What are the responsibilities and job description for the Dairy Quality Assurance Specialist position at Lactalis Heritage Dairy?
Company Overview:
Lactalis Heritage Dairy is a leading dairy company that offers a dynamic work environment and opportunities for career development. With a strong commitment to quality management, corporate manufacturing, marketing, and research and development, we strive to provide healthy and delicious dairy products that bring people together every day.
Job Description:
The Assistant Laboratory Manager will be responsible for supporting the Lab Manager to ensure that the department is functioning in a manner that satisfies the scientific and business needs of Lactalis Quality Management, Corporate Manufacturing (Plant), Marketing, and Research and Development, and complies with applicable regulatory requirements and department policies.
Key Responsibilities:
- Administrative operation of the laboratory and timely execution of all tests run at the plant
- Review of test results and positive release of the product in SAP
- Closely working with the LAB relay and the plant QC to understand and maintain the Cecalait proficiency and SRM Program(s)
- Oversight of the lab training program to maintain thorough knowledge and understanding of requirements, as well as a basic understanding of current procedures and methods pertaining to analytical testing
- Collaboration with direct reports during troubleshooting, sample design, testing, result interpretations, any follow-up required to resolve issues
- Definition of projects needed for the improvement of the program under the direction of the lab manager
- Work with production and quality areas to reduce holds and complaints (CPM)
- Effective implementation of the Shelf-life Program at the plant level and analysis of results to define actions needed together with the lab manager
- Spearheading investigations with sanitation and production for out-of-spec microbiological results from equipment and product
- Oversight of all equipment at the lab: equipment qualification, calibration, maintenance
Managerial Responsibilities:
- Managing lab employees: structuring and coordinating the efforts of the technical staff, anticipating and directing the resolution of any problems that may arise during testing
- Structuring and organizing the efforts of the department staff in all areas related to testing such as scheduling and assigning staff time to meet needs, providing guidance in the conduct of sample preparations and sample analyses, scheduling use of limited resources, coordinating timely completion of testing and reporting needs
- Approving and/or leading laboratory investigations regarding unexpected results
- Setting and monitoring reasonable policies and goals for the staff, collaborating with Human Resources to provide structure and oversight for the training and development of all incoming analytical staff
- Organizing department training activities, and assisting in conducting annual performance evaluations for departmental staff
- Oversight of laboratory supplies and activities including equipment maintenance and coordination of new equipment installations which includes changes, where needed, to the laboratory
- Cultivating long-term relationships internally
- All other duties as assigned
