Quality Manager

Quality Manager

The Quality Manager is responsible for leading laboratory operations, overseeing fermentation performance and production quality, and managing all quality/food/feed certification and accreditation programs at the facility to ensure compliance and to facilitate continuous improvement. This role directs the day-to-day activities of the laboratory, including coordinating the transfer of all internal and third-party laboratories data. The position supports plant operations and final product quality through laboratory data, with the goal of maximizing production efficiency and final product quality while following procedures relating to production and safety of the plant.

The Quality Manager plays a key role in monitoring, troubleshooting, and optimizing the fermentation process.

This is an on-site role located in Alexandria, IN.

Responsibilities include:

• Effectively lead the team by recruiting, selecting, orienting and training team members. Leadership responsibilities also include delegating, coaching, managing performance and career development to effectively execute departmental strategies and support company objectives.
• Foster a culture of safe behavior and environmental compliance at all times.
• Maintain and advance the food safety and quality of POET's products and processes to deliver a best-in-class culture of quality.
• Manage all aspects of quality control and safety in the laboratory.
• Accountable for laboratory procedures being executed by trained team members who are proficient with instruments and methods to ensure accurate and timely data generation.
• Ensure team members are trained in all aspects of existing laboratory procedures, quality programming, and product quality compliance.
• Manage quality control on all final products and communicate to the appropriate management team when necessary.
• Ensure all site quality Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) are up to date and followed.
• Optimize ingredient usage and yield and maximize the efficiency of the fermentation process by reviewing and analyzing data.
• Monitor fermentation and provide data/reports to the management team to help troubleshoot and optimize the fermentation process.
• Work with operations and management on fermentation trials, special testing, and research requests.
• Manage all facility laboratory testing programs, which may include: general plant processes, CO2 systems, water management, environmental testing, final product testing, and third party evaluations.
• Assist in optimizing plant runtime as well as downtime by ensuring a quality end-product through support of laboratory operations and sample analyses.
• Ensure quality assurance elements are executed per POET expectations. These include, but are not limited to, training platforms, support of customer complaints and claims, document management, deviation and risk management, and laboratory equipment calibration requirements.
• Ensure all city, county, state, and federal regulations are met as they apply to POET's Quality Systems.
• Participate in internal and external audits with compliance partners, and both state and federal agencies.
• Monitor cost control for the laboratory department and support chemical management and logistics.
• Present capital request justifications to management.
• Communicate production and laboratory performance results to the plant team and POET Bioprocessing Leadership.
• Ensure ongoing compliance to the POET's Bioethanol Quality Program.
• Ensure participation in all Laboratory Proficiency Testing Programs.
• Ensure ongoing certification to relevant food safety schemes, such as Safe Feed/Safe Food (SF/SF), Safe Quality Food (SQF), or the Food Safety System Certification (FSSC).
• Ensure ongoing compliance to the POET Corn Kernel Fiber Pathway submissions for Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) and EPA-defined programs.
• Since we're all about teamwork and getting the job done, your skills may be put to a lot of other uses!

Qualifications and skills:

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Biology or related science required.
• 3 years of experience in lab operations with a strong background in lab quality control and standard lab practices required.
• Experie…