Manager - Quality Control (QC)

N S Mint Products Private Limited is looking for an experienced Quality Control Manager to lead its analytical laboratory and ensure the quality, consistency, and compliance of raw materials, in-process samples, intermediates, and finished products.

The role requires strong hands-on experience in GC, GC-MS, sample preparation, chromatographic profiling, wet-chemistry testing, documentation, batch-release decisions, RCA/CAPA, and team leadership. The selected candidate will lead a team of 10 QC analysts and work closely with Production, R&D, Procurement, Stores, and Dispatch to maintain NS Mint's quality standards.

Candidates with experience in essential oils, mint derivatives, Mentha arvensis, Mentha piperita, Spearmint, menthol crystals, isolates, flavours & fragrances, pharmaceuticals, natural products, or specialty chemicals will be preferred.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead daily QC laboratory operations, sample allocation, work planning, analyst supervision, and batch-release priorities.

• Prepare, standardise, preserve, label, and track samples from raw materials, intermediates, in-process controls, finished goods, retention samples, and customer/reference standards.

• Operate, calibrate, maintain, and troubleshoot GC and GC-MS systems.

• Review chromatograms, integration, calibration curves, standards, system suitability, impurity patterns, and analytical data integrity.

• Perform and review qualitative and quantitative analyses for menthol, mint derivatives, isolates, essential oils, and related natural products.

• Develop, validate, optimise, transfer, and periodically review analytical methods, specifications, SOPs, testing protocols, and acceptance criteria.

• Approve or reject raw materials and finished batches based on specifications, analytical results, organoleptic checks, historical trends, and customer requirements.

• Conduct batch-release testing and monitor product consistency across lots.

• Prepare, review, and issue Certificates of Analysis, batch-release records, instrument logs, calibration records, deviation reports, trend reports, and audit-ready documentation.

• Investigate deviations, OOS/OOT results, repeat failures, supplier quality issues, customer complaints, contamination risks, and production-related quality concerns.

• Lead Root Cause Analysis, CAPA planning, corrective/preventive follow-up, and effectiveness checks.

• Coordinate with Production, R&D, Procurement, Stores, and Dispatch for quality decisions, supplier feedback, batch correction, method alignment, and timely release.

• Train, mentor, monitor, and develop a team of 10 QC analysts.

• Ensure laboratory safety, GLP discipline, SOP compliance, proper documentation, chemical/reagent control, and safe waste handling.

• Maintain laboratory housekeeping, reference standards, consumables, calibration schedules, preventive maintenance, and instrument uptime.

Analytical Tests / Technical Expertise Required

• GC and GC-MS operation, calibration, troubleshooting, and data interpretation.

- Chromatographic profiling of natural compounds, impurity tracking, component identification, and adulteration detection.

- Karl Fischer moisture analysis.

- Peroxide value testing.

- Acid value testing.

- Ester value and saponification value testing.

- Refractive index, optical rotation, specific gravity, melting/freezing point, boiling range, assay, residue, and solubility checks as applicable.

- Organoleptic evaluation of essential oils, odour profile comparison, and sensory alignment with approved standards or customer samples.

- Sampling plans, method validation/verification, standard preparation, calibration checks, repeatability/reproducibility review, trend analysis, and laboratory data review.

Required Candidate Profile

• 8+ years of relevant experience in Quality Control, analytical laboratories, essential oils, natural products, flavours & fragrances, pharmaceuticals, specialty chemicals, or allied manufacturing.

• Strong hands-on experience with GC and GC-MS is essential.

• Practical exposure to Mentha arvensis, Mentha piperita, Spearmint, menthol crystals, mint derivatives, isolates, aroma chemicals, or essential-oil matrices is highly preferred.

• Good understanding of chromatographic profiling, natural product variability, adulteration risks, impurity patterns, and supplier quality variation.

• Experience in wet-chemistry testing such as Karl Fischer, peroxide value, acid value, ester value, saponification value, and physical parameter testing.

• Ability to take batch-release decisions with accuracy, urgency, and documentation discipline.

• Experience handling RCA, CAPA, OOS/OOT investigations, deviations, customer complaints, and audit preparation.

• Ability to lead, train, and manage a team of 10 analysts.

• Strong attention to detail, analytical thinking, problem-solving ability, ownership mindset, and cross-functional communication.

Preferred Industries

• Essential Oils

• Menthol / Mint Derivatives

• Flavours & Fragrances

• Natural Products

• Aroma Chemicals

• Pharmaceuticals

• Specialty Chemicals

• Chemical Manufacturing