Quality Assurance Manager

Job Description:

Pineland Farms Dairy Company (PFDC) proudly sources milk from local dairy farmers to create award winning cheese in our Bangor, Maine food manufacturing facility. We are looking for a dedicated Quality Assurance Manager to lead our team in ensuring that every batch of cheese meets our high standards of excellence. If you have a passion for food safety, a talent for leading a team, and share our unwavering commitment to quality, we would like to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage and mentor the Quality Assurance (QA) and Sanitation teams, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and food safety excellence
• Oversee all QA processes, from incoming ingredients to finished products, ensuring overall quality of products as well as compliance with SQF, HACCP, and other key certifications
• Coordinate HACCP and food safety program reviews; update documents, including training materials; identify opportunities for improvement and communicate accordingly
• Regularly review and update Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) policies, procedures and training programs for all employees in the plant
• Hold Lead Auditor role in the internal audit program, conducting food safety, HACCP, and GMP audits (such as glass and brittle plastics, chemical control, and other related protocols)
• Validate effective process controls and coordinate Mock Recall and Food Defense assessments
• Perform and maintain hazard analysis and risk assessment records in accordance with all regulatory and customer requirements
• Create and monitor quality and customer related reports/KPI’s as a means to track and trend overall quality system performance
• Collaborate across all functions within the plant to ensure proper design, implementation, validation/verification, monitoring, and maintenance of a total food safety system

General:

• Execute assigned duties with minimal supervision in a satisfactory and timely manner
• Follow all company safety policies and procedures
• Maintain Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and sanitation procedures
• Perform all other related duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or a combination of equivalent quality assurance experience and knowledge of quality systems and auditing
• Proven ability to lead and develop a team, with a focus on ensuring everyone in the organization is aligned with our commitment to quality
• Laboratory experience required, as this position includes oversight of our onsite lab; Laboratory certifications (Dairy related) for DMSCC, RAC, and Antibiotic Screening are required within 90 days of hire
• Strong preference given to candidates with SQF, HACCP, and PCQI certifications in addition to a solid background in food safety training, allergen control, and sanitation
• Experience in the food packaging or food processing industry with knowledge of GFSI standards preferred
• Must possess strong interpersonal and communication skills (written/verbal) as this member of our management team will interact with staff at all levels of our organization
• Other important attributes include teamwork and willingness to collaborate, a high level of organizational skills, and keen attention to detail
• Must be proficient with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• This position may include occasional travel for training

Work Environment:

This position occurs in a general office setting, a laboratory, and throughout the plant, with regular exposure to a manufacturing environment that will have hot, cold, wet and/or humid conditions and moving mechanical parts.

Physical Requirements:

Office duties are primarily sedentary, with occasional standing, walking, bending, twisting, and stretching. Laboratory duties and moving throughout the plant to review/assess areas or processes will involve frequent standing, walking, bending, twisting, and stretching. Lifting is primarily light (up to 25 lbs.); however occasional medium lifting (26-50 lbs.) may be required when handling our cheese. Training will be provided for appropriate use of plant chemicals, as it is required for this position.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary based on experience
• Health insurance, with employer paid HSA and HRA
• Dental insurance
• Life, long term, and short-term disability insurance (100% employer paid)
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan (401(k) with employer match)
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount on our products as well as those offered by other Pineland Farms divisions

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Work Location: In person