Quality Assurance Manager

**This is not a job at ForceBrands**

Title: Quality Assurance Manager

Position Location: Hybrid, with frequent travel to co-manufacturing partners in Allentown, PA. Ideally, candidates are within a 3 hour driving distance.

Position Description

The Food Quality Assurance Manager supports efforts to safeguard brand integrity by maintaining and implementing diligent controls over established safety and quality programs. A significant portion of this role will involve direct oversight of and collaboration with contract manufacturers in an on-site capacity. This Quality Professional will emulate an attitude of continuous improvement and have a high level of both verbal and written communication to ensure that policies, procedures, and instructions are in place, understood, and upon to meet the best industry standards. Research and use company resources to understand and advise on regulatory rules and laws pertaining to the industry and products.

Position Responsibilities

• Oversight and ownership of quality elements at co-manufacturing sites encompassing all facets of the manufacturing process.
• First line of defense and main co-man contact for quality-related issues. This entails travel to testing facilities domestically or internationally.
• Set and enforce benchmarks concerning product non-conformances, including pass/fail criteria.
• Communicate with management and production employees at co-manufacturing to ensure adherence to SkinnyDipped specifications and procedures; contribute to resolving unexpected issues.
• Consolidate and analyze production records as needed to confirm compliance with client specifications and manufacturing procedures.
• Establish and report co-manufacturer quality KPIs internally to corporate and externally to the co-manufacturer during routine quality meetings.
• Develop and maintain a product non-conformance report. Trend and report to information gathered to aid in continuous improvement activities.
• Collaborate with the Supply Chain to manage the disposition and handling of non-conforming materials.
• Ongoing improvement and maintenance of company Quality Systems Manual inclusive of policies and programs protecting our products, brand and future business opportunities.
• Oversee the Supplier Approval Program for ingredient and material suppliers. Collaborate internally and externally to obtain required documentation in sup the program; maintain records of supplier approval.
• Maintain quality documentation, including customer-facing information required by the Sales Team. Support Sales Team as necessary via customer portal inputs.
• Manage all third-party certification programs such as Fair Trade, nonGMO, Kosher
• Update and maintain all company packaging specifications for co-manufacturing
• Create and maintain internal retain program and ensure easy access to retain product should quality references be needed.
• Conduct regular sensory evaluations for existing products with founders/sensory panel, including ongoing shelf-life tastings to ensure strict sensory attributes of products are maintained.
• Lead shelf-life testing for new products in innovation & renovation.
• Support Marketing with customer complaint handling, including follow up an investigation to promptly determine root cause and report findings as needed
• Understand lot code access systems (including external systems) to trace prod follow written process to place product on hold.
• Participate in meetings required to maintain adherence to stated procedures policies dealing with food safety and quality.
• Stay abreast of new or changed regulations and litigation trends that could or impact our current or innovation product line(s).
• Participate in product launch meetings to ensure quality requirements of new products are upheld, and facilitate a smooth transition to finshed good status.
• Partner with Supply Chain to proactively monitor quality involvement in day-to-day operations
• Stay informed of production schedules at all co-mans

Education and Experience

• BA/BS required, MS a plus
• Food Science or related science degree
• Experience working in high-growth and established CPG environments
• Ability to work independently with accountability of time
• HACCP certified
• PCQI certified a plus
• BRC/SQF Practitioner or equivalent a plus
• Strong sensory evaluation skills and a passion for food
• Strong PC skills including MS Office
• Experience working cross functionally
• Strong analytical skills and ability to understand manufacturing data