Purpose of the Position

This position is responsible for developing, managing, and executing all quality, food safety, and regulatory programs, systems, and facilities at North Freeze Dry located in Little Falls, MN. Additionally, this position is responsible for development and management of the quality assurance team. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated history of establishing, managing and continuously improving plant food safety, quality, and regulatory systems to ensure compliance to produce premium pet food. This position reports to the North Freeze Dry General Manager / Director of QA.

Responsibilities & Essential Functions

• Establish all facility food safety and quality objectives in conjunction with the General Manager.
• Manage the food safety and quality systems to meet the requirements of the SQF Food Safety Code for manufacturing.
• Manage the Food Safety Plan to ensure compliance with FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
• Create standard operating procedures (SOPs), food safety policies, procedures, and schedules. Ensure said procedures are implemented, maintained, and continuously improved.
• Create environmental monitoring and sampling/microbiological testing of finished product programs. Ensure said programs are implemented, maintained, and continuously improved.
• Coordinate process controls, product inspection and analytical testing of raw materials, in-process materials, and finished products.
• Manage and coordinate food safety audits and inspections.
• Manage customer communication and corrective actions surrounding customer complaints.
• Create and manage plant KPIs for all food safety and quality metrics.
• Manage export programs and associated documentation for the facility and the products.
• Build out and supervise a quality team at the facility.
• Develop and implement inspection, sampling, testing, and monitoring programs to assure all products are manufactured to meet customer specifications.
• Manage customer document requests and other quality related documentation.
• Drive quality project management as it relates to corrective action, non-conformances, process improvements, and customer compliance.
• Proactively identify opportunities to increase operational efficiencies and communication.
• Maintain compliance with all applicable domestic and international quality standards – internal, customer, certification body, regulatory.
• Develop and implement food safety and quality training program to instill a food safe production culture.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen the food safety culture across the organization.
• Act as the SQF Practitioner.
• Serves as the Preventative Control Qualified Individual (PCQI).
• Serve as a key point of contact for quality related questions as they arise.
• Up to 10% travel.

Other

• Execute the North Freeze Dry Vision, Mission, and Values (VMV’s) at all times.
• Promote a positive, proactive environment where input from team members is valued and encouraged.
• Provide back-up support for other roles, as necessary.
• Other duties as assigned by the manager/supervisor.

QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field.
• Seven years of experience managing a comprehensive quality program at a food manufacturing facility, including five years of supervisory responsibility.
• Experience with meat processing or Pet Food Industry preferred.
• Experience in auditing, inspections, and quality assurance.
• Technical knowledge of food safety and quality systems.
• Self-motivated with meticulous attention to detail and accuracy in work product.
• Demonstrated problem solving experience.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office products including Outlook, Excel and Word.
• Ability to see the big picture while focusing on the process and procedures necessary to produce deliverables.
• Ability to establish and meet deadlines.
• Flexibility and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a team player.
• Ability to adapt and accommodate change.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

The work environment characteristics and physical demands described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This job operates within a professional office and plant manufacturing environment. While performing the duties of this job inside the office, the employee is frequently exposed to normal working conditions for an office environment with a noise level that is usually quiet to moderate. While performing duties of this job inside and outside the manufacturing plant, the employee is frequently exposed to normal working conditions of a food manufacturing facility with a noise level that is usually moderate to loud. The role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers and filing cabinets, as well as laboratory instrumentation and equipment.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee may be required to stand for long periods of time as well as use hands or fingers to reach or handle, and to reach with hands and arms. The employee is regularly required to stand, walk, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee will occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. All vision abilities are required to encompass close-up work. On occasion, employee must be able to tolerate and endure extended seasonal hours and maintain alertness to meet deadlines.

Occasionally while performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to machinery and moving parts, airborne particles including grain dust and hazardous materials or fumes, which may require the use of PPE. The employee may be exposed to adverse weather conditions, extended seasonal hours, high precarious places, and confined spaces.The noise level in some of the work environments may require the use of hearing protection.

About the Company

North Freeze Dry, LLC headquartered in Fargo, ND, is a U.S.-based co-manufacturer that produces freeze-dried companion animal food and treats. The Company’s freeze-drying facility in Little Falls, MN is one of the industry’s largest and most fully integrated freeze-drying co-manufacturing facilities. North Freeze Dry, LLC is a joint venture between Anchor Ingredients Co., LLC, a leading supplier of premium ingredients for the food and pet food industries, and Barrett Petfood Innovations, a rapidly expanding co-manufacturer of premium pet foods.

Disclaimer

This job description is not a complete description of responsibility, but reflects the general qualifications, duties and/or responsibilities necessary to perform this position. All candidates who receive a written offer of employment will be required to successfully pass a background check. North Freeze Dry reserves the right to revise the job description as circumstances warrant. North Freeze Dry is an at-will employer, which means that either the employee or the company may terminate the relationship at any time, with or without notice, and with or without cause. We are an equal opportunity employer.