Food Safety & Quality Assurance Lead

Job Description

The QA Manager is responsible for planning, coordinating, and directing Quality Compliance staff and department to ensure compliance to third party audit requirements, federal & state regulations, customer requirements, and internal company policies & procedures. The QA Manager will achieve department goals by direct involvement, through management of subordinates, and collaboration with other departments.

• All employees have an obligation to report employee safety, food safety and food quality issues to the personnel of authority.
• This position has heightened food safety and food quality responsibilities.
• Responsible for food safety and quality.
• Manage the department and direct supervision of staffing; this includes but is not limited to hiring, training, evaluating performance, disciplining, wage review, and scheduling or directing the work.
• Mentor and develop staff to ensure they have the proper skills and knowledge to effectively perform the required duties and deliver the required results.
• Direct and manage your staff to ensure:
  Compliance with state and federal regulations, third party audit requirements (including but not limited to SQF & NSF) customer requirements, and internal quality programs. Prompt and complete follow up on corrective actions noted in audits.
• Food Safety/HACCP plan is managed, maintained, and improved as requirements and internal processes change. Food Safety/HACCP requirements are met on a continuous basis.
• Manage costs to budget requirements including O.T. and cost of materials.
• Ability to facilitate change through employee involvement for continuous improvement of lab functions gaining efficiency and enhancing our food safety systems.
• Pre-requisite programs (as defined in SQF) are effective and updated/improved as required. Programs are compliant with requirements and documentation is current.
• Onsite customer, regulatory, and 3rd party audits are managed properly; including prompt follow up and corrective action where necessary.
• SQF, Kosher, and Halal certifications are maintained for existing products and new products or ingredient introductions when applicable.
• Raw material and finished product specifications are accurate and properly maintained in our computer systems, including the development of specifications for new raw materials and new finished products.
• Food safety & GMP training provided to plant operation is effective.
• Pest control program is effective and managed properly.
• Environmental monitoring programs are effective in maintaining a sanitary condition within the plant, including prompt follow up on out of spec conditions and investigation of root cause/effective preventive action plans.
• Vendor approval program is effective, and risks are being identified/mitigated; ingredient and vendor documentation is up to date and filed.
• Follow AMPI change management program.
• Customer complaint program is being managed properly, including investigation, root cause analysis, corrective action, and timely written response back to customer.
• Stay current with changes to 3rd party audit expectations and regulatory agency requirements (SQF, FSMA, NSF, FDA, WDA).
• Provide technical support to customers when needed.
• Serve on Safety Committee, plant leadership team and other committees as needed.
• Implement, maintain, monitor, and manage quality assurance systems and policies, including internal and external quality audits.

• Job Type: Full Time
• Starting Salary: $65.5K/year - $85K/year USD.
• Overtime:
  Not available, this is a salaried exempt position.
• Workweek:
  Schedule assigned by the company based on company needs.
  
  - M-F, from 7:00 am – 4:00 pm.
• Shift: Will work days. May need to work early, late or on the weekends occasionally.
• Payment Days:
  Biweekly on Thursdays.
• Payment Type:
  Direct Deposit.

• Demonstrated proficiency in Windows, MS Office Suite including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, internet/intranet and other organizational specific software.
• Exceptional attention to detail, strong organizational and time management skills.
• Knowledge of procedural controls and data validation techniques required.
• Pr…