QC Manager

About Vitablend and This Role

Vitablend, a part of Barentz, specializes in producing nutritional premixes and antioxidant systems used in food, feed, and personal care products with facilities in the Netherlands, USA, and Singapore. We are seeking a QC Manager to lead and enhance the Quality Control operations at our Singapore site. This position is key to ensuring timely and compliant testing, review, and release of raw materials, semi-finished, and finished goods according to internal standards, customer demands, the FSSC 22000 food safety system, and relevant regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the local QC function as the central governance authority for Vitablend Singapore.
• Ensure effective testing, result evaluation, and product release processes to support production and customer commitments.
• Consistently manage routine product release cases and escalate non-routine or borderline results along with complaints and out-of-specification observations.
• Collaborate with QA, Production, Supply Chain, Customer Service, New Product Development, and HQ Quality for aligned release decisions and escalation.
• Maintain clear escalation protocols and accurate documentation for all release decisions and exceptions.
• Ensure QC practices reinforce food safety management including compliance with FSSC 22000, HACCP, GMP, hygiene, and contamination controls.
• Promote safety awareness and quality culture within the QC team to support safe product release.
• Maintain precise, complete, and audit-ready QC records, reports, and certifications.
• Prepare and support internal and external audit processes and manage corrective actions.
• Manage safe handling, storage, and disposal of samples, chemicals, and lab waste as per safety standards.
• Direct daily laboratory operations including sample management, testing priorities, external lab coordination, and turnaround time monitoring.
• Identify and remove bottlenecks affecting release timelines and improve physical and chemical testing procedures.
• Ensure QC equipment and lab consumables are maintained, calibrated, and laboratory cleanliness is upheld.
• Plan for enhancing in-house analytical capabilities such as restarting HPLC and adding validated tests to improve turnaround time and cost efficiency.
• Lead investigations for deviations, abnormalities, and OOS cases ensuring appropriate containment and follow-ups.
• Support problem-solving for production issues and complaints in conjunction with QA and HQ Quality teams.
• Establish and maintain a comprehensive QC knowledge base for procedures, customer expectations, and best practices.
• Regularly review and enhance SOPs, work instructions, checklists, and practices.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the local QC team fostering accountability and a cooperative environment.
• Manage team workloads, onboarding, training, and collaborate with HR and Plant Director on team development and retention.

Qualifications & Experience

• Degree or diploma in Chemistry, Food Science, Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical Science, or related scientific fields.
• At least 5 to 8 years of relevant experience in QC/laboratory roles preferably in food ingredients, premixes, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, or similar manufacturing sectors.
• Previous experience in QC leadership or supervisory roles is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with food safety standards such as FSSC 22000, ISO 22000, HACCP, GMP, and audit processes is strongly preferred.
• Solid knowledge in RM/FG release protocols, lab testing, COA evaluation, deviation, and OOS management.
• Experience with HPLC and external laboratory coordination is advantageous.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English and collaborate across multiple functions.
• Strong ownership, analytical thinking, problem-solving skills, and attention to detail.
• Capable of structuring and optimizing QC workflows to stabilize and grow the department.
• Eligibility to work in Singapore without sponsorship is required.