QA Program Leader

Primary Responsibilities

• Manage and lead the QA team across 3 shifts, ensuring that tasks are conducted consistently, efficiently, and meet the needs of the business.
• Developing a constructive work environment through excellent interpersonal, team-building skills, leadership, open communications, encouraging input, and constructive performance management.
• Work with all levels of management in providing expertise, technical support, recommendations, and leadership as it pertains to QA and Food Safety activities.
• Review the implementation and efficacy of the quality systems by conducting regular internal audits, which support the GFSI program.
• Lead HACCP, GMP, and BRC program, including updates, maintenance, verifications, and validation as required.
• Act as a cross-functional liaison to ensure all plants are meeting regulatory and compliance requirements for all stakeholders.
• Scheduling and conducting monthly GMP, internal, and external audits with your cross-functional team.
• Coordinate and lead 3rd party audits.
• Complete supplier audits as required and evaluate suppliers based on risk.
• Evaluate audit findings and implement and/or recommend appropriate corrective and preventive actions, ensuring effective closure.
• Introduce and support innovative approaches to current audit best practices while simultaneously working with the team to document new policies and practices as required.
• Identify training needs supporting the Quality and Food Safety programs and organize training.
• Perform GMP, HACCP technical and SOP training as required.
• Draft and implement quality assurance/food safety policies and procedures.
• Aid in cross-functional SOP development and ensure that facility SOPs and related documents are in the correct format, properly stored, and distributed as per manufacturing excellence requirements.
• Conduct a Risk Assessment for all quality-related non-conformities and work on solving the most critical items.
• Conduct Root Cause Analysis to solve critical non-conformities.
• Knowledge in the 5Why process is an asset.
• Assist in follow-up and issue any corrective actions, if necessary, based on deviations found in the plant process or resulting from customer complaints.
• Ensure that the pest control program is being maintained and liaise with the operation to ensure that all requirements are met.
• Maintain an attitude of continuous process improvement and training of Team Members.

Required Experience

• Postsecondary degree in a relevant field (preferably Biology or Food Science).
• A minimum of 5 years in a QA leadership role within a food manufacturing environment is required.
• Internal auditor training/certificate.
• Knowledge and experience of HACCP, GMPs.
• Experience and/or education in continuous improvement, Six Sigma, or lean manufacturing is highly desirable.
• Strong leadership and team-building skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Excellent MS Office skills.