Quality Assurance Manager

Overview

The Quality Assurance Manager leads the plant operations team in assessing all matters pertaining to product quality, food safety, and regulatory compliance as the senior technical leader at the production facility.The Quality Assurance Manager initiates, leads, and participates in various process improvement initiatives to identify and mitigate risk, improve process reliability and efficiency, and drive continual improvement in performance against key quality and food safety metrics.

Responsibilities

Supervisory Responsibility

Directly and indirectly supervises a team of 30 employees across 3 shifts, including Quality Assurance Analysts, Specialists, and Salaried Supervisors. Supervisory responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, training, scheduling, appraising, and terminating employees; planning assigning and directing work; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints/grievances and resolving problems.

Responsibilities

• Develops and implements programs, policies, procedures, and work instructions to promote the continual improvement of product quality and food safety in a food production facility.
• Audits the production facility, manufacturing operations, and plant personnel for compliance to quality, food safety, and HACCP support programs and conformity to all company, customer, and government standards to assure product quality, safety, legality, and authenticity.
• Informs the Plant Management staff of operational quality and food safety issues and process failures; advises on appropriate corrective and preventative actions and root cause analysis
• Provides guidance and technical decision-making on matters pertaining to product quality, food safety, and regulatory compliance as the senior technical leader at the production facility.
• Coordinates and facilitates internal, 2nd party (customer), and 3rd party audits (GFSI, BRC-GS) of quality and food safety programs, systems, and documentation.
• Provides routine communication and reporting on key quality and food safety metrics and KPIs.
• Serves as key contact and liaison between Corporate Quality Assurance, Research & Development, Technical Services, and the plant Operations Team.
• Evaluates and interprets the results of various product sampling tests and tests related to ingredients and packaging materials.
• Oversees the training and instruction of plant personnel on general quality and food safety awareness, equipment sanitation, Good Manufacturing Practices, operational and pre-operational inspections, and the monitoring, verification, and validation of all food safety preventive controls by Qualified Individuals.
• Oversees the implementation and maintenance of all HACCP and Food Safety Plans with risk-based Preventive Controls; advises on any potential impact to product quality, food safety, or regulatory compliance resulting from changes in products, the production process, or facility design.
• Other duties, as assigned by management.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 5+ years of experience in manufacturing quality assurance required; experience in the food and beverage industry, preferred.
• A BS or BA degree in chemistry, biology, microbiology, food science or a related field required.
• Must have the ability to effectively communicate to employees, other members of the cross-functional plant team, customers, and vendors – both verbally, and in writing.
• Must be dependable and flexible to support dynamic business needs and 24/7 plant operations, as required.
• A strong working knowledge of HACCP, food safety management systems, pest control, microbiology, sanitation, and GFSI compliance required.
• Ability to effectively lead, coach, and develop team members required.
• Training certifications in the following areas preferred: Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI), HACCP (16-Hour), Internal Auditor Training (FSSC22000/ISO, BRC)
• Prior experience handling third-party audits, customer audits, and regulatory inspections (FDA/USDA) strongly preferred.

Working Conditions/Environment

Works in a manufacturing environment where the employee is regularly required to speak, read, sit, stand, lift, reach, and bend while moving about the facility. Must be able to stand up for an 8-hour shift (sometimes longer) with regular breaks. Earplugs, hairnets and steel-toed shoes are required per company and plant GMP and Safety requirements.