Quality and Food Safety Supervisor

Description

Job Description

Job Title: Quality and Food Safety (QFS) Supervisor

Location: Tolleson, AZ

Department: Quality

FLSA Status: Exempt

We are a global leader in food & beverage ingredients. Pioneers at heart, we operate at the forefront of consumer trends to provide food & beverage manufacturers with products and ingredients that will delight their consumers. Making a positive impact on people and planet is all part of the delight. With a deep-rooted presence in the countries where our ingredients are grown, we are closer to farmers, enabling better quality, and more reliable, traceable, and transparent supply. Supplying products and ingredients at scale is just the start. We add value through our unique, complementary portfolio of natural, delicious, and nutritious products. With our fresh thinking, we help our customers unleash the sensory and functional attributes of cocoa, coffee, dairy, nuts, and spices so they can create naturally good food & beverage products that meet consumer expectations. And whoever we’re with, whatever we’re doing, we always make it real.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Manager of Quality and Food Safety (Edible Nuts) and the Plant Manager, the Quality & Food Safety (QFS) Supervisor will be responsible for quality, food safety and compliance for the manufacturing site. This position will be responsible and accountable for operational and execution of the quality, food safety and compliance programs. They will provide day-to-day support to the operations team for the measurement and management of product quality and will work to ensure food safety across the product portfolio manufactured at the site. The QFS Supervisor will lead a team of quality technicians and document control coordinators to provide data and troubleshooting support to the operations team. The QFS Supervisor will also ensure all programs and procedures meet the regulatory and customer compliance standards. This position requires experience in operational quality and food safety manufacturing in industrial processing plants, preferably edible nuts. Expertise required includes systems such as British Retail Consortium (BRC) / Safety Quality Food (SQF), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and technical expertise in Physical, Chemical and Microbiological analysis.

The ideal candidate should possess an in-depth knowledge in Quality Assurance management for ingredients and private labels food products, preferably in edible nuts. They should have great communication skills and be efficient when working with other departments within the facility. The ability to work well under pressure with many competing demands will be required for success in this position.

Position Responsibilities

• Owner of the site’s Food Safety and Quality Culture Program.
• Responsible for the implementation, monitoring and verification of the site’s HACCP and Quality Plans.
• Owner of the site’s Integrated Pest Management and Sanitation Programs.
• Responsible for site’s daily, weekly, and monthly Quality Operational Reviews.
• Immediate response and problem solving to any non-conformance such as, process deviations (CCP deviations, Critical Quality Attributes, etc.), non-conformance goods, internal or external audit findings, customer complaints and environmental deviations.
• Responsible for product releases; records review and SAP.
• Responsible for all product specifications including SAP Master Inspection Characteristics.
• Validate and ensure compliance with established food safety and quality objectives through daily monitoring programs, team supervision, and on-going verification of internal and external laboratory or industry benchmarking.
• Conduct training programs for plant teams with emphasis on continuous improvement and food safety through identification and analysis of customer complaints and regulatory and GSFI requirements.
• Provide support and participation in continuous improvement initiatives.
• Track and manage all quality holds including prompt disposition with site team and drive root cause to aim for minimal holds.
• Work closely with the supply chain to prevent aging product.
• Cross functionally works to improve the process utilizing journey to zero (non-conforming goods, deviations, and complaints).
• Interact effectively with FDA and other regulatory personnel, food safety auditors, and customers to maintain positive and responsive relationships and assure rapid corrective actions, collaboration with the Regulatory and Technical Specialist and issuance of timely responses.
• Ensure that the manufacturing facility follows all 21 CFR 117 Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventive Action Controls for Human Food, and Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) BRC guidelines.
• Supports and participate in the facility HACCP and Food Safety Team for product designs, manufacturing processes, Food Safety Plans, environmental monitoring, and pest control programs.
• Lead the finished goods microbiological and chemical sampling and testing programs, allergen and sanitation programs.
• Ensure that all pasteurized products meet or exceed the microbiological product safety norms and thermal process critical factors.
• Establish new and improved quality/safety programs, policies, and procedures to ensure that established standards of quality are consistently achieved, measured, documented, and maintained. Provide food safety risk assessment information, new technology information, and risk management strategies.
• Engage with large multinational corporations who are OFI’s key customers with respective QA team to understand and apply quality systems and programs in compliance with customer requirements.
• Host and successfully complete audits from internal and external audits.
• Responsible for maintaining the Organic, Kosher, Halal, Gluten Free and other certifications for products manufactured at the manufacturing site as per the requirements of the customers and central QA team.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
  
  

Position Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in food science or microbiology or chemistry is required.
• Two to Five (2 to 5) years of Quality Assurance experience is required. Experience should include two (2) years of experience in a Supervisory role is required.
• Ability to understand plant operations, which include raw edible nuts handling, thermal processing (steam pasteurization, blanching, PPO), and value-added retail product manufacturing and packaging is required.
• Ability to lead and develop a team of quality technicians and document control coordinator in both technical capability and effective communication is required.
• Knowledge in laboratory testing procedures including chemical, microbiology, and basic instrument testing as well as sensory analysis is required. Must possess the ability to work with all levels of employees in various functions within the organization.
• Understanding of Good Laboratory Practices and Good Manufacturing Practices.
• Good written and verbal communication skills are required.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret data is required.
• Working knowledge of Systems Applications and Products (SAP) or other Enterprise resource planning software platforms for data analysis and decision making is required.
• Expertise in quality systems such as British Retail Consortium (BRC)/ Safety Quality Food (SQF), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP), technical expertise in the area of Physical, Chemical and Microbiological analysis is required.
  
  

Note: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

ofi provides equality of opportunity for all persons with respect to hiring without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation. All employment will be decided on the basis of qualifications, merit and business need. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us for support at: [email protected]

At ofi, we celebrate our diversity. Olam Americas Inc. is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.