Quality Assurance Manager

Job Purpose

Provide quality assurance, food safety, employee safety, and regulatory leadership to the facility by ensuring quality systems are communicated, implemented, and sustained. Ensure products, systems, and programs are consistent and meet both internal and external requirements.

Essential Functions

• Oversee food safety program, quality standards, and legality of products manufactured in the facility
• Maintain the facility GFSI audit standard
• Ensure compliance with quality policies, procedures, cGMPs, and product specifications
• Preserve the integrity of the GFSI and facility quality systems through enforcement of the policies and procedures outlined in the quality/food safety manual
• Oversee Food Safety and HACCP teams, ensuring changes are reviewed in the facility as introduced and potential risks identified
• Monitor quality metrics and key performance indicators and recommend changes to meet standards
• Maintain and update the recall program, acting as the recall team leader
• Facilitate customer complaint process and plant deviation investigations, as well as implement corrective actions for continuous improvement
• Maintain supplier records ensuring compliance with regulations and guidelines
• Manage the facility's internal auditing program and verification and validation activities to ensure finished product meets established company quality and food safety standards
• Oversee the non-conforming product program for the facility, as well as implement corrective actions for continuous improvement
• Participate in new product development and commercialization process, reviewing all quality and food safety changes as they occur
• Oversee the development, implementation, and maintenance of the environmental, health, and safety (EHS) programs in the facility, e.g., safety manual, safety committee, safety auditing, etc.
• Preserve the integrity of the EHS system through enforcement of the policies and procedures outlined in the safety manual; re-evaluate programs and procedures comprising the safety manual whenever process or facility changes are made
• Evaluate and participate in employee accident investigations to ensure thorough root cause analysis is conducted; implement and ensure corrective actions are completed
• Review facility accident statistics, monitor trends, and provide recommendations on prevention strategies
• Provide guidance to the plant team on OSHA regulations
• Schedule, conduct, and oversee internal and external audits of the Quality, Food Safety, and EHS systems in the facility including all local, state, and federal regulatory agencies
• Maintain kosher program and other certifications (RSPO, Organic, Non-GMO) as required
• Ensure employees are trained adequately on food safety, GFSI, quality assurance concepts, regulatory requirements, and employee safety
• Prepare and manage departmental budgets
• Interview, select, and train quality and supervisory employees
• Directly manage QA Supervisor, Sanitation/Safety Supervisor, and QA administration (others as necessary)
• Keep apprised of industry best practices and developments in federal, state, and local regulations that impact facility quality, food safety, and EHS systems
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned

Qualifications (Education/Experience)

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science or related degree preferred
• HACCP, PCQI, and OSHA certification preferred
• Minimum 5 years of progressive and demonstrated quality assurance and food safety management leadership experience in the food industry or manufacturing industry
• Proficient knowledge in food safety programs and systems: GFSI (BRC or SQF preferred), internal auditing, cGMPs, HACCP, FSMA, Sanitation
• Experience leading regulatory inspections
• Proven fiscal responsibility (financial planning, budgeting, financial analysis, variance reporting, etc.)
• Strong computer skills including experience with ERP systems and Microsoft Office
• Excellent skills in the areas of teamwork, motivation, decision making, relationship building, and coaching
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to think critically and solve complex problems
• Ability to organize, manage multiple priorities, and maintain high attention to detail in a fast-paced environment