Lab Lead

Job Description

Are You Ready to Make It Happen at Mondelēz International?

Join our Mission to Lead the Future of Snacking. Make It With Pride.

You lead the plan-do-check-act (PDCA) process of the site quality management system and report results to the quality section manager.

How you will contribute

You will support elements of the site’s quality system, including internal documentation and change management control including quality policies amendments and registration of internal and external documentation, internal audits, effective PDCA cycles and CAPA system management and management review. In addition, you will coordinate the eQCMS bi-annual review, handle consumer complaints from start to finish, and serve as a key contact for food regulatory agency inspection and contacts management.

What you will bring

A desire to drive your future and accelerate your career and the following experience and knowledge:

• Relevant experience in a laboratory.
• Working efficiently on a team
• Flexibility and adaptability to meet customer/business requirements
• Attending to detail and following written instructions
• Communicating effectively, verbally and in writing
• Project management and working on multiple activities at the same time
• MS office applications

More about this role

You lead the plan-do-check-act (PDCA) process of the site food safety management system and report results to the quality section manager as well coordinating all Lab activities related to physical, chemical and microbiological testing regarding raw material, semi-finished, finished and environmental testings according to the company, FSSC 22000 and ISO 9001:2015 requirements.

What you need to know about this position:

• Provide leadership on driving GLP and implements and maintains the laboratory quality assurance procedures and programs
• Ensures that appropriate QPEs & Mdlz Microbiological Manual is fulfilled and requirements are implemented in the lab
• Develops, implements and maintains all procedures and work instructions concerning sampling and testing of raw and packaging material, SFP and FG.
• Oversee and manage all pathogen testing programs including Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli, and other regulated pathogens across FG, SFG, raw materials, and packaging materials
• Direct non-pathogen microbiological testing programs covering indicator organisms, spoilage organisms, yeast & mold, and total viable counts
• Lead environmental monitoring (EMP/PEM) programs: design sampling plans, oversee swabbing execution, review and trend all environmental results, and drive corrective actions
• Manage chemical analysis programs including allergen testing, nutritional parameter verification, contaminant screening, and composition analysis in line with specification requirements
• Direct physical analysis programs including foreign body detection, texture and moisture measurements, water activity (Aw) determination, and packaging integrity testing
• Ensure comprehensive testing coverage and sampling plans are in place across all material streams: raw materials, packaging materials, semi-finished goods (SFG), and finished goods (FG)
• Manage and optimize test schedules, result turnaround times, and laboratory reporting cadences to meet production and regulatory requirements

• Manages the laboratory supplies and equipment
• Develops and implements the work and calibration check instruction for all available lab equipment.
• Ensures that all supplies used in the lab comply with the specified requirements and are of the quality needed
• Support internal and external food safety audits; serve as the primary laboratory contact for quality compliance reviews and regulatory inspections and sustain ISO 9001, FSSC 22000, Halal systems and NFSA whitelist
• Lead, coach, and develop a team — setting clear performance expectations, providing regular feedback, and building individual capability
• Assign daily workload and manage lab scheduling across all testing disciplines (pathogen, non-pathogen, chemical, and physical) to ensure on-time results
• Drive the full performance management cycle: goal setting, mid-year reviews, year-end evaluations, and individual development plans (IDPs)
• Train lab personnel on testing methods, instrument operation, calibration procedures, safety practices, and GLP to ensure a high-performing, audit-ready team
• Foster a culture of accuracy, accountability, continuous improvement, and food safety ownership across the lab team
• Partner with suppliers and external accredited laboratories as needed for reference testing, method validation, and proficiency testing programs
• Manages the activity regarding safety and health protective work in the laboratory:
  • Develops and implements specific safety procedures and work instructions required to work safety in the lab
  • Ensures that the lab personal pass safety training appropriate to the field of work

What extra ingredients you will bring:

A desire to drive your future and accelerate your career and the following experience and knowledge: 

• Powerful Team Management/Core Team Management (Leading a team/Performance Management Systems/Team Development)
• Practical experience in lab
• Good laboratory practices and safety awareness
• Powerful Understanding of Food Safety Requirements/HACCAP Policies/GMP Requirements)
• Handling governmental entities and knowledge about local food regulations (NFS)
• Responsible for all internal and external food safety audits
• Good knowledge of SAP and quality related modules

Education / Certifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry or other related Sciences

Job specific requirements:

• Minimum 4 years related experience (Microbiology, Quality, Food Safety & Lab)
• Knowledge of food manufacturing programs required; knowledge of Mondelēz International Quality policies/procedures or international quality and GFSI standards is desired.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and prioritize.
• Excellent communication skills and leadership within cross-functional teams.
• Knowledge of statistical processes and problem-solving techniques.

Work schedule:

Full-Time

No Relocation support available

Business Unit Summary

Mondelēz International in the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan serves the Middle East and Africa markets as well as Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Canada. Headquartered in Dubai, UAE, we have more than 2600 employees working across seven plants and six commercial offices; we make, bake, sell and deliver our products to customers. We are market leaders in key snacking categories with iconic global and local brands including Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate, Milka, Oreo and belVita biscuits, Barni Cakes,Tang powdered beverage, Chiclets and Trident gum and Halls candy. 

Mondelēz International is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Job Type

Regular

Supply Chain Quality Assurance

Product Quality, Safety and Compliance