Quality & Food Safety Manager

Position Summary

Under the direction of the Plant Manager, QA Manager monitors food safety and quality of all products produced and oversees Quality Assurance and Quality Control functions at the Fernley facility.
Performs inspection of processes, conducts employee training, ensures compliance with applicable food laws and regulations.
Defines best lab practices and provides guidance and adherence to quality policies.

• Ensure full compliance of all products from the plant and warehouse as per the Food Safety Plan, Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) food safety regulations and maintain the highest level of food safety.
• Ensure that facilities follow all Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), HACCP, and Global Food Safety Initiatives (GFSI) guidelines including developing a Food Safety Culture.
• Lead root cause analysis and develop corrective actions for customer complaints and implement the corrective actions working with all the relevant functional teams.
• Lead and execute training programs for Food Safety & Quality (FSQ) team and frontline workforce with emphasis on continuous improvement and measure effectiveness of training programs.
• Lead and participate in GMP, Food Safety, and Quality Management System audits and monitor corrective actions to deficient findings for completion and effectiveness, providing gap closure assistance to the manufacturing facilities.
• Responsible and accountable for Product Hold & Disposition based on Quality Inspection results and data analysis and based on risk assessment and business value analysis. Implement appropriate Corrective Action and Preventative Action (CAPA) as needed.
• Lead and participate in HACCP and Food Safety team for product designs, manufacturing processes, Food Safety plans, environmental monitoring and pest control programs, finished product microbiological testing programs, allergen program, and sanitation programs.
• Validate and assure compliance with established food safety and quality objectives through daily monitoring programs, team supervision, and on‑going verification of internal and external laboratory.
• Manage employee work schedules & disciplinary program.
• Supports plant leadership through inspection of all processes and plant audits (BRC, organic, Kosher, Halal, customer specific, etc.).
• Maintains quality documentation of product hold, traceability.
• Conducts food safety training of all employees in conjunction with safety and annual orientation with regard to Food Safety, Sanitation, HACCP and related quality assignments.
• Ensure adherence to procedures for product recall/traceability.
• Maintain an effective hold program to contain any critically deficient product.
• Coordinate/Conduct Food Safety/GMP/Internal Audits to assure any quality or safety issues are addressed with proper corrective action.
• Maintain and audit the facility’s Food Safety Plan.
• Monitor effectiveness and responsiveness of the pest control program.
• Monitor and assure that the testing of product is carried out in a timely and efficient manner for a 24/7 processing plant operation.
• Assure timely investigation and response to customer complaints, issues and concerns.
• Monitor and report out on quality trends on a daily basis; report Right First Time Quality metrics weekly.
• Maintain the integrity and calibration of all Quality Control Laboratory test equipment.
• Management of 12 Hourly Employees.
• Schedules, directs and provides guidance to quality department direct reports.

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry or related fields, or equivalent.
• 3-5 years' experience minimum in Food Industry with managerial experience in plant setting preferred.
• PCQI certification required.
• Experience with GFSI guidelines required, BRC experience preferred.
• Thorough knowledge of laboratory activities to include microbiological testing and analytical testing to include moisture, color, physical attributes.
• Computer knowledge to include Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, Outlook and SAP or equivalent.
• Knowledge of laboratory equipment operation.
• Proven ability to effectively manage and train multi‑departmental teams.
• Ability to work well under pressure with…