About the Role
PepsiCo, a global leader in beverages and convenient foods, is seeking a motivated Chemist / Microbiologist to join its team in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. This role is crucial in ensuring that all products meet the highest standards of quality and food safety, aligning with PepsiCo's strategic transformation focused on sustainability and human capital, known as pep+.
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct daily analysis of finished products, incoming raw materials, and packaging materials to ensure compliance with specifications and food safety standards.
- Ensure that only conforming finished goods, raw materials, packaging materials, and ingredients are released, and that non-conforming items are isolated and held for further action according to Quality Policy and Procedures.
- Participate in regulatory authority inspections and support in addressing any raised issues or concerns.
- Ensure Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) are followed by plant personnel and report any relevant issues observed during shifts.
- Participate in monthly Food Safety audits, support the implementation of Food Safety standards, and contribute to addressing audit findings.
- Meet relevant safety requirements, including Near Miss reporting and chemical management, and support the implementation of other Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) standards.
- Maintain a safe work environment in the laboratory by adhering to Safe Working Procedures (SWPs) and upholding high housekeeping standards in line with 5S principles.
- Attend Sensory Evaluation tests (Quality Wall, Hot and Mini Walls) during shifts, review process and packaging performance, and follow up on previous sensory evaluation findings.
- Monitor production operators' product analysis and evaluation, both in-process and packaging, take necessary actions, and enter results into SPC sheets and the weak link system.
- Communicate timely results of acceptance and rejection of raw materials, packaging materials, and ingredients to concerned functions, issue reports, and action decisions through SAP.
- Take immediate action in case of any non-compliance noticed during analysis or line monitoring by initiating relevant Hold/Release procedures and coordinating with concerned leaders for inspection and action, including the completion of Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA).
- Coordinate corrective actions with the concerned team leaders as required.
- Carry out monthly and quarterly in-market evaluations of finished products, including Critical Quality Attributes (CQA) and Product Quality measurements (PQMd) samples.
- Participate in internal and external proficiency testing programs.
- Participate in complaint investigations and follow up on corrective actions.
- Maintain the laboratory area and equipment in good working and tidy condition, meeting safety requirements, and ensure the calibration status of lab instruments is maintained.
- Support developmental activities and projects relevant to the function.
- Support in implementing Integrated Production System (IPS), Food Safety, Lab, and Quality standards, and follow up on audit findings.
- Verify production and warehouse concerns related to quality and communicate results, including on-line rejections and warehouse unloading rejections.
- Implement, sustain, and participate in the continual improvement of the Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) Management System within the area of responsibility, in accordance with legislation, PepsiCo GEHSMS, and relevant EHS standards, ensuring proper controls for all hazards and risks are in place and OH&S targets are achieved.
- Train colleagues and disseminate knowledge gained through internal and external training.
Qualifications and Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Science, preferably in Chemistry or Food Science.
- Excellent command of written and spoken English.
- Good computer skills with excellent knowledge of MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Ability to effectively communicate cross-functionally.
- Ability to analyze data.
- A strong ability and inclination to be a team player is essential.
- Self-motivated with a strong sense of initiative.
Technical Skills
- Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
- Food Safety standards
- ISO Standards
- SAP proficiency
- 5S Methodology
- Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) principles
- Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) Management System
Additional Information
This is a full-time position based in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. While newly graduated candidates are welcome to apply, preference will be given to experienced chemists in a food manufacturing plant with profound knowledge of the latest lab instruments and quality systems such as ISO.
