Quality Assurance Manager

NexTerra Wine Company is looking for a Quality Assurance (QA) Manager at our winery in Woodridge IL.  This is a pivotal leadership role responsible for overseeing and ensuring the consistent production of premium wines through meticulous quality control and assurance processes. This position involves overseeing the entire quality management system including pre and post bottling quality assurance, ensuring that all wines meet or exceed industry standards, regulatory requirements, and our own rigorous specifications.  This role will collaborate closely with the winemaking team, lab, warehouse, and production staff to develop and implement best practices for quality, safety, and sustainability.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Process Improvement and Management

• Overseas the training of employees in Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP’s), HACCP, sanitation, SOP’s, and safety by working directly with the department heads
• Establishes appropriate quality standards and parameters for products by developing, implementing and managing the processes

Facility Certification

• Develops and leads implementation of facility wide HACCP program
• Oversee the development, implementation, review, and maintenance of BRC standards within the facility
• Achieves BRC certification within 2 years

Quality Assurance Management

• Creates and maintains documents related to quality assurance procedures
• Prepares quality documentation and reports by collecting, analyzing and summarizing information and trends including failed processes, stability studies, recalls, corrective actions and re-validations
• Responsible for final production release to market; coordinating with Lab, Winemaking, and Warehouse for final product release
• Manages Quality documentation and testing results in the Winery Management Software system

• Coordinates internal and external product testing processes
• Manages the process of QC Hold product
• Develops and leads internal audit programs to drive high impact systemic process improvements
• Manages Opvia, our existing Cloud based Quality Assurance software
• Reviews customer feedback, investigates complaints and facilitates responses
• Monitors the various departments for compliance with SOP’s related to sanitation, material handling, additions and work order completion

Supplier Management

• Determines operational and performance specifications related to packaging materials
• Inspects incoming packaging supply for compliance with specifications
• Works with Supply Chain Team to resolve non-conformities with packaging suppliers
• Works with Supply Chain Team to develop an annual audit program for 3rd party suppliers and lead implementation
• Ability to work with suppliers and plant personnel to achieve problem resolution in a professional manner
• Monitors, performs testing, compiles and analyzes data, and provides reports to management on assigned R&D projects
• Point of contact for QA related oversight at co-packing partners; this will include onsite visits for production runs
• Performs independent quality control audits at third party co-packers

Team Management

• Acts as liaison across all departments directing focus to development of quality systems, processes and procedures
• Manage quality assurance team members, providing leadership, training, and mentorship.
• Communicates quality standards and parameters to QA team, product development team and other appropriate staff

Competencies:

• Must represent NexTerra values
• Bachelor’s in chemistry and or food science related field
• Experience with managing the implementation of BRC, HACCP, GMPs or ISO in large scale food / beverage manufacturing
• Certification knowledge of HACCP / GMP’s / BRC
• 5+ years’ experience in a winery / beverage / food plant quality control
• Knowledge of the construction of and performance characteristics of packaging materials
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Excellent time management skills with proven ability to meet deadlines
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong supervisory, interdepartmental and leadership skills
• Food / Beverage safety audit experience
• Ability to reprioritize activities on an ongoing basis depending on changing conditions
• Ability to work with data in Excel, Access, Word and warehouse management information systems
• Ability to handle numerous projects in progress at one time

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Hires and trains quality assurance staff
• Oversee the daily workflow and schedules of the department
• Conducts performance evaluations that are timely and constructive

Special Considerations:

• Must be able to stand for 8+ hours
• Must be able to reach, bend and occasionally lift 50 pounds
• Travel required for various trips to co-packers and suppliers; 8% or 20+/- days throughout the year

 

Employment Type: Full Time
Bonus/Commission: No