Sr. Quality Assurance Manager

Basic Purpose

Responsible for managing all aspects of the FSQA personnel & department at the plant level to include policies and procedures, compliance with government regulations, and adherence to quality standards of Company products.

Provide oversight and monitoring of FSQA team and of operational processes for compliance with established procedures to include, but are not limited to SSOPs, HACCP, GMP, Animal Welfare and other regulatory prerequisite programs, FSQA audits and supporting company and customer FSQA programs.

1.     Customer paperwork completion and generation

2.     Labeling

3.     Auditing; Inclusive, but not limiting Third Party, Customer, Organic, Gluten Free, Non- GMO, FSIS, SQF, GMP, and AWF

4.     Program standardization (Such as pest control, food defense, recall, specifications)

Essential Job Duties & Responsibilities :

• Develop, implement, review, manage, and ensure compliance to HACCP, SSOP, GMP, AWF, SWF, Organic, Gluten Free, Non-GMO, Pest Control, Sanitation, Microbiological, and Recall procedures. In addition to managing processes related to food safety and quality assurance management systems.
• Manage QA management team of 2-5 direct & 15 indirect team members to ensure proper coverage on the production floor during operation hours to include supervision coverage.
• Develop cohesive teams, interdepartmental relationships, and a positive team culture.
• Ensure development & accountability of QA Management team
• Maintain current knowledge of regulatory policies, directives and notices, and provide effective liaison with USDA-FSIS, government regulatory agencies and organic certifying agencies at the plant level. Manages USDA-FSIS relationship at the plant level.
• Leads investigations and problem-solving sessions for
• Customer complaints
• Non-compliances
• Program deviations
• Assist with corrective action processes to comply with regulatory requirements to identify cause, address the product, restore control, reevaluate processes, modify procedures or improve the food safety system, and prevent recurrences.
• Maintain microbiological sampling and testing justifications, objectives and standards for product, equipment, environment and personnel.
• Communicate plant testing and FSQA records data to plant management and sanitation teams.
• Collaborate with operations supervisors, maintenance and production personnel to address daily issues as they arise such as operation or transportation issues, process control deviations and / or product noncompliance.
• Including, but not limited to : temperature, sanitation, specifications, foreign objects, analytical and packaging
• Ensure FSQA resources are available to meet plant schedule needs.
• Communicate plant schedule changes to USDA and Sanitation.
• Manages and completes all product specification updates and communicates with sales and customer service teams to ensure proper use.
• Monitor the integrity of structures and equipment defects that may create food safety and sanitation deficiencies / non compliances.
• Maintain, coordinate, and improve quality assurance objectives. Inspect, identify, inform, and resolve any issue with production and facilities management.

16.  Provide and establish internal and external reports, as deemed necessary.

Skills / Knowledge / Abilities

Ø Bachelor of Science Degree in Food Science or related field

Ø Minimum five (5) years quality assurance experience in poultry processing, including two (2) years managerial experience in food safety and product quality.

Ø Strong ability to develop teams & create a positive culture

Ø Strong ability to navigate conflict & build relationships interdepartmentally

Ø Strong analytical ability and math skills

Ø Ability to organize, plan and complete work in a timely manner.

Ø Ability to interact and communicate effectively within the Company and with regulatory agency personnel.

Ø Proficiency in all aspects of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Access, Power Point)

Ø Labeling experience desired

Ø HACCP and SQF certified