Quality Assurance Manager

About the role

Agri-Mark/McCadam/Cabot Creamery has been dedicated to farmers, families, mission, purpose, sustainability, respect, integrity, work ethic, teamwork, and pride in award-winning products since 1912. In 2012, Cabot Creamery became the world's first dairy co-op to achieve B Corp certification, demonstrating a commitment to transforming the global economy for the betterment of all.

Responsibilities

• Manage the QA Supervisor and Plant Sanitarian directly, with indirect supervision of lab technicians.
• Oversee laboratory tests on raw milk, manufactured products, and plant samples in a timely and accurate manner to assure that Cabot quality standards are met.
• Maintain, develop, evaluate, recommend and implement Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP), Safe Quality Food (SQF), and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) quality assurance, along with quality control, tests and guidelines.
• Ensure regulatory compliance of all Food Safety and Quality programs, including Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Food Defense, and Pest Control programs.
• Provide employee training to promote and ensure the hygienic handling of product and other sanitary requirements including HACCP, SQF, and GMP.
• Oversee all customer and regulatory audits and certifications including but not limited to SQF, FDA, USDA, State ratings, Kosher and Halal.
• Lead corrective action plans and responses.
• Serve as the site SQF Practitioner (backed up by QA Supervisor).
• Lead, promote and help oversee the Food Safety Culture in the facility.
• Responsible for the product status program including management and maintenance of Hold, Release, Rework, and Reject programs for cheese and cultured products.
• Has direct authority and responsibility for final disposition determination.
• Review production paperwork to ensure that it complies with regulatory requirements and provide responses to inquiries on associated documentation.
• Develop, maintain and implement all QA documentation for the facility including policies and procedures. Update Plant Recall manual annually.
• Initiate and complete mock recalls and traceability exercises.
• Manage the consumer and customer complaint programs. Investigate root cause, track and trend data, and provide timely communications for all complaints.
• Maintain the plant’s Pathogen Environmental Monitoring program including investigation and CAPAs for any out of specification results.
• Manage all in process and finished product testing. Keep accurate and complete records of all tests performed and trend and report to management any results which do not meet Cabot quality standards.
• Schedule, lead, and report regular plant inspections.
• Perform miscellaneous duties and responsibilities as deemed necessary.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a scientific field.
• 5+ years experience in a food manufacturing / dairy environment.
• Excellent understanding of microbiology, food science, HACCP, and SQF or equivalent experience.
• HACCP, PQCI, and SQF certifications preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years in management and/or senior supervisory role.
• Excellent computer skills including Windows, Excel and Word.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Solid analytical and deductive reasoning skills along with attention to detail.
• Able to interpret and implement regulatory rulings.
• Able to effectively work independently and/or in a team environment, and to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Able to work flexible hours when required.
• Strong analytical skills and experience with implementation and administration of Quality Assurance metrics and key performance indicators.
• Excellent problem solving and interpersonal communication skills are a must.
• Previous continuous improvement and/or project management experience is a plus.
• Strong leadership skills that inspire team confidence and respect, while motivating team members in a creative and effective manner, are required.
• Must have a desire for achieving excellence in customer satisfaction, process and product quality, and reliability.
• Working knowledge of sanitation operations, and current and developing sanitation techniques.