Supervise and lead a team of individuals, in conjunction with the Quality Manager, to build and maintain an effective culture of food safety and quality within the facility. Partner with Operations to ensure finished product is food safe, meets finished product specifications, and results in a high level of customer satisfaction. Provide expertise and governance in establishing/executing food safety, sanitation and hygiene programs for the facility. Support continuous improvement activities through risk assessment and problem-solving initiatives.

Job Duties & Responsibilities:

• Comply with regulatory requirements and internal FSQ programs/standards
• Assist Quality Manager in the development, implementation and maintenance of food safety and quality programs at the facility to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, corporate standards, and customer expectations
• Partner with Operations to continuously build and strengthen the facility's food safety and quality culture
• Provide expertise and governance for cleaning/sanitation of production equipment and facility to meet regulatory requirements, DFA corporate standards and customer expectations
• Partner with Operations, Maintenance, and Warehouse teams to write, review, implement and maintain cleaning/sanitation SOPs, master sanitation schedules (MSS), and cleaning validation/verification protocols
• Provide regular training, instruction, and guidance to the facility concerning matters of food safety, quality, sanitation, and hygiene, and maintain close surveillance of testing and inspection procedures to ensure the success of employees involved in the regular inspection of finished parts, products, or raw materials
• Provide oversight for the plant's integrated pest management (IPM) program; manage relationship with the facility's pest control operator and partner with plant teams to develop/implement corrective actions to address events and unfavorable trends
• Assist QA Manager and Partner with Operations for the hygiene and pathogen environmental monitoring program including oversight of sample collection, investigation/corrective actions, and mitigation activities
• Monitor and report key performance indicators related to food safety, quality sanitation and hygiene to identify opportunities for continuous improvement
• Partner with Engineering and Maintenance teams during capital projects and maintenance activities to assist with verification of design standards that comply with sanitary/hygienic design; support development/execution of cleaning validations, food safety risk assessments and product protection plans for these projects/activities
• Lead and direct cross-functional plant teams in the development of the facility's food safety plans, food defense plans and quality plans
• Analyze and diagnose parts, processes, and equipment problems to expedite corrective action; develop and implement action to prevent recurrences and interruption of production processes
• Lead in plant cross-functional internal audit teams to assess compliance with internal procedures, corporate guidelines, and regulatory/customer requirements
• Initiate and drive continuous improvement activities, and partner with plant cross-functional teams during problem solving exercises to resolve persistent challenges while supporting the implementation of new procedures or processes

Customer Centric

• Support customer, regulatory and third-party quality and food safety audits.
• Investigate, find solutions, and implement remedies to food safety issues and customer complaints.
• Support process to achieve/maintain certifications such as SQF, Kosher, Halal, and Organic.

Leadership

• Supervise hourly employee's activities to meet or exceed the standards and specifications established by Quality Assurance and the organization.
• Ensure all process, product, or infrastructure changes are understood by employees in a timely fashion.
• Identify and retain highly effective personnel through proper selection, training, and establishing expectations
• Ensure good business communication practices are engaged at all levels to ensure key stakeholders are well informed and can appropriately respond
• Serve as a backup for QA Manager in his / her absence.
• Foster a positive and effective work culture with direct reports

Quality Control

• Collaborate with the laboratory team for sampling and testing requirements to support food safety compliance, including cleaning verification/validation and hygiene/pathogen environmental monitoring program
• Support the analysis of food safety data to assess product performance and utilize SPC tools to identify and react to unfavorable trends
• Assist operations management in the analyze and diagnose parts, processes, and equipment problems to expedite corrective action; develop and implement action to prevent recurrences and interruption of production processes
• Assist in the Quality Assurance inspection activities as they may be related to work in progress; integrate required revisions to testing procedures for products or processes as necessary
• The requirements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employee, but is not a complete list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Other duties may be assigned as required.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Biological Sciences or related field or equivalent practical work experience (work experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis)
• 1 to 3 years of Food Safety, Sanitation or QA experience in a food manufacturing environment
• Experience monitoring and controlling environmental pathogens and allergens
• Experience with GMP, FDA, USDA, and OSHA requirements
• Experience in FSQ auditing and working cross-functionally to develop/implement corrective actions
• 2 to 5 years of food, beverage or pharmaceutical manufacturing experience; experience with dairy or other micro-sensitive foods preferred
• 1 to 3 years of supervisory / leadership experience preferred
• Experience in validation of cleaning/sanitation procedures and programs preferred
• Experience with team leadership to problem-solve or control variability with CI tools preferred
• Computer experience- SAP, LIMS and other operating systems preferred
• Certification and/or License - PCQI, HACCP, SQF Practitioner certification preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of sanitation and hygiene practices including CIP/COP, dry cleaning and MSS
• Skills in leadership
• Knowledge of integrated pest management, including stored product pest management
• Knowledge of FSMA, preventive controls, risk assessments and food defense
• Knowledge of hygienic equipment design for food safety and effective cleaning/sanitation
• Knowledge of 21 CFR Part 117
• Knowledge of both laboratory and plant cGMPs
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and company computer systems, specifically LIMS, Excel and ERP
• Knowledge of principles and practices of supervision, training, and personnel management
• Able to organize and prioritize resources to achieve goals
• Able to multi-task and keep organized records
• Able to work with accuracy and attention to detail
• Able to perform analysis, mathematical calculations, and statistical evaluations
• Able to effectively manage plant level projects
• Able to complete basic arithmetic in all units of measure using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals
• Able to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing
• Able to work in collaboration effectively and foster good teamwork, promoting a team environment
• Able to take appropriate steps to find solutions to problems
• Able to present options and ideas to current processes or procedures
• Able to handle challenging or conflict situations with tact and professionalism
• Able to interpret and apply company policies
• Able to adapt and manage change effectively
• Able to take initiative in performing job
• Able to perform tasks and duties without regular supervision
• Must be able to read, write, and speak English

An Equal Opportunity Employer