Director of Quality Assurance

AllSTEM Connections is seeking a Director of Quality Assurance to work onsite in Long Island, NY.

This is a full-time, direct hire position.

Base Salary is up to $160,000/year.

SUMMARY:

Our confidential client is a leading manufacturer of high-quality Retail & Foodservice desserts, operating four facilities in the NY/NJ area.

The Bilingual Director of Quality Assurance ensures the highest standards in product quality, safety, and environmental practices. This role involves establishing and enforcing quality standards, conducting testing, and maintaining food plant sanitation protocols.

QA Director serves as the designated backup PCQI and assists in overseeing the development, implementation, review, and maintenance of the BRC system. This position also ensures effective communication of essential information to relevant personnel for the maintenance and implementation of these systems. The role requires a thorough understanding and adherence to all food safety regulations.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Leadership and Management: Develop and manage the QSE organization, providing both engineering expertise and management skills.
• Travel: Ability to travel between the four facilities in NJ/NY.
• Customer Complaints: Lead the investigation and response to customer complaints.
• Safety SOPs: Develop and manage Safety Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Regulatory Interfacing: Direct experience interfacing with FDA and other regulatory agencies.
• Problem Solving: Prevent and solve food safety and quality issues in both existing and new products, including Process Control, Equipment Sanitization, HACCP, cGMP Control, FIFO, Allergen, and Raw Materials.
• Vendor Audit Compliance: Lead the Vendor Audit Compliance program for raw materials, consumables, food contact packaging, and refrigerated shipping and receiving vendors.
• Food Safety and Quality System: Develop a Food Safety and Quality System compliant with BRC Standards and other relevant certifications.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure compliance with FDA, USDA, OSHA, DEC, EPA, DEP, Department of Agriculture, and other city and state agencies.
• Company Policies: Adhere to all company policies and procedures, including SOPs and GMPs.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Educational Background: Bachelor's degree in food science, food chemistry, biology, engineering, chemistry or microbiology required; a combination of education and experience will be considered, provided that the candidate has demonstrated proficiency in food processing technology and food quality and regulations, standards and policies.
• Bilingual Spanish (read/write/speak)
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office and ability to learn in-house ERP systems.
• Experience: Minimum of 8 years in a similar position, with experience in production scheduling and proven skills in organizational and team leadership. Basic technical know-how of diverse factory processes is a plus.
• Cultural Competency: Knowledge of multi-cultural work environments.
• Language Skills: Proficiency in Spanish required.
• Communication: Effective communication skills at all levels, both internally and externally.
• Responsiveness: Ability to provide rapid response to inquiries.
• Analytical Skills: Ability to collect, analyze, and report production scheduling-related performance results.
• Basic Skills: Strong math, reading, writing, and record-keeping skills.
• Certifications: Related degree or certification is beneficial.
• Industry Experience: Experience in the Food manufacturing a must and Bakery (baked goods) a plus.
• Standards Compliance: Ability to learn and apply company standards, including lock-out/tag-out, safety practices, GMPs, and employee handbook policies.