QSHE Manager at Kenya Wine Agencies Limited (KWAL)

Job Purpose

The job holder will be responsible for the defining and implementing the company’s quality, food safety, occupational, health, safety and environment culture to support KWAL in the delivery of its strategic objectives through current and future operations while ensuring adherence to relevant legal and regulatory framework . The role must support the Executive team to design, implement and maintain the highest quality of governance in the company.

Responsibilities and Accountabilities 

• Prepare, implement and monitor QSHE departmental strategies and annual budget and business plan aligned to the overall business strategy.
• Develop, implement and enforce appropriate quality, safety, health and environment policies and procedures in compliance with applicable legal requirement and for sustainable business growth.
• Responsible for developing and rolling out strategic QSHE activities including the overall QHSE Plan subject to senior management approval, including audit schedules aimed at improving quality, energy, health, safety and environment across the company.
• Maintain the company certifications through a robust plan that focusses on quality, Health &Safety, Environment and Food safety management systems.
• Drive the trade quality strategy aimed at enhancing trust and maintaining a mutual reliable relationship between the company and its customers.
• Oversee the day to day testing/inspection of bulk storage, blended and bottled products to ensure conformance; immediate reporting of any quality or food safety deviations and implementation of any recommended corrective action. 
• Develop specifications of all dry goods, food ingredients and finished goods including the update of the databases for any changes.
• Assure compliance with legal requirement of all products for both local and export markets.
• Assure compliance with legal requirement of all processes involved in the manufacturing value chain while maintaining adequate line of sight at all gate points.
• Implement food safety initiatives and overall HACCP plan in the company’s food chain.
• Oversee the quality, health, safety and environment audits and ensure that any remedial recommendations are implemented to mitigate risks and exposures.
• Work with HR department to develop and implement a training program of all QSHE issues and methods of compliance for all staff.
• Work with internal audit and risk department to drive the Business continuity planning (BCP) initiatives and ensure an active and responsive BCP policy is maintained at all times.
• Maintain up to date knowledge of applicable legislation and codes of practice in order to advise management on relevant changes. 
• Prepare and submit all regulatory and management reports relating to QSHE in a timely manner. 
• Overall responsibility over all assets in the QSHE function.
• Organize and manage the available human capital within the department through training, development, performance management and proper positioning to ensure optimal productivity and high value services to internal and external customers.
• Drive key sustainability objectives in line with the company focus and strategic plan.
• Provide leadership on all continuous improvement strategies in line with the business strategy.
• Collaborate with Group SHREQ functions to deliver the Global Assurance mandates

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelors’ degree in Food Science or a related field.
• Must have relevant professional qualification.
• A master’s degree and proven experience of project management will be an added advantage. 
• Seven years’ experience in a food manufacturing environment with three (3) of those years in Quality, Health & Safety, Environment and Regulation.
• Practical experience in use of MS packages and ERP systems.

Competencies/Attributes

• Proven track record developing, implementing, and leading quality, food safety, occupational, health, safety and environmental risk management.
• Pragmatic approach with proven leadership skills in a collaborative environment within a growing business.
• Must be proactive and be able to anticipate issues rather than being reactive.
• Superior interpersonal and communication skills. 
• Knowledge and understanding of methodologies of risk assessment, management and mitigation.
• A drive for continual improvement. 
• Demonstrated problem solving capabilities.
• High level of integrity.