Regional Senior Executive, QA - Packaging & Lifestyle

Position Responsibilities

1. Regional QA Framework & Standardization

• Support to develop standardized QA protocols, testing requirements, and inspection criteria for packaging and lifestyle products across countries.
• Set Acceptable Quality Limits (AQL) by product category and risk profile; ensure regional adaptation where needed.
• Monitor regional regulatory updates (e.g., FDA, EU FCM, ASEAN food contact laws, EN71) and update QA standards accordingly.

2. Supplier Assurance & Qualification

• Support supplier audits and assessments for packaging and non-food merchandise suppliers across the region.
• Assess supplier capability documentation (e.g., test reports, certifications, CAPA history).
• Maintain a regional supplier performance scorecard and drive improvement plans for underperforming vendors.

3. Product Testing & Compliance Oversight

• Manage testing plans with accredited labs for food-contact packaging and lifestyle goods (e.g., tumblers, textiles, toys).
• Review laboratory reports for physical, chemical, and regulatory compliance; escalate any non-conformances.
• Oversee golden sample control and ensure mass production aligns with approved specifications.

4. Cross-Functional & Market Launch Support

• Collaborate with Product, Marketing, ESG and Regional Ops teams to provide QA validation during new market launches.
• Act as the QA supporting role in go-to-market processes for packaging and lifestyle items, ensuring timely signoffs and documentation readiness.
• Support country teams on QA alignment, technical inquiries, and product release decisions.

5. Incident Management & Product Recall

• Coordinate regional responses for product complaints or quality incidents, including root cause analysis and supplier CAPA.
• Lead risk assessments for defective or non-compliant goods; manage withdrawal or rework actions with market teams.
• Prepare incident reports and trend summaries for regional QA and senior management.

6. Data Analysis & Continuous Improvement

• Analyze regional QA metrics (e.g., defect rates, inspection findings, complaint trends) and generate insights for continuous improvement.
• Drive initiatives to reduce quality issues, improve supplier consistency, and align product standards regionally.
• Maintain QA documentation, reports, and audit records in compliance with internal and regulatory standards.

7. Sustainability Integration

• Work closely with the ZUS ESG team to embed sustainability goals into packaging and lifestyle merchandise QA processes.
• Support the transition toward recyclable, biodegradable, and lower-impact packaging materials (e.g., PAS 9017-compliant plastics).
• Engage suppliers to validate sustainable sourcing practices and manufacturing transparency.
• Ensure sustainability-related claims are supported by testing, documentation, and aligned with regulatory standards across all markets.

8. Cross-Category QA Support

• Provide backup support for other QA categories (e.g., food packaging, drink ingredients, or lifestyle F&B merchandise) during audits, product launches, or incident investigations.
• Share QA best practices and defect learnings across categories to enhance overall quality culture

9. Innovation & R&D Collaboration

• Provide QA input during early-stage packaging and merchandise innovation projects to ensure feasibility, durability, and compliance are addressed from concept to execution.
• Collaborate with Marketing and R&D to assess new material risks (e.g., plant-based plastics, recycled content) and support pilot evaluations.

Qualification and Experience

Qualification

• Bachelor’s Degree in Quality Assurance, Packaging Science, Food Science or other related disciplines.
• Completion or certified auditor qualification is required, preferably in ISO 9001 and / or FSSC 22000 (Packaging – ISO/TS 22002-4), to support supplier audits for food contact packaging, lifestyle merchandise and smallware.
• Additional certifications in product safety and compliance (i.e. EN71, CPSIA, FDA FCM, EU 10/2011, GB etc) are strongly preferred.
• Proficiency in Mandarin (written and spoken) is required to review supplier documentation and communicate effectively with China-based suppliers.

Experience

• 2 - 3 years of working experience in quality assurance, preferably in packaging, lifestyle products or consumer goods.
• Hands-on experience in product testing, supplier audits and handling quality incidents related to packaging and lifestyle.
• Familiarity with product development cycles and QA integration in cross-functional go-to-market processes.

Skills & Knowledge

• Fluent in English, Chinese and Malay (spoken and written).
• Strong knowledge of international standards and regulations: FDA FCM, EU10/2011, GB, EN71, ASTM, ISO packaging standards.
• Proficient in QA methodologies: AQL sampling, root cause analysis, CAPA management, risk-based QA planning.
• Ability to read and evaluate test reports, product specifications, and audit findings.
• Competency in working with third-party labs and inspection agencies.
• Understanding of ESG and sustainability principles related to packaging and consumer merchandise.

Behavioral Traits

• Proactive, structured and adaptable to cross-cultural work settings.
• Strong communicator and problem solver, with regional stakeholder engagement capability.
• Committed to quality integrity, detail-orientated, and organized in multitasking.
• Able to articulate new information quickly and react positively to new and challenging opportunities.
• Possess own transport and wiling to travel

a Necessity, not a Luxury