to Vice President, Food Safety & Quality, APMEA

Working closely with the Global and APMEA FSQ Leadership Teams and key Kerry stakeholders across Supply Chain, R&D, Regulatory, Procurement, Category Technology, Commercial, Supplier Quality and Site Operations, the role leads the development and governance of Food Safety & Quality improvement programmes across the region. Execution responsibility typically sits with the respective Subregional FSQ Directors.

Supporting the business across APMEA, this position ensures products and services consistently meet and exceed customer and other external expectations, while enabling the development of profitable and sustainable customer partnerships. The position also provides strong and visible thought leadership and drives continuous improvement (CI) across the six APMEA subregions, ensuring a robust foundation of food safety and leveraging quality as a competitive advantage, aligned to Safety First, Quality Always.

The role currently has 4 direct reports

• APMEA Sanitation & FSQ Capex Governance Head
• APMEA Microbiologist
• APMEA Quality Systems Assistant Manager
• APMEA Senior Food Safety Manager – Process Authority

Key responsibilities

Lead the development, governance and continuous improvement of Food Safety & Quality (FSQ) systems and programmes across APMEA, with a strong focus on customer expectations, business strategy, policies, food safety, quality and risk mitigation.

Key responsibilities include

• Drive knowledge sharing and performance improvement across APMEA by enabling the rapid sharing of best practices, event learnings and effective ways of working across areas including Sanitation, Laboratories (internal and external), Sensory, TPMs and Quality Systems.
• Strengthen FSQ capability and standards through the development and implementation of FSQ procedures, cross-functional SPC capability building, FSQ Training Needs Analysis and delivery of engaging, effective training programmes.
• Lead FSQ systems and digitalisation governance, ensuring effective use and continuous improvement of systems including EPM, Intelex, SAP, KerryTrack and other relevant FSQ platforms.
• Champion a customer-centric approach to quality, leveraging quality and FSQ capability as a strategic advantage and supporting the business in consistently meeting and exceeding customer expectations.
• Act as the key conduit between APMEA and Global FSQ, ensuring alignment, knowledge exchange and effective deployment of global FSQ priorities and initiatives across the region.
• Provide leadership during significant FSQ events, ensuring appropriate Food Safety risk assessments and verification are completed and making the final finished-goods food safety release decision for products on hold in escalatable events, supported by Site FSQ Leads, Subregional FSQ Leads and relevant SMEs, with consultation with the VP FSQ as required.
• Standardise best-practice ways of working across multiple countries and plants in APMEA, recognising diverse cultures, operating environments and heritage. Build the momentum, pace, engagement and stakeholder buy-in required to embed sustainable change across the region.
• Lead through influence and collaboration, working cross-functionally to develop FSQ capability, strengthen processes and systems, and drive continuous improvement across the organisation.

The role encompasses 5 key facets

• Strategy & Governance; shaping regional FSQ strategy, standards and governance.
• Customer Focus; strengthening quality and FSQ as a strategic advantage in customer partnerships.
• International Reach; driving consistency and best practice across diverse APMEA markets and sites.
• Leadership & People Development; building FSQ capability and influencing stakeholders across functions and levels.
• Transformation & Operational Excellence; driving change and adoption of best-in-class processes, systems and ways of working.

Qualifications and skills

• 20+ years of strategic and operational experience within global food and/or beverage organisations, ideally with pan-APMEA exposure.
• Strong knowledge of food & beverage regulations, industry standards and evolving customer/consumer expectations.
• Broad technical experience across Supply Quality, Operations, Quality Systems, Regulatory, R&D, Manufacturing, Laboratory Management and Sustainability.
• Strong technical expertise in food chemistry, raw materials, sensory, microbiology, food packaging and food engineering.
• Proven track record in continuous improvement, change management and driving customer-focused, best-practice approaches.
• Strong customer focus with experience building trusted relationships, including with large FMCG customers.
• Proven experience in talent development and building high-performing teams within a global organisation.

Competencies

• Inspirational leader with strong executive presence, credibility and integrity.
• Strong critical thinking, analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication, influencing, stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• Resilient, adaptable and comfortable operating in a fast-paced, global and ambiguous environment.
• Strong collaboration and partnership mindset, with a passion for driving change and making an impact.
• International/global outlook with the ability to work effectively across cultures and markets.