Quality Control Inspector.Dammam - Regional Quality - Produce📣 Job Ad

About the Quality Control Inspector Role

Panda Retail Company, a member of the Savola Group, is seeking a Quality Control Inspector to join its Regional Quality team in Dammam, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. This full-time position is integral to ensuring that all products entering the Panda Food Chain meet strict quality and safety standards, aligning with both local (SASO/SFDA) and international regulations. The role focuses on the receiving process, meticulously inspecting inbound deliveries to guarantee compliance with Panda's specifications and prevent the acceptance of sub-standard products, particularly within the Produce and Deli categories.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive quality inspections of all inbound deliveries prior to acceptance to ensure compliance with Panda specifications and quality standards.
• Verify that only products matching Panda's specifications are accepted, preventing sub-standard items from entering the Panda Food Chain.
• Ensure adherence to local (SASO/SFDA) and international quality and food safety standards.
• Schedule and prepare for the receiving of daily fresh deliveries.
• Follow Distribution Center (DC) receiving Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for product receiving plans and apply the sampling plan in conjunction with the Team Leader.
• Receive and check the temperature of vendor vehicles and products before offloading and before dispatch to stores.
• Provide recommendations to the Team Leader and Assistant QC Manager regarding the acceptance or rejection of deliveries based on established Produce & Meat Product Specifications.
• Document all non-conformities of received or rejected items, including photographic evidence, and report them to the Team Leader.
• Accurately complete all required receiving log documents and checklists in a timely manner during inspection.
• Confirm and ensure correct product storage practices according to product categories and appropriate storage conditions.
• Ensure conformance to Panda's receiving processes.
• Check Brix and Firmness for all relevant fruits based on specifications.
• Monitor the pest control system within the DC to ensure the absence of pest infection.

Qualifications and Requirements

• A diploma is required; college-level education is preferable.
• Mandatory previous experience in a related field, preferably in Fresh Produce or Grocery Food.
• Familiarity with Quality Assurance (QA) regulations set by the Corporate QA Team.
• Ability to work independently and demonstrate self-motivation.
• Strong leadership and decision-making skills.
• The ability to reject deliveries and provide technical explanations to justify these decisions.

Required Skills

• Proficiency in QA regulations.
• Good command of the English language; knowledge of Arabic is an advantage.
• Strong leadership and decision-making abilities.
• Adequate literacy skills, including computer and email usage, reporting, digital camera operation, and industrial thermometer usage.
• Ability to recommend improvements to standards and processes.

Work Environment and Additional Information

This is a full-time position based in Dammam, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. The ideal candidate will have 5-10 years of experience in a relevant quality control role.