Quality Assurance Manager

VP of HR @ Caruso USA | Driving HR Excellence

Caruso is a family owned, 4th generation company that delivers fresh ready-to-eat, and pre-cut produce, sandwiches, salads, and fresh meal kits to retail distribution centers and direct-to-retail stores all over the USA and we are growing!

We are looking for an experienced FSQA Manager to work Monday-Friday with occasional weekend work.

Job Summary:

The FSQA Manager will oversee all aspects of food safety and quality assurance in our facility. This role involves ensuring compliance with federal regulations, developing quality control processes, and leading a team to uphold the highest standards of food safety and quality. The This role has the overall accountability of ensuring the food safety system is properly written, validated, documented, and implemented as directed to ensure regulatory and the production of safe, legal, quality products.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Hires and trains quality assurance staff.
• Oversees the daily workflow and schedules of the department.
• Conducts performance evaluations that are timely and constructive.
• Handles corrective action and termination of employees in accordance with company policy.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Ensure compliance with USDA, FDA, and other regulatory standards.
• Stay updated on food safety regulations and industry best practices.
• Develops and implements HACCP, Preventive Controls (MA) and Quality Assurance System following industry best practices and conforming to a company selected GFSI standard.
• Verify and maintain compliance with USDA, FDA and other applicable federal, state, local, and organizational laws, regulations, guidelines, and policies.
• Lead QA and Sanitation teams. Develops, tracks, and reports department KPIs.
• Develops and implements process and procedures to monitor incoming raw materials, in-process, and finished products to ensure compliance to all regulatory, customer, and company requirements and specifications.
• Develops, implements, and manages procedures and policies to ensure food safety compliance.
• Oversee food safety and quality programs implementation and effectiveness including Cleaning and Sanitation, Environmental Monitoring, Pest Management, Equipment Calibration, Equipment Commissioning, and Internal Audit.
• Participates in all audits to include leading the audits.
• Facilitate compliance with and completion of third-party audits, identity preserved inspection and corresponding corrective action implementation.
• Manage internal, customer and consumer quality and food safety complaints including trending, reporting and corrective actions.
• Provide backup for quality team supervision. Including Hold Product, Product Testing, Material and Ingredient Quality, Pest Control and Scheduling
• Support training activities throughout the organization towards food safety and quality compliance.
• Develops, implements, and manages processes to ensure that products meet required specifications for quality, function, and reliability prior to delivery.
• Identifies and sets appropriate quality standards and parameters for products.
• Communicates quality standards and parameters to QA team, product development team, and other appropriate staff.
• Coordinates and participates in product testing processes.
• Identifies and analyzes food safety and quality issues and participates in the process for solutions.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong supervisory and leadership skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, Food Sciences, Biology, Chemistry and/ or related field or equivalent experience required.
• Certified Preventative Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) preferred.
• Two to five years of experience in a related field required with supervisory experience preferred.
• Experience with SQF and/ BRC audits and requirements.

Physical Requirements and working conditions:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds at times.
• Must be able to quickly traverse manufacturing areas.
• This position requires an employee to work within a cold, temperature-controlled environment for long periods of time.
• This position requires the ability to stand, sit at a desk, and walk around the office and plant.
• This position requires a transient schedule, with the possibility of night, weekend, holiday work and overtime necessary to meet the needs of production coverage.

• Mid-Senior level

• Full-time

• Quality Assurance, Management, and Manufacturing
• Food and Beverage Manufacturing