Quality Manager

About the Role

The Quality Manager ensures all products meet customer requirements by leading the plant's Quality Management System (QMS), driving daily quality activities, customer service support, and making informed decisions on quality issues. This role builds a proactive quality and continuous improvement culture by managing and improving processes that design quality into the product and verify conformance. The QM will lead these efforts and activities across 2 manufacturing facilities.

The Quality Manager oversees the accuracy and effectiveness of procedures, forms, work instructions, and communication to floor personnel, ensuring compliance with applicable standards and maintaining approval through all internal and external audits. As the facility's SQF Practitioner, the QM leads SQF programs, tracks and resolves quality complaints, supports and drives continuous improvement projects, and implements corrective and preventive actions. The role is deeply involved in daily QMS performance, monitoring controls, coaching teams, communicating with external stakeholders and partnering with managers and supervisors to investigate issues and develop sustainable solutions across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Communicates safety policies, procedures, and practices; follow, lead, and drive all safety policies and procedures
• Ensure department personnel have completed Novolex safety training on time and follow all safety standards
• Ensure department accident investigations and communications with plant staff
• Communicates food safety and consumer safety policies, procedures, and practices
• Ensure employees are empowered and encouraged to take the correct actions and report events that could impact food safety of the product
• Encourage a strong food safety culture and participate in GMP and food safety training and holds team responsible to follow all GMP policies
• Participate in audits, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Communicate with all levels of the organization
• Development, implementation and administration of quality policies and procedures for all employees
• Establish and perform quality training programs for all employees
• Work with corporate quality to implement quality policies, perform corrective actions with the support of plant staff to ensure all policies and procedures are met and followed
• Oversee the development, implementation, review and maintenance of the SQF system, including food safety fundamentals outlined in the SQF Code
• Take appropriate action to ensure the integrity of the SQF system
• Lead all internal, customer, and 3rd party audits for the QMS and SQF system
• Communicate to relevant personnel all information essential to ensure the effective implementation of and maintenance of the SQF system
• Facilitate customer questions by establishing customer relationships and working with corporate quality and external stakeholders
• Collect, organize, analyze, and report process data to internal stakeholders to drive continuous improvement projects and processes
• Facilitate and assist support departments with technical expertise for Quality, SQF, and Process improvements
• Lead Continuous Improvement reporting, activities and training within the plant(s)
• Other miscellaneous duties as assigned by management

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 5 years of quality control management experience in a manufacturing environment, or relevant working experience is required
• SQF practitioner certification and/or internal auditor certification are highly desired
• Minimum of 3 years' experience in an SQF or ISO certified manufacturing facility
• Successful track record and experience leading and implementing continuous improvement projects
• Demonstrated usage of CI and RCCA tools, i.e.: 5-Why's, Fishbone, Kaizen, 5S/6S, etc.
• Lean or 6-sigma certification preferred
• Excellent communication skills
• Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite
• Must have firm understanding of test procedures, statistics and process controls
• Knowledge of bag and extrusion machinery preferred
• Must have strong problem solving and analytical ability
• Ongoing training and education are essential to continue to improve work processes, all employees will be expected to attend training and education sessions

Physical Requirements & Work Environment

• Ability to stand, walk, bend, and stoop for extended periods
• Ability to work in hot, cold, wet, dusty, or noisy conditions
• Work is performed indoors, manufacturing environment with exposure to moving equipment, noise, and industrial processes
• Must be able to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) as required. Protective clothing consists of eye wear, footwear and hearing protection
• Noise or vibration is within acceptable decibel levels, but hearing protection is required
• Smells are various and will be continuous throughout the shift
• Hazards, see job hazard analysis

Pay & Benefits

• Pay range: $85,100 - $115,000
• 401(k) plan with company match
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Flexible spending and health savings accounts
• Paid vacation and sick days
• Paid parental leave
• Paid holidays
• Wellness program

Training & Development

We offer constant opportunities for advancement. From skills development to advanced education programs, training and development programs and courses are available through MyLearning. Programs include company and industry training curricula, support for formal education through the Tuition Reimbursement Program (Non-Union), and a Learning Management System that supports and enhances employee skills at all levels of the organization.