Quality Assurance Manager

The Quality Assurance Manager is responsible for overseeing the facility quality assurance department including maintaining the facility’s food safety and quality programs and ensuring that products manufactured by the organization are regulatory compliant and meet customer quality expectations.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Manage the quality assurance department, hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP), environmental monitoring, and good manufacturing practices (GMP) programs. Assist with the Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP) and the facility Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) as needed.
• Develop and maintain product specifications and quality assurance procedures to ensure compliance with regulatory, GFSI, and customer expectations.
• Responsible for tracking and reporting on the company quality objectives.
• Oversee the execution of work performed by department personnel.
• Work cross-functionally to perform root cause analysis for objectives that are not met.
• Develop and maintain QA operating budget.
• Responsible for identifying key performance indicators for quality measures and for conducting statistical analyses on quality trends and compliance levels.
• Investigate and respond to customer complaints in regard to product quality.
• Ensure the identification and attainment of any controls, processes, equipment (including inspection and test equipment), fixtures, resources and skills that may be needed to achieve quality requirements.
• Ensure documentation of the quality process during production process, inspection and test procedures.
• Update inspection and test procedures as needed, including the development of new control points.
• Ensure the clarification of standards of acceptability for all features and requirements, including those which contain a subjective element (appearance, flavor, texture).
• Ensure the collection, review and filing of quality records to ensure audit and regulatory compliance.
• Act as the primary facility liaison to the USDA and respond to USDA Noncompliance Records.
• Maintain USDA Label Approvals.
• Oversee internal R& D testing as necessary.
• Responsible for leading QA internal and external audits and following up on deficiencies.
• Temporarily assumes the duties of the Director of Quality Assurance in their absence as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.
  
  

Qualifications

• 5 years’ experience in food safety or similar role required, food experience preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in food science, biology, nutrition, or a related field is required
• Strong math, analytical, organizational skills, and ability to prioritize workload.
• Self-managed and highly motivated.
• Possess good problem solving skills and sound judgment.
• Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office
• Must have demonstrated the ability to develop and deliver food safety training and HACCP programs.
• Good oral and written communication skills and the ability to work well with people at all levels are essential; bilingual (Spanish-English) a plus.
• Must be able to evaluate information quickly, identify key issues, and formulate conclusions based on sound, practical judgment and experience. Must have a strong sense of personal ownership while maintaining a team-oriented environment. Must be able to work effectively in a dynamic and complex environment.
• HACCP certification is required.
• SQF or BRC certification is required.
  
  

Work Environment

This job operates in a manufacturing environment and occasionally in an office setting. Extended periods of standing while walking the production floor and also occasional period of sitting using a computer or other devices are common.

Physical Demands

Required

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to balance; stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear as defined below:

• Ability to communicate orally with vendors, management, and coworkers is crucial. Regular use of phone and email for communication is essential. Hearing and vision correctable to within normal ranges is essential for normal conversations, receiving ordinary information, and preparing or inspecting documents.
• The ability to remain in a stationary position roughly 50% of the time, as well as the ability to move about the office and plant occasionally (accessing files/storage, office equipment, computers and other office productivity devices, etc.), is required.
• Using a computer while sitting for extended periods is common. Must also be able to position self to use and maintain equipment, including under tables and desks.
• No heavy lifting is expected, though occasional exertion of about 15 lbs. of force (e.g., binders, laptops) may be required. Good manual dexterity required to use common office equipment (e.g., computers, mobile devices, calculators, copiers, scanners).
  
  

Supervisor Responsibility

Reports: QA Supervisors Oversee: Foreman, and QA Technicians

Safety and Security

Observes safety and security procedures such as Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP’s), Material Safety Data (MSD) sheets, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Lock-Out-Tag-Out (LOTO), Emergency Evacuations and Building Security; Reports potentially unsafe conditions and injuries: near miss/incidents/accidents; Uses and cares for company equipment and materials properly.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.