Associate Director of Quality

The Associate Director of Quality is a senior leadership role within the AMS Quality & Technical Team, responsible for the end-to-end quality framework across Vita Coco's Singapore operations. This role leads a multi-functional team spanning Brand Quality, Operations-facing Quality, and the Quality Laboratory, ensuring that quality standards are embedded across the full value chain — from supplier to consumer.

The role serves as the primary Quality interface between the Singapore site and global Quality leadership at US headquarters, translating corporate strategy into locally actionable plans while representing the realities of local operations in global forums. The Associate Director of Quality plays a critical role in driving a culture of quality, food safety, and continuous improvement across the organization.

Key accountabilities include:

Strategic Leadership & HQ Alignment

• Serve as the primary Quality liaison between Singapore operations and global Quality leadership, ensuring corporate strategy is translated into locally actionable priorities.
• Represent local operational realities and constraints in global Quality forums and contribute to the development and review of global Quality policies.
• Champion a culture of quality and food safety across the Singapore Site & Manufacturing network, setting the standard for quality performance at all levels.
• Proactively drive alignment across markets to standardize working methods and ensure consistency across the business.
• Support all new product launches from a quality framework perspective, as required.

People & Team Leadership

• Lead, develop and inspire a multi-functional Quality team spanning Brand Quality, Operations-facing Quality and the Quality Laboratory.
• Set clear objectives, KPIs and development plans for direct and indirect reports.
• Build team capability through coaching, training and structured development programs.
• Manage team resourcing, workload prioritization and succession planning.
• Foster collaboration and clear ownership across Corporate Quality, Operations Quality and Laboratory functions.

Corporate & Regulatory Quality

• Supports the implementation of the QMS system once identified.
• Ensure compliance with relevant local regulatory requirements (e.g. SFA) as well as international standards (FSSC 22000, BRC, ISO 22000, etc.).
• Leads as needed various regulatory inspections and customer or third-party audits.
• Manage document control, SOPs and quality records governance.
• Drive CAPA (Corrective and Preventive Action) processes across quality incidents.
• Oversee supplier and vendor quality assurance programs, including qualification and ongoing performance monitoring.
• Create and maintain a framework supporting smart data analysis, including product integrity monitoring, shelf-life testing and other key data streams.

Operations & Factory-Facing Quality

• Ensure robust quality controls are embedded throughout the manufacturing process, from raw material intake to finished goods.
• Lead internal and external audit programs as needed.
• Lead and support the supplier audit network, maintaining and developing audit capability across the supply base.
• Partner closely with Operations, Supply Chain and R&D to resolve quality issues impacting production and supply chain continuity.
• Monitor and analyze production quality data, driving root cause analysis for non-conformances.
• Oversee new product and process qualifications from a quality standpoint.
• Maintain strong relationships with the supply chain team, supplier network and internal stakeholders.

Laboratory Oversight

• Provide senior oversight of the Quality Laboratory, ensuring it operates within a clear framework aligned with business and Quality objectives.
• Act as the organizational buffer for the laboratory, ensuring incoming requests from across the business are appropriately filtered and prioritized before reaching the team.
• Own senior-level cross-functional relationships on behalf of the lab, ensuring structured and well-managed engagement with key stakeholder functions.
• Represent the laboratory at leadership level, advocating for the resources, investment and support needed for it to perform effectively.
• Ensure the laboratory maintains its regulatory and accreditation standing, escalating quality risks with broader business implications as needed.

Consumer & Brand Protection

• Oversee the consumer complaints management process, ensuring timely investigation and resolution.
• Lead and coordinate product recall and withdrawal procedures if required.
• Monitor quality performance metrics and trends to proactively identify and mitigate brand risk.
• Partner with Marketing and Commercial teams to protect brand integrity and consumer trust.

Reporting, Data & Governance

• Define and track Quality KPIs across Corporate, Operations and Laboratory functions.
• Prepare and present regular Quality performance reports to local senior leadership and US HQ.
• Ensure Quality risks and escalations are communicated proactively to relevant stakeholders.
• Lead the local Quality Management Review process.
• Maintain awareness of emerging food safety trends, regulatory changes and industry best practices relevant to Singapore and the broader region.

Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Food Science, Food Technology, Microbiology, Chemistry or a related scientific discipline; Master’s degree would be beneficial.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in Quality within the food and beverage industry, with at least 2-4 years in a senior leadership role.
• Strong written and communication skills.
• Experience with low-acid aseptic Tetra Pak processing is required; experience with retorted cans and aseptic PET is a strong advantage.
• Proven track record managing multi-functional Quality teams, including both corporate and operations-facing functions.
• Strong working knowledge of food safety standards and frameworks (HACCP, FSSC 22000, BRC, ISO 22000).
• Familiarity with laboratory operations and accreditation requirements (ISO/IEC 17025 advantageous).
• Experience working within a multinational organization and interfacing with regional or global headquarters.
• Solid understanding of local regulatory requirements (SFA and relevant Singapore food safety legislation).
• Proficiency in Quality Management Systems (QMS) and data-driven decision making.
• Willingness to travel internationally and to work extended hours during critical periods as needed.

Personal Characteristics

• Natural leader who leads by example and earns trust at all levels of the organization.
• Collaborative and relationship-driven, able to engage effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong analytical mindset with sharp attention to detail, without losing sight of the bigger picture.
• Pragmatic and calm under pressure, able to navigate ambiguity and manage competing priorities without compromising standards.
• High degree of personal accountability and integrity.
• Comfortable operating in a matrix environment, balancing local operational needs with global strategic direction.
• Curious and growth-oriented, keeping pace with industry trends, emerging regulations and best practices.
• Understands the dynamics of an entrepreneurial, high-growth business and brings the energy and results-orientation to thrive in it.

Vita Coco, the leading coconut water brand, launched in 2004 when two friends, Michael Kirban and Ira Liran learned about the tropical elixir after a chance encounter at a New York City bar. Not only did their discovery bring coconut water into the mainstream beverage aisle, it rebranded coconut water as a premium lifestyle drink and helped propel the trend of natural-functional beverages. Fast forward 18 years, and Vita Coco is available in 30+ countries and has expanded coconut water into new occasions with innovations like Vita Coco Sparkling, Pressed, Coconutmilk, and Coconut Oil.

In 2018, Vita Coco expanded into a true portfolio company, making it one of the largest independent beverage companies in the world. With the acquisition of RUNA, a clean energy drink, and the creation of Ever & Ever, an environmentally-minded, sustainably-packaged water category, Vita Coco is changing the ready-to-drink beverage landscape by offering its consumers better-for-you, yet convenient, options. Despite massive growth and success, Vita Coco maintains the same entrepreneurial spirit on which it was founded, with a can-do culture that’s just beginning to tap the potential of the better-for-you beverage space.

Vita Coco is headquartered in New York City with international offices Singapore and London.

All Market Singapore Pte Ltd (AMS) which is a subsidiary of The Vita Coco Company, Inc. started its operation in Singapore in 2012. AMS activities are mostly involved in the supply chain operations and providing technical services to different sections of the value chain upon request. The strategic geographical location of Singapore offers easy access to tropical fruits, the raw materials of our products, in this region. Singapore operation site works closely with the global offices to ensure the continuous supply of good quality, safe, and delightful products to the markets.