Asst Quality Assurance Manager

About the role

Join a team that nourishes life from farm to table! Upstate Niagara Cooperative, proudly owned by 200+ local family farms, is one of America’s largest and most stable dairy cooperatives. Guided by farmer- and employee-led values, we process and market high-quality milk, yogurt, dips, sour cream, cottage cheese, and more under our trusted brands: Upstate Farms®, Bison®, Milk for Life®, and Intense Milk®.

Responsibilities

• Assist Quality Assurance Manager to ensure all plant Quality Assurance activities follow both Upstate Niagara Cooperative Inc. and regulatory requirements.
• Responsible for Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Good Sanitation Practices (GSP), quality of conformity, and quality of services.
• Participates as a member of the plants Food Safety team and will represent Corporate Quality Assurance at the Plant level.
• Develop, implement, and maintain site Food Safety & Quality plans that comply with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), all relevant SQF modules, and meet all customer requirements.
• Serve as the Document Control Coordinator for UNC Quality Assurance Department, maintaining document registry, cataloging and communicating changes, and ensuring all documents and revisions are up-to-date.
• Provide overall leadership for the facility laboratory, working closely with Laboratory Associates to ensure personnel are trained and supervised.
• Participate in and lead Continuous Improvement projects related to the Quality Assurance department.
• Review and audit manufacturing procedures to ensure compliance with established practices and procedures.
• Ensure facility compliance with Federal and State regulatory requirements, staying aware of new requirements and regulations.
• Represent the facility during inspections and audits with customers and regulatory agencies.
• Establish and validate sanitation practices, performing periodic audits to ensure compliance.
• Develop and implement Internal Auditing schedules, ensuring Corrective Actions & Preventive Actions are effective for identified non-conformances.
• Maintain product specifications, establishing systems for controlling and documenting release, holds, and disposition of products.
• Work with Production Associates to establish procedures for quality assessments of incoming goods and raw materials.
• Ensure accurate data entry of plant testing results, addressing quality and food safety related non-conformances promptly.
• Collect, review, sign, and file quality and food safety records following document control procedures.
• Prepare and present reports to Corporate Senior Staff on a routine basis.
• Maintain, update, and enforce Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) guidelines.
• Support the maintenance and implementation of the SQF Program for the plant.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) from a four-year college or university in Food, Dairy, or Natural Sciences; and three to five years related experience and/or training; or an equivalent combination of education (Minimum AAS) and experience.
• Experience should include active involvement in Quality Programs in the Food and Beverage industry.
• Knowledge of ISO Quality Management Systems, HACCP, and statistical process control is desired.
• Previous supervisory experience required and strong personal computer skills are preferred.

Skills

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or government regulations.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from group managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $70k-$90k a year, with actual compensation varying based on factors including experience, skills, training, knowledge, education, and overall qualifications.