Quality Team Lead (Day shift) - Empire, MI

Shoreline Fruit is the largest tart cherry producer in North America operating nearly 6000 acres of cherry orchards in Michigan, producing over 50 million pounds of cherries each year. We are a grower owned company built from two families' stories filled with pride and hard work that continues to grow in its reach of customers here and around the globe. We are dedicated to the continuous improvement of our people, products and processes.

We are looking for a detail oriented person who works hard, has fun, and is willing to work towards helping others.

Core Hours - 8:00AM - 5:00PM Monday - Friday

Salary and Benefits: We offer a competitive compensation package and career advancement!

• Health, Dental, and Vision insurances and Flexible Spending Accounts available after 60 days of employment
• 401K w/company matching available after 6 months
• Two weeks paid-time-off accrual starts at hire date and can be used after 60 days of employment
• Voluntary overtime is available

Responsibilities: Our QA Team Leads assist in managing all quality and food safety programs and functions to maintain standards for the manufacturing operations of the company.

• Monitor all quality attributes of raw material, which include fruit, syrup, ingredients and packaging.
• Monitor food safety critical control points to verify proper functioning within the system.
• Support line startup verifying proper validations, calibrations, cleanliness, sanitation, and production packaging and labels.
• Identify quality problems and areas for improvement, problem solving with the team for resolution.
• Ensure all quality documentation is completed accurately and on a timely basis.
• Review daily production paperwork for completeness and accuracy.
• Prepare and ship customer samples and manage sample retention system and storage.
• Create and control Certificates of Analysis.
• Segregate nonconforming products, recommend problem resolution strategies, and help determine whether they should be used, reworked, returned, or scrapped
• Utilize Statistical Process Control and other forms of data collection on product and process attributes in order to maximize "right the first time" product and expose continuous improvement opportunities.
• Participate in all internal, regulatory, customer and industry audits with support from facility management team.
• Be involved with customer complaint investigations.
• Participate in training all employees to be compliant with all food safety procedures, including plant GMP's, HACCP, and pre-shift food safety audits. Work with team-based training program for all teams required to meet the needs of the facility obtaining and maintaining the identified SQF Level (2 or 3).
• Participate in the development of product specifications.
• Manage workers, including Quality Techs, engaged in testing activities and have hands on capability to perform all tests.
• Coordinate with the production manager to identify and implement changes to reduce and/or remove substandard quality due to the manufacturing process.
• Monitor all plant employees for compliance with all food safety procedures, including plant GMP's, HCCP, and pre-shift food safety audits. Work with production management staff to mitigate identified gaps.
• Review and maintain food safety policies, including GMP's and HACCP plans.
• Review and suggest improvements to standard operating procedures/work instructions of all production, sanitation, shipping/receiving, storage, quality and maintenance programs as they pertain to SQF and Food Safety Plan.
• Report significant quality problems to the Plant Manager, Production Supervisor and Director of Quality.
• Manage cleaning/sanitation validation program.
• Report significant training issues to the Plant Manager, Production Supervisor and Director of Quality and Research and Development. Assist in the development of training programs to close the identified gaps.
• MUST be able to fairly coach and discipline employees to enhance performance and correct performance related issues.
• Assist in the duties of a Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) which will include and is not limited to complete production record review as it is applicable to the food safety plan.
• Other tasks as assigned. May include assistance with inventory control, plant safety, etc.

Physical Requirements: We are active and on the move during the shift.

• May be on your feet a good portion of the shift.
• Must be able to lift up to 40 pounds
• Safety: This position takes place in a lab within the processing facility. GMP includes hair/beard nets and safety toe shoes.

Necessary Skills and Qualities:

• 2 years of previous quality experience in food manufacturing environment preferred.
• Ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written form.
• Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• The ability to listen, communicate and understand information and ideas presented.
• Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
• Job requires being open to change and to considerable variety in the workplace.

Job Location: 8310 W. Stormer Road Empire, MI 49630

Shoreline Fruit is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.