Coca-Cola Beverages Africa
Closing Date : 2025/02/12
Reference Number : CCB250205-4
Job Title: Trade Technologist
Job Category: Manufacturing
Company: Coca-Cola Beverages Africa
Job Type: Permanent
Location – Country: Malawi
Location – Province: Not Applicable
Location – Town / City: Lilongwe
Job Description
To proactively support business strategy by providing technical Manufacturing, Packaging and Warehousing expertise to improve Trade Product Quality in CCBM Sales and Distribution thereby ensuring optimum consumer service and satisfaction.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
Trade Quality Support
- Execute, implement and conduct a regular assessment of the long-term Trade quality strategy and goals in Sales and Distribution i.e., conduct the analysis of trade returns to identify trends and recommend solutions.
- Ensure Trade quality compliance and devising strategic specific objectives in view of aligning to the Quality Strategy. This is done to ensure
- Elevate and drive appetite for implementation of Trade quality systems and projects through illustration and development of various costs saving exercises.
Sales Strategy Support
- Support the sales strategy with regard to Trade quality deliverables and objectives
- Accompany the Sales Managers, Account Managers and Merchandiser order takers on an ad hoc basis on trade visits to enhance customer knowledge of company products.
- Support the Local and Export teams (as applicable) with quality related matters i.e., handing of customer and consumer queries. This also includes the development and review of service level agreements with the export countries.
Stock Removal and Recall Processes
- Conduct simulated product recalls at stipulated frequency to ensure correct procedure is followed in the event of an actual recall. This is done to improve product traceability.
- Activate and coordinate actual Recalls timely and follow through until closure.
- Ensure that all depots/ official distributors are trained and competent on recall procedures and policies.
- Sub-standard product at depots/ official distributors/ official distributors assessed, corrective action plans determined, actioned and monitored to completion or destruction. NB Facilitate the conversations aimed at identifying solutions.
- Ensure investigation by manufacturing and subsequent feedback to depot/ official distributors.
Trade Returns/ Ullages and Age Concession System
- Accountable for ensuring that Trade Ullage recording system is entrenched in Sales & Distribution.
- Ensure training and compliance of all Handheld Terminal and Manual users.
- Devise action plans and identify improvement opportunities to reduce the costs of trade ullages.
- Ensure Age Concession system is entrenched and supported according to procedure by depots/ official distributors.
- Training and auditing of the system.
- Review of stock age concessions and investigation into underlying factors relating to overage stock.
Product Quality Audits
- Depot/ official distributor and retail channels quality audits conducted as per internal audit schedule.
- Depot/ official distributor and retail channels audit against audit checklist schedule.
- Audit gaps closed with depot/ official distributor and retail channels representative as applicable.
- Depot/ official distributor quality audit aligned with the DOSA standards of Sales and Distribution.
- Monitor expenses e.g., fuel usage costs etc. to comply with budgetary allocation for market visits.
- Trade product sampling, follow up of analysis results and initiation of corrective actions as appropriate.
- Oversee and enforce adherence to food safety (FSSC) requirements and Quality standards in processing operations. Report any systemic issues or non-compliance that may compromise the quality and food safety of products
- Play a key role in maintaining a safe working environment by stopping and reporting any safety concerns within processing operations to EOSH, aligning with the Risk Assessments.
Communication
Quality Query Resolution
Training Awareness and Complaints Data Evaluation
Product Freshness Outlet/ Warehouse
Business Systems Support
Quality, Food Safety and SHEQ
Skills, Experience & Education
- BSc in Microbiology, Food Technology, Biotechnology or Analytical Chemistry
- At least 3 to 5 years previous experience in general Quality Assurance or laboratory technical work
- At least 3 to 5 years Knowledge of manufacturing process value chain
- Experience in ability to employ/apply standard problem-solving techniques
- Experience Knowledge of National Standards applicable to the industry in Malawi
- At least 3 years Knowledge and application of FMCG standards and requirements
General
Customer Focus
- Is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers; gets first-hand customer information and uses it for improvements in products and services; acts with customers in mind; establishes and maintains effective relationships with customers and gains their trust and respect
Decision Quality
- Makes good decisions (without considering how much time it takes) based upon a mixture of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgment; most of his/her solutions and suggestions turn out to be correct and accurate when judged over time.
Dealing With Ambiguity
- Can effectively cope with change; can shift gears comfortably; can decide and act without having the total picture; isn’t upset when things are up in the air; doesn’t have to finish things before moving on; can comfortably handle risk and uncertainty.
Action Oriented
- Enjoys working hard; is action oriented and full of energy for the things he/she sees as challenging; not fearful of acting with a minimum of planning; seizes more opportunities than others.
Ethics and Values
- Adheres to an appropriate (for the setting) and effective set of core values and beliefs during both good and bad times; acts in line with those values; rewards the right values and disapproves of others; practices what he/she preaches.
Analytical thinking
- To analyse the relationships between events, circumstances and forces beyond the obvious and draws insightful conclusions, at a micro and macro level. Demonstrate the understanding.
Written Communications
- Is able to write clearly and succinctly in a variety of communication settings and styles; can get messages across that have the desired effect