Quality Engineer

SunOpta Overview

SunOpta (Nasdaq:STKL) (TSX:SOY) is an innovative and sustainable manufacturer fueling the future of food. With roots tracing back over 50 years, SunOpta drives growth for today’s leading brands by serving as a trusted innovation partner and value-added manufacturer, crafting organic, plant-based beverages, fruit snacks, nutritional beverages, broths and tea products sold through retail, club, foodservice and e-commerce channels. Alongside the company’s commitment to top brands, retailers and coffee shops, SunOpta also proudly produces its own brands, including SOWN®, Dream®, and West Life™. For more information, visit SunOpta and LinkedIn.

SunOpta is looking for talented individuals that demonstrate our most valued behaviors: Passion, Dedication, Speed, Entrepreneurship, Customer-Centricity, and Problem-Solver, to help create a brighter, healthier, and sustainable future of food!

Job Summary

This position is responsible for developing and managing product integration, productivity, and engagement in continuous improvement (CI) of the FSQ systems. The role is designed to proactively prevent internal failures; develop initiatives to improve plant performance against SunOpta FSQ measures resulting in reduced product holds and customer complaints; and ensure plant compliance with company and regulatory standards.

Successful candidate must be able to communicate well with internal and external partners, e.g., Tetra Pak, IEH laboratories, Corporate R&D, Plant Operations and SunOpta’s Thermal Process Authority.

Essential Functions Of The Job

• Demonstrate integrity, respect, teamwork, and equity in all aspects of the job including dealing with employees and customers, ensure the plant is running to target, and that all product and equipment critical factors baselines are defined.
• Provide technical expertise to all departments in the areas of continuous process improvement, statistical process control, regulatory compliance, and process/product specification development.
• Lead and support CIP and Allergen validation work on various pieces of equipment. Responsible for reviewing CIP performance and providing recommendations to optimize while ensuring proper cleans.
• Provide subject matter expertise for FSQ throughout the product development lifecycle and commercialization process by collaborating with R&D, Operations, and Engineering to ensure successful commercialization and turnover of new products in addition to existing product and process changes.
• Lead execution of R&D concepts/design through successful plant start-up:
• For new products, lead the Post Launch Review (PLR) process to reconcile manufacturing capability against design.
• For existing/legacy products, SPC reviews to reconcile manufacturing capability against design and work with Corporate FSQ and Customer to execute required specifications or product changes.
• For equipment, this refers to the completion of proper change management protocol in Intelex.
• Request/support specification deviation approvals (ingredient, packaging, & finished product) as needed.
• Support Installation Qualification (IQ) / Operational Qualification (OQ) / Product Qualification (PQ) activities onsite.
• Identify, champion, and lead to execution plant network-wide CI initiatives and projects including, but not limited to:
• Cost savings/productivity (ex. weight control).
• Run efficiencies (ex. extended runs, CIP/sanitation optimization).
• Improved design for food safety/quality (ex. bulk oil delivery vs. pre-weigh).
• Implementation, execution, and maintenance of RedZone Compliance module.
• Understanding sources of variation and applying appropriate tools for evaluating process inputs, experimental design, evaluation, and deployment of optimized production standards.
• Design and implementation of adequate tests and procedures to provide statistically significant controls for the safe manufacture of products.
• Leading and facilitating Root Cause Investigation events using a systematic approach.
• Manages customers and products together with plant leadership, FSQ, and R&D.
• Acts as the plant liaison for production trials (on-site Plant Trial Coordinator) .
• Batch sheet development and product integration into the plant portfolio of products.
• Second level review of batch sheets for new items.
• First level modification and review of changes to existing batch sheets.
• Other duties and special projects, as assigned.
  
  

Supervisory Responsibilities

• None to start, potential depending on development path of candidate.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• BS/MS in Food Science/Microbiology/Engineering required and/or extensive quality and product specific experience with a technical degree.
• Experience developing quality and food safety systems needed to manage low acid aseptic processing systems and compositionally stable products.
• 3-5years of experience in a food manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of Continuous Improvement Practices, willingness to obtain green and black belts.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual in Spanish.
  
  

Knowledge And Skills

• Must exhibit strong communication skills (verbal, written, presentation). This role is key in informing the business team of the current state of FSQ on new and established businesses while also ensuring the business team is informed, and has the necessary information, to make risk-based business decisions.
• Must possess a strong working knowledge of food safety, SQF, HACCP, GMP’s, FSMA requirements, sanitary design and controls, food regulations, statistical process control and basic food technology.
• Ability to create momentum, influence cross-functional teams, and foster organizational change.
  
  

Featured Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Paid Family leave
• Paid maternity leave
• 401(k) with Match
• Voluntary Life, Accident, Critical Illness and Hospital indemnity
• Paid Holidays
• Tuition assistance
• Short-term and Long-term Disability insurance
  
  

Additional Considerations

• Travel Expectation: Up to 10%; Emergency travel is sometimes required with little notice.
• Location: This role will be based at the SunOpta Alexandria, MN facility. There are two facilities in the area, potential for projects at both.
• Work Environment: Approximately 50% of work is performed in an office/laboratory environment; 50% of work involves being in manufacturing / production environment.
  
  

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

EOE M/W/VET/DISABLED