Regional Quality FS Manager

Job Summary

The Regional Quality FS Manager is a hands-on leader responsible for ensuring food safety and quality standards across multiple manufacturing sites. They lead, develop, and execute all aspects of Quality Assurance with customers, suppliers, local and corporate-wide Maker’s Pride employees within the designated platform. They also supervise, train, and mentor Quality and Sanitation professionals.

Job Duties

• Aid in the development and execution of all aspects of Quality Assurance with customers, suppliers, local and corporate-wide Maker’s Pride employees and the manufacturing staff at facilities within the designated platform.
• Participate in and contribute to the Maker’s Pride Production System (HPS) elements (Drumbeat, Weekly KPI, etc.).
• Execute gap assessments against customer/ GFSI / regulatory requirements and generate action plans to assess identified gaps.
• Provide support and aid in preparation for all customer visits and external audits.
• Coach, teach, mentor site Quality Managers and Supervisors as assigned.
• Provide guidance on investigation and disposition of held products as needed.
• Complete FSQA improvement projects as assigned.
• Train quality and operations teams as necessary on newly instituted programs.
• Aid in identifying critical Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for sites to drive improvements.
• Act as liaison between Maker’s Pride and Customer QA representatives when corporate support is required.
• Lead Root Cause Analysis activities and support Corrective Action/ Preventative Action program requirements.
• Support auditing of sanitation practices as needed and pre-operational inspection verification.
• Provide audit over-check and assurance that each plant is maintaining policies and directives set forth in local plant SOP’s and work instructions.
• Partner with cross-functional teams on key platform projects.
• Assess Environmental Monitoring Programs to ensure continued seek and destroy approach to pathogens.
• Trend and analyze data to drive focus on key areas for improvement.
• Other duties as identified or assigned by Platform or Senior Quality Director.

Knowledge & Competencies

• Intentional Adulteration Vulnerability Assessments
• GFSI auditing schemes
• S.M.A.R.T. goal setting and team coaching
• Basic RCA and CAPA tools
• 7 Steps of Sanitation
• Knowledge and experience with SAP
• Skill in personnel development and team building
• Internal Auditing
• Risk Assessments
• Strong understanding of SQF and its implementation
• Strong understanding of SQF Practitioner certification
• PCQI/ Food Safety Plans / HACCP Plan development and maintenance
• Maintaining harmonious relationships and effectively communicating with all customers, suppliers, local and corporate-wide Maker’s Pride employees
• Demonstrated proficiency in advanced quality statistics, measurement systems analysis and continuous improvement
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, analytical ability, leadership strength and ability to effectively work with all levels of the organization
• Ability to work independently

Physical Requirements

• Ability to use hands and fingers.
• Ability to see, hear and talk.
• Employee frequently required to stand, walk, or climb.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 25 lbs.
• Walk up to 400 yards to work and break areas.
• Must be able to lift 25 pounds on an infrequent basis.

Work Environment

Work is a mix of office setting with frequent exposure in a plant environment. Frequent production environment exposure which includes noise, dust, heat, cold, moving machinery, forklifts, and slippery floors.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business/science-related field is required (Exceptions approved by Senior Quality Director)
• Five (5) – Seven (7) plus years of related FSQA work experience in food manufacturing (RTE, snack bars, baked bar, granola manufacture, bread, cold form bar, cookies, crackers, or similar preferred)
• Three (3) plus years of experience managing and leading a Quality and food safety / sanitation staff in a related food manufacturing environment and direct ownership of compliance
• PCQI and HACCP Certification required; SQF Practitioner is a strong plus
• Experience with audit prep, root cause analysis (RCA), CAPA, sanitation programs, and EMP
• Microsoft Suite computer experience; SAP a plus
• Must be detailed-oriented, have strong self-confidence and leadership skills and have excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Must be able to work independently