Sr Quality Assurance Manager

About the Team:

Our Merchandise Planning and Allocation (MP&A) teams are the driving forces behind making the organization’s product visions available to our consumers through calculated and strategic measures. Your involvement in sales and margin forecasts, promotional performance analysis, inventory management, and vendor relationships will play a critical role in obtaining goals while maintaining PetSmart’s reputation in the market as a trusted partner to pet parents.

We are the Product Quality Department. We ensure that PetSmart products are safe, compliant and perform well for our customers and their pets. We do this by building and managing product standards, fostering a healthy supplier quality management program, and driving product & process improvements.

About the Location:

Hybrid Position:

This position may be considered Hybrid based on PetSmart’s FlexSmart policy and business needs. A Hybrid work arrangement is considered to be a blend of onsite and remote work activity. Associates with a Hybrid work arrangement have a work space at Phoenix Home Office and can be required to come onsite between 1-5 days a week as determined by leadership and based on business needs.

About the Job:

The Senior Quality Assurance Manager will build and maintain product specifications and formulations to ensure they meet FDA (FSMA) and AAFCO regulatory requirements.

Partner with Product Development (PD), Brand Management and Sourcing teams to identify product expectations and support them by building out the right critical to quality standards.

Regularly meet with the PD team to discuss new or changing products and offer insights that focus on mitigating food safety risks and ways to achieve desired product attributes.

Provide quality readiness level and risk for new product launches

Assess new vendors have the right technical and process capabilities and manage performance of existing suppliers.

Perform gap audits on vendor manufacturing facilities based on risk assessment.

Perform root cause analysis and CAPA for trending quality issues.

Review product packaging claims and substantiation with PD and Legal.

Track, report and elevate trending significant product issues.

Coordinate Consumables product removals, reworks and recalls.

Essential Functions:

Support Product Quality Development: Product Review, CTQ Standards, Product Formulations, Product Specifications, Claim Substantiation, Sample Evaluation, New Product Start-ups, and Food Safety risk assessments, etc.

Support Supplier Quality Management: Supplier Capability Assessments, FSMA Compliance, Pre-Selection approvals (GFSI compliance), Foreign Supplier Verification Program, GAP assessments of production facilities based on risk assessment.

Support Product Quality Improvement: Track and Escalate Significant Product Issues, Coordinate Product Withdrawals/Recalls, Identify and Implement new CTQ Standard Opportunities.

Maintain effective work relationships by partnering with PD, Brand, Sourcing and Merchandising, to help ensure a high quality and safe product is delivered within cost and on time.

Act as a technical resource to cross-functional partners regarding appropriate regulatory, food safety and production processes for specific product categories.

Provide support and coach junior QA associates.

Experience Requirements:

Minimum 8 years in a manufacturing, product development or quality role for food products.

Bachelors Degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Microbiology, Animal Science or related field

Working knowledge of FDA and AAFCO regulations, GFSI Schemes (SQF, BRC etc)

Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) training required.

Familiar with various manufacturing processes and product categories

Key project management and reporting

Knowledge and Skills:

Self-motivated, passionate, approachable

Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple projects at once.

Strong analytical skills.

Strong troubleshooting skills

Ability to work cross-functionally & influence peer group.

Sense of urgency

Strong computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite

About the Culture:

At PetSmart, we work hard to create a culture where and we celebrate the unique stories, backgrounds, and experiences our associates share. These experiences not only bring new perspectives in shaping our Belonging culture but they’re core to PetSmart’s success.

Not sure if you meet 100% of the position requirements and whether you should apply? We’d still like to hear from you and encourage you to apply with us! You just may be the ideal candidate for this role, and if not this one, perhaps another position.

Our home office offers outstanding amenities in a fun and rewarding workplace including:

Pet friendly environment, bring your pets to work!

On-site Dog Park

“Top Dog” gym with equipment, fitness classes, massage therapists and personal trainers

“Sit & Stay” Café serving fresh breakfast and lunch options

On-site coffee bar

“Lil’ Paws” learning center and onsite daycare facility (associate paid)

Volunteer events with PetSmart Charities

Learn more about #LifeAtPetSmart here:

Check out Associate stories and share in some celebrations at PetSmart:

Explore PetSmart Benefits here:

If you don't already live in the Phoenix area here's a guide to the area:

PetSmart provides an equal opportunity for all associates and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other legally protected characteristics.

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