Quality Assurance Manager

The QA Manager will manage and drive product safety, quality and compliance programs and processes for Excelligence Learning Corp. and will be responsible for the following areas, duties, and roles.

This position reports directly to the Vice President for Quality Assurance and will be expected to work 100% on-site at our Headquarters located at Ryan Ranch office park in Monterey, CA.

Quality Standards and Safety Compliance

• New product development:
  Assist Product Development Department (PD) in evaluating NEW product samples from vendors; assist to resolve/address specific quality concerns. Assist in developing concise product specifications in conjunction with PD for new products. Coordinate on site vendor inspections by Excelligence and third-party inspection providers.
• Ensure the Company's general compliance with CPSC regulations, ASTM & other federal, state, & agency regulations regarding product safety and labeling requirements.
• Make determination when product defects affect safety, and lead action plans within the Company to rectify; consult external legal counsel as appropriate to ensure corrective actions are lawful, timely, and adequate.
• Medical Incidents:
  Work with VP to investigate, report and resolve any product issues that arise from incidents reported to the Quality Assurance Department. If required, manage the recall process, including messaging customers and periodic reporting to the CPSC.
• Maintain relationship with US and overseas testing labs, set testing priorities, obtain and negotiate lab testing quotes for cost; manage lab lead times and priorities.
• Utilize the QA database systems (STEP and elcQA) for maintaining and filing reports. Record product safety lab tests into database, generate Certificates of Compliance, maintain lab tests and certificates in controlled historical files.
• Develop and administer annual trainings for Product Development, Sourcing/Supply Chain team and Catalog design/copy writers regarding how their role intersects with compliance. Develop and maintain internal written product safety policies and procedures; monitor adherence to product safety procedures within the Company.
• Develop appropriate and responses to consumer product safety concerns communicated through Customer Service, Web, or Inside Sales; drive corrective actions to closure.
• Enforce process to obtain appropriate vendor certificates for non-proprietary products, evaluate them for completeness, as well as enforce process for renewed certificates for any material changes.
• Periodic vendor audits (on site) to ensure manufacturing processes and raw materials sourcing remains compliant to respective safety certifications.
• Manage appropriate testing of new "industrial" proprietary products during development process; direct PD to make changes to products that will improve compliance prospects.
• Audit internal practices for categorizing proprietary product and ensure correct tests are applied based on proper categories; assist PD in categorizing complex products, using CPSC guidance as necessary.
• Attend CPSC and other conferences/continuing education seminars & classes to network, maintain knowledge of changing regulations, as they pertain to Excelligence.
• Monitor on boarding of regulated consumer products requiring more than typical testing, with a particular focus on high-risk children's products.
• Develop annual budget for product testing and for response to product safety issues.
• Manage and maintain in house product safety equipment, such as XRF lead scanner; oversee training to certify users, manage equipment's service agreement, arrange for repairs/preventive maintenance, establish user procedures and conduct calibration tests on a regular basis.
• Vendor Quality Standards:
  Implement quality inspection procedures and reporting by vendors, in conjunction with Product Development, Sourcing and Purchasing. Define accept/reject tolerances and work with vendors to maintain acceptable quality levels. Maintain vendor quality statistics and report on performance. Make vendor recommendations based on quality performance. Coordinate external resources to conduct vendor audits and/or on-site product/manufacturing…