What are the responsibilities and job description for the Quality Assurance position at Specialty Cheese Company, Inc.?
Quality Assurance Manager Role
We are seeking an experienced and dedicated Quality Assurance Manager to lead and oversee the Quality Assurance, Quality Compliance, Quality Control, and Continuous Improvement efforts at our specialty cheese manufacturing facility.
The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring the highest standards of product quality, safety, and compliance across all aspects of our production processes. This role requires expert knowledge in quality management systems, strong leadership skills, and the ability to drive continuous improvement initiatives while adhering to industry regulations.
Key Responsibilities:
- Revises and updates quality assurance procedures to ensure consistency and compliance with industry standards.
- Investigates and responds to customer complaints, ensuring issues are addressed in a timely and efficient manner.
- Oversees lab reporting (both on-site and off-site) and ensures accurate data is reported for quality assessments.
- Ensures adherence to the company's Hold & Release policy, including coordination with the necessary departments to prevent the release of non-compliant products.
Quality Compliance:
- Ensures compliance with the Safe Quality Food (SQF) program and other regulatory requirements.
- Maintains accurate databases and records for quality assurance and compliance purposes.
- Oversees and manages the implementation and ongoing adherence to Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) guidelines.
- Monitors regulatory compliance and makes necessary adjustments to meet industry standards and requirements.
- Maintains customer information documents including current product specifications, COAs, COCs, etc.
- Maintains supplier approval program documents for ingredients and materials for all existing and new items.
Quality Control:
- Conducts on-floor audits and swabbing to monitor product quality and cleanliness during production.
- Provides coaching and guidance to team members to ensure best practices and compliance with quality standards.
- Reports recurring quality issues to senior management and implements solutions for consistent improvements.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, Quality Management, or a related field.
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in quality assurance and compliance, with a focus on the dairy or food manufacturing industry.
- In-depth knowledge of quality management systems, HACCP, SQF standards, food safety regulations, and quality control processes within the dairy or food industry.
- Proficiency in quality management software and database maintenance.
- Strong analytical skills to conduct root cause analysis and process improvement initiatives.
