Quality Assurance Manager

Job Duties And Responsibilities

• Ensure daily plant quality and food safety operations are compliant with DFA policies and procedures and local, state, and federal regulations
• Maintain audit readiness
• Maintain a robust food safety program and subsequent quality program
• Escalate non-conformance events to the quality director and plant manager
• Oversee plant sanitation to drive a robust sanitation program
• Manage the facility’s change control program to enable robust risk assessment and decisions
• Ensure compliance to specification, manufacturing instructions, and preventive maintenance programs
• Partner with operations to ensure preventive maintenance program is robust and adhered to
• Collaboratively lead investigations relating to non-conforming events driving to root cause(s) and effective resolution
• Manage hold and release programs
• Review records daily to ensure all records are completed as required and review/approval is current for preventive controls, laboratory, sanitation, production, and verification checks
• Track and report on plant quality key performance indicators (KPIs)
• Participate in the annual plant budgeting process
• Partner with the plant manager on identifying key capital projects that support food safety and quality initiatives
• Provide training to the plant personnel concerning food safety, Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), and regulatory compliance
• Provide quality leadership during unplanned events or emergencies
• Engage and interact with all personnel on a regular basis assisting them with their challenges and questions concerning food safety
• Collaborate with R&D during new/reformulated product introduction to ensure compliance with already established specifications and regulatory requirements
• Serve as the point of contact for customer related issues, complaints, or inquires
• Manage plant complaint investigations ensuring a thorough, effective, timely and customer facing response
• Manage all analytical and micro activities performed at the facility
• Oversee the development of laboratory practices to ensure accurate and precise quality control (QC) results
• Perform data analysis to identify critical trends or find leading indicators to enable proactive decisions
• Coordinate the collection and evaluation of raw materials and finished products
• Maintain the quality management system and ensure documents are up to date and comply to the food safety and quality (FSQ) policies and standards
• Prepare plant specific work instructions as needed
• Maintain the SSOP documents are robust and adhere to the sanitation standard
• Ensure all forms and work instructions are reviewed, revised, and updated annually
• Perform management activities such as administering employee promotions and transfers; conducting ongoing performance conversations; mentoring, training, and coaching employees

Requirements

• Undergraduate degree in food science, biological sciences, or related curriculum (or equivalent combination of education and experience)
• 5 to 8 years of quality assurance or related experience in a food, beverage, or similar facility
• Demonstrated leadership attributes, team leadership, or supervisory experience; 1+ year of manager experience preferred
• Certification and/or License - PCQI, HACCP, SQF Practitioner certifications preferred; may be required during course of employment