Quality Control Assistant Manager

Summary : Supports the management and continuous improvement of Quality Control Department operations, ensuring adherence to processes and procedures. Key responsibilities include overseeing positive release, non-conforming material programs, document management, and quality training initiatives. This role serves as a liaison between customers and vendors, gathering critical quality-related insights to drive process enhancements. Additionally, the position provides leadership within the Quality Control team, fostering a culture of excellence, compliance, and continuous improvement.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Oversee QC operations to ensure that ingredients / materials / finished products meet customer specifications as well as ensuring all documentation protocols are followed.
• Maintain and oversee training records for all Quality Control (QC) personnel.
• Supervise daily QC operations to ensure compliance with customer specifications and documentation protocols, reinforcing customer confidence.
• Lead and mentor a team of four (4) direct reports, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• Plan and facilitate monthly QC team meetings.
• Review and approve microbiological analysis reports, finished product test results, and trend reports for critical areas.
• Manage non-conformance investigations into raw materials and finished products, preventing unintended shipments.
• Oversee sampling, retain programs, and sensory taste panels to ensure representative results and historical traceability.
• Audit and approve supplier raw materials, ensuring compliance with QC standards.
• Conduct internal audits to align practices with SOPs, updating and improving processes as needed.
• Support internal and external audits, document control, and customer setup / revisions.
• Assist in formula control, specification management, change management, and validations / verifications.
• Monitor lab supply inventory and execute within budget, coordinating service contracts and PM services for lab / line equipment.
• Ensure proper verification of particle prevention systems and drive Total Plant Quality initiatives.
• Oversee allergen control program and serve as a HACCP / Food Safety Team member.
• Obtain HACCP, Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI), and Food Defense Coordinator certifications as required.
• Other duties as assigned

Competency and Qualification Requirements

Work Environment and Physical Demands :

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to work in wet, humid, and outdoor conditions. The employee is also exposed to varying temperature extremes including heat and cold as the weather varies. The employee is occasionally exposed to work on elevated platforms, with fumes or airborne particles, or with toxic or caustic chemicals. This employee is frequently exposed to work near moving mechanical parts and exposed to vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud. The employee will regularly lift and / or move 50lbs and may occasionally lift and / or move up to 100lbs. Specific detailed vision abilities are required by this job, including Distance vision, Color Vision, Peripheral vision and Depth perception. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, have dexterity of hands, reach with hands and arms, and communicate.