Manager, Quality Assurance

Job Summary

The Quality Assurance Manager executes Quality Assurance programs and processes for GoTo Foods concepts including international locations. Cross-Functional Collaboration for Product Development & Matching of CORE items for all brands. Communicates effectively to influence stakeholders and build business partnerships to make sure results are delivered to maintain Food Safety and Quality Assurance through the organization.

About the Role

Partners and collaborates with Operations and Training teams to maintain company, food regulatory, and restaurant operation food safety and quality requirements.

Responsibilities

• Develops HACCP and Food Safety standards to be used in all GoTo Foods locations.
• Works with company operations to ensure HACCP and Food Safety standards are implemented and followed in franchise and company locations.
• Maintains compliance of vendor plants and distributors for product quality specifications, Good Manufacturing Practices, HACCP, and Food Safety.
• Performs audits to vendor plants and distributors as needed.
• Conducts product tests at vendor plants during production runs for compliance to GoTo Foods product specifications.
• Reviews vendors' third-party audits and corrective action plans.
• Works with vendors to investigate and resolve product quality complaints.
• Maintains vendors' Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and communicates out-of-specification results.
• Performs routine quality tests of products sampled from distributors and vendor plants.
• Performs periodic mock recalls at distributors and GoTo Foods locations.
• Maintains FDA and USDA recall lists for GoTo Foods vendors and communicates to management as needed.
• Manages Scientific Unbiased Sensory Evaluation program for new products and matching secondary and/or alternative products.
• Prevents late-stage compliance issues, improves time-to-market commercialization, and enhances overall product integrity.
• Leverages CI (Consumer Insights) to collect responses from sensory evaluations and report out to key stakeholders.

Requirements

• BS degree in Food Science required.
• MS degree in Food Science preferred.

Work Experience

• 6+ years of Food Safety and Quality Assurance experience in food manufacturing, and restaurant/retail food service.
• Quick service restaurants, and franchise operations experience preferred.
• In-depth knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices for the food industry, Food Code, FDA, USDA, Animal Welfare, state/local food governing bodies and regulations.
• 6 years of food development and commercialization (R&D and Technical services preferred).

Skills

• Proven leadership capabilities and communication skills.
• Strong ethics and integrity in building personal relationships with all employees, stakeholders, and other key constituents.
• Possesses a high degree of drive and attention to details with a proven track record of achieving results.
• Strong analytical skills, strategic thinker, solid presentation skills, highly organized, detail minded, ability to multi-task, integrity, dedicated, professional attitude, proficiency in root cause analysis and CAPA implementation.
• Expert level skill with Microsoft Excel; Proficiency in other Microsoft platforms such as Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Results driven, self-directed, strong leadership, coaching and team building skills.

Benefits

May be required to travel up to 25% of the time.

Qualifications

• HACCP certified.
• Certified Food Scientist (CFS) preferred.
• Certified Professional – Food Safety (CP-FS) preferred.
• SQF Practitioner and/or BRC auditor certification preferred.