Quality Manager

Vita Food Products, Inc.

Job Title:
Quality Manager

Department: Quality

Reports to: Senior Quality Assurance Manager

Supervises: Quality Technicians

FLSA: Exempt

Job Summary:

The general purpose of this position is to ensure that the quality and safety of products meet company, customer, and regulatory standards and requirements.

• Develops, implements, and maintains Quality Management Systems and HACCP Programs and oversight.
• Lead company’s effort to maintain BRC certification. Has the authority to take appropriate action to ensure the integrity of the BRC system.
• Prepares organization for FDA, military, and third-party audits and maintains inspection reports and records.
• Acts as backup to the Senior Quality Assurance Manager for all 3rd party audits or governmental inspections.
• Leads the development and implementation of Food Safety Fundamentals and Food Safety Plan as outlined in the BRC system.
• Selects and trains quality team members. Responsible for ensuring adequate staffing for quality functions.
• Provides direct leadership to the QA technicians and establishes goals for individual team members
• Supervises, trains, and evaluates performance of quality technicians. This includes daily testing of raw materials, in-process, and finished products to ensure that company, customer, kosher, and regulatory requirements are met. Maintains appropriate inventory of all QA lab supplies
• Maintains and manages the quality lab SOPs.
• Manages the Environmental Monitoring Program and performs trend analysis; develops and initiates corrective actions for out of specification environmental monitoring results
• Manages the Sanitation Program:
• Conducts meetings as necessary with the 3rd party sanitation company to review results or address concerns and identify opportunities for improvement
• Monitors overall plant production sanitation to ensure that personnel follow requirements and guidelines set forth by the FDA, military, state, and local health department.
• Acts as main liaison between Vita and its 3rd party sanitation company
• Is the primary contact between Vita and its sanitation chemical supplier
• Coordinates with the sanitation chemical supplier to provide training to Vita and outside sanitation staff in relevant topics
• Reviews and approves SSOPs.
• Investigates consumer complaints and internal findings.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
• Provide technical expertise on nutritional facts panels, label claims and ingredients statements.
• Supports the implementation and maintenance of the Gluten Free Certification program and acts as secondary contact for GFCO.
• Supports the implementation and maintenance of MSC/ASC requirements and acts as secondary contact for all Chain of Custody information requests from the certified auditing body.
• Performs reviews of documented policies and programs with authority to edit as needed to reflect current operations, comply with BRC, 3rd Party Certifying Bodies and customer requirements.
• Maintains the Hold and Release Program
• Review finished good laboratory analysis for product release
• Determine disposition of product that is out of specification
• Manage the company’s documents
• Maintain the company’s document register
• Conduct daily HACCP document review. Maintains compliance and handles all non-compliance and deviations.
• Record process deviations and work with department heads to determine root cause and corrective actions.
• Review new documents for compliance and assign document numbers to all new documents used on the production floor by various departments
• Performs other duties as required.

Frequent interaction with plant, production, distribution & maintenance managers, QC QA Technicians, and line workers. Regular outside contact with vendors.

Position Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science or related technical field or a combination of education and extensive industry experience is preferred.
• A minimum of 3 years leadership experience in Quality Assurance in a food manufacturing environment (preferred).
• HACCP certification
• PCQI certification
• Extensive knowledge of GFSI, BRC and regulatory requirements
• Previous experience with 3rd party audits
• Proficient in the Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook, Power Point)
• Sound instrumentation and mathematical skills for performance of laboratory tests.
• Significant knowledge of the food industry, and regulatory requirements in food manufacturing.

Join our vibrant team at Vita Food Products, where your skills can make a difference.

We are seeking passionate individuals who excel in a dynamic environment.

Your journey towards a rewarding career starts here.

Fill out the form and let us know how you can contribute:

Vita Food Products
2222 West Lake Street
Chicago, IL 60612