Trade Quality & Co-Man Lead

Overview

This position leads PepsiCo Pakistan’s Trade Quality agenda by developing and implementing systems to monitor product quality across the marketplace. The incumbent manages nationwide product sampling, statistical analysis, and action planning while driving improvement initiatives with Sales, Plants, and R&D teams. The role also builds awareness and capability across the commercial network through training programs, distributor engagement, and development of model distribution centers aligned with PepsiCo Quality and Food Safety standards.

• The role has direct responsibility for Supplier Quality Assurance, including investigation and validation of supplier complaints, follow-up on root cause analyses, and escalation of recurring issues to global SQA/FSQA teams. It also oversees qualification and audits of packaging suppliers, line trials for new materials, and consolidation of supplier performance data for business reviews.
• In addition, the role manages Consumer Response and Quality Analytics, ensuring effective complaint handling, RCA and CAPA validation, and reporting of Complaints per Million Packs (CPM) across sites. The incumbent ensures compliance with Global Consumer Quality Standards, implements goodwill SOPs, and provides senior management with regular updates on consumer issues and resolution plans, while training 3P agents to strengthen consumer management systems.
• The incumbent also serves as the Co-man QC Lead, accountable for ensuring that co-manufacturing partners operate in full compliance with PepsiCo Quality and Food Safety standards, regulatory requirements, and audit readiness at all times. The role drives in-process and packaging quality monitoring, issue resolution, and implementation of global programs such as HACCP, Food Defense, FSSC 22000, Halal, and PepsiCo Food Safety Mandates. It plays a critical role in new co-man development and product launches, working closely with R&D, GP, MU, and sector teams to ensure partner qualification and adherence to PepsiCo standards. As part of the Crisis Management Team, the role ensures product traceability and business continuity, while also engaging co-man teams and leadership in building a strong Quality and Food Safety culture.

Responsibilities

• Lead the trade quality agenda by developing a comprehensive system to assess product quality at different stages of trade and manage the program effectively to drive improvement in on-shelf product quality.
• Manage comprehensive product sampling across the country, evaluate product and pack quality through detailed in-house analysis, perform statistical analysis, and share inferences with action plans.
• Coordinate with Sales, Plant, and R&D teams to execute action plans identified during product sampling and trade visits, address product quality challenges in trade, and share improvement trends with stakeholders.
• Roll out the Trade Quality Development Program in Pakistan by developing training modules and literature to increase awareness, and conduct training sessions for sales teams, distributors, and their staff.
• Develop model distribution centers by implementing PepsiCo Quality and Food Safety standards and track their overall performance through KPI monitoring impacting product quality.
• Coordinate with R&D and Plant teams for CQA activities and lead execution of action plans to achieve best compliance scores through focused drives across the business chain – from potato quality to consumer shelf.
• Track consumer complaints related to Quality and Food Safety, ensure timely input and effective closure, and provide feedback to customers/consumers. Conduct periodic audits of complaint-related actions and share status updates with management regularly.
• Conduct regular audits of Finished Goods Warehouses at plants and third-party storage facilities, ensuring action plan execution in coordination with the Outbound Supply Chain team.
• Develop customized guidelines for Outbound Logistics aligned with PepsiCo standards, ensure compliance through training, workshops, and audits with logistics partners.
• Perform additional accountabilities as assigned by the manager from time to time.
• Address supplier quality complaints from both plants.
•  Verify internal supplier complaints through comprehensive end-to-end investigations and share validated complaints with ingredient and packaging material suppliers.
• Follow up on root cause analyses (RCA) from suppliers, verify RCA through on-site visits where necessary, and escalate recurring complaints to global Supplier Quality Assurance (SQA) and FSQA teams.
• Compile monthly data on all supplier complaints, including closure rates, for FSQA team review.
• Conduct site qualification and audits of secondary packaging suppliers, compile reports, and ensure closure of non-conformances (NCs) to qualify new vendors.
• Conduct line trial studies and provide feedback to vendors and GP.
• Coordinate with the digital agency to ensure effective lodging of complaints and queries.
• Align way forward on consumer complaints: share with relevant teams for RCA and CAPA, validate the effectiveness of RCA, and ensure CAPA closure.
• Record and analyze complaint data, calculate Complaints per Million Packs (CPM) for all sites and the MU.
• Ensure compliance with the Global Consumer Quality Standard through regular region health checks.
• Share monthly updates on CPM, critical consumer complaints, and related action plans with senior supply chain and sector management.
• Conduct training for 3P agents on consumer quality management and monitor third-party systems.
• Manage and ensure production at all three co-man facilities in full compliance with PepsiCo Quality and Food Safety standards as well as local regulations, through effective quality monitoring in both process and packaging areas, and ensure timely communication and resolution of non-conformances.
• Coordinate with R&D, GP and co-man teams regarding new co-man and new product trial assessments, and lead execution of controls for new launches.
• Ensure compliance with plant quality KPIs (production & packaging weaklinks) against AOP targets and develop improvement action plans through stakeholder coordination.
• Conduct root cause analyses and develop action plans for market complaints related to quality.
• Lead implementation of the QAS and ASHA program across the Co-man by coordinating effectively with relevant functions to ensure compliance.
• As part of the Crisis Management Team, ensure compliance with PepsiCo’s Traceability Program, ensuring product traceability at all stages.
• Coordinate internally and externally to stay updated on applicable quality-related regulatory requirements and ensure compliance.
• Ensure daily updates on Co-man production Quality & Food Safety compliances to the Quality & Food Safety MU Manager and share updates in monthly QFS reviews with MU and sector QFS management.
• Prepare and circulate scorecards as per defined frequencies.
• Ensure Co-man facility readiness at all times for visits and audits, including the annual unannounced AIB Audit.
• Maintain HACCP and Food Defense assessments of the Co-man site.
• Ensure implementation and compliance with FSSC 22000, Halal Management System, regulatory requirements, and PepsiCo Food Safety Programs (ACP, PSIP, PEMP, IPM, Sanitation).
• Ensure compliance with PepsiCo Food Safety Mandates.
• Engage management and plant teams in Quality and Food Safety programs, including site inspections.
• Assess processes and products for QFS or food defense risks and take immediate corrective/preventive actions. Block any product or process observed with QFS risks.

Qualifications

• BS/MS degree in Food Technology/Chemistry/QM
• 4 years + experience in the QFS management
• Good knowledge of material testing and quality assessment
• Knowledge of quality and food safety standards
• Communication and Facilitation Skills
• Efficient and comprehensive approach
• Problem Solving skills
• Collaboration and influencing skills
• Teamwork
• Drive for results