Plant Quality Manager (PQM) Bells Plant

Responsibilities

• Define and enforce Pictsweet grade standards for the Bells’ frozen vegetable production and repackaging lines.
• Conduct daily cuttings and sensory evaluation for compliance with visual consumer expectations.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) such as first-pass quality yield, customer complaint tracking, and quality cost objectives with the cross-functional plant team.
• Work in collaboration with a cross-functional team to translate complex customer requirements into actionable plant-level Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for retail, food service, and industrial clients.
• Use statistical process control (SPC) to analyze quality data, reduce “out of specification” product, and maximize yield without compromising standards.
• Work with operations cross-functionally to calibrate and monitor the performance of optical sorting systems and manual inspection belts to eliminate foreign material and physiological defects.
• Audit all packaging and packaged products for the proper seal, weight control, and labeling accuracy to ensure premium shelf presence.
• Inspect incoming raw agricultural products to ensure they meet maturity and quality thresholds before processing.
• Develop and implement training programs to promote quality and food safety culture in the plant.
• Audits the quality system to identify its strengths and weaknesses to improve its operation continuously.
• Submits annual budget for labor, inventory, maintenance, equipment, supplies, etc.

Qualifications

• Five plus years in food manufacturing leadership.
• A practical understanding of food processing, quality control, HACCP, GMP, and personnel management.
• Bachelor’s degree in an agricultural or biological science. Other degrees may be considered based on experience.
• Certification in Quality Engineering, Auditing, & Managers of Organizational Excellence is encouraged.
• Must possess an understanding of management/leadership fundamentals.
• Excellent communication skills, verbal and written.
• Bilingual in Spanish a plus.
• Computer proficiency with spreadsheets and word-processing.
• Proficient in training subordinate personnel.
• Willingness to work in a collegial manner with other departments to accomplish corporate objectives while achieving departmental goals.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including weekends and holidays.