POSITION SUMMARY:

Manages all plant units responsible for monitoring and ensuring plant products are safe and meet customer specifications and company quality and reliability standards. Develops and implements short-term and mid-term business plans for the department and assists in the development of the strategic plan for the plant.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES include the following and other duties as assigned:

1. Responsible for overseeing the day-to-day food safety and quality operations within the department.

2. Monitor and supervise the performance of supervisors to ensure that tasks are completed according to daily requirements.

3. Lead the Quality team to troubleshoot nonconformance issues identified at the plant and conduct, respond, and summarize root cause analysis and corrective action.

4. Oversee and monitor pest control activity at the plant level and perform pest control verification at a minimum once every quarter against pest control services.

5. Manage, monitor, and lead the interdepartmental team at the plant for monthly GMP walkthrough and report results in the GMP meeting for observation and action plan.

6. Interface with inter-departmental functions to identify, propose, document, and follow up on activities that need to be performed including plant repairs.

7. Lead as a HACCP Coordinator at the plant to oversee all food safety-related conditions and all HACCP-related activities that include but are not limited to HACPP meetings, HACCP reassessment, and HACCP plan review.
8. Manage, coordinate, monitor, and respond to customer complaints.

9. Responsible for analyzing trends in food safety and quality-related data, including key performance indicators (KPIs) and micro-level performance at the plant, focusing on environmental swabs, materials, and finished products.

10. Conduct interviews and training for new hires and provide ongoing food safety and quality-related training for all QC Technician employees at least once a year.

11. Represent the Quality department to attend regular meetings as required.

12. Serve as the primary point of contact and liaison with the plant USDA Inspector, coordinating, managing, and responding to any regulatory issues, concerns, opportunities, and inquiries.

13. Participate as a Quality representative in plant trial and commercialization.

14. Review records associated with product safety and quality and responsibility for product releases.

15. Provide regular summaries and reports of department activities, at least monthly, detailing any issues, schedules, or changes.

16. Responsible for leading customer, supplier, SQF, and regulatory audits alongside the multi-functional team.

17. Lead or support continuous improvement efforts on projects including plant productivity, yield improvement, and food safety preventive measures.

18. Promote a strong culture of food safety and quality at the plant, with a primary emphasis on prioritizing food safety and excellent customer service.

REQUIREMENTS:
•5-10 years in USDA/FDA background in a Food Manufacturing or Pharmaceutical, Nutraceutical industry
•2-3 years experience in a Managerial and Compliance role.
•Bachelor's degree in science, preferably in Food Science and Technology or related field.
•Bi-lingual in Spanish
•Excellent leadership skills.
•Strong Microsoft Office skills
•Strong verbal and written communication skills. Strong organizational skills.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
•Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
•Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times.
•Must be able to access and navigate the department at the organization's facilities.
•Physical Attendance is required - Remote is not optional.