Quality Assurance Manager

Job Description

Salary: DOE

The Quality Assurance Manager establishes, directs, and maintains effective quality and food safety systems and programs within the Plain City, OH manufacturing site through cooperation with corporate quality and food safety team. This position is directly accountable for monitoring the existing quality programs and driving continuous improvement to assure sites are compliant to regulatory requirements and customer expectations.

Key Responsibilities:

The Quality Assurance Manager is responsible for the site quality programs including quality assurance, quality control, compliance, incoming material acceptance, policies and procedures, document control, records management, finished product testing and release, CAPA, auditing, management review, food safety monitoring, quality training, and continuous improvement through data analysis and tracking/trending. The Company may, from time to time, change the nature of the employees job responsibilities.

Duties and Day-to-Day Responsibilities, but not limited to the following:

Play a key role in communication with and support for corporate quality and food safety programs and contribute to the continuous improvement of these programs.

Ensure site adherence to applicable food safety laws, regulations, company policies, and practices; Oversee the implementation of Good Manufacturing Practices and associated FSMA programs to ensure product safety and quality.

Concert with other internal facilities QA departments and cooperate with the R&D department to ensure overall compliance to applicable regulations and customer requirements.

Ensure the development, compliance, and certification of HACCP and other food safety programs at the manufacturing site.

Lead, manage, and develop a highly trained quality assurance staff to meet current and future quality requirements.

Ensure timely escalation to management of critical quality issues.

Ensure compliance and record keeping for all mandated quality checks, testing, sampling, and sanitation activities.

Confirm product testing is completed promptly and accurately to ensure only the highest quality products are shipped to the customer; Control and update procedures, including quality procedures, standard operating procedures, and work instructions; Ensure that procedures are accurate and staff has been trained on procedures.

Develop and manage necessary quality training programs and administer the quality training to site employees.

Prepare for and participate in customer and regulatory audits at the site to ensure superior audit scores and compliance with all regulatory and customer requirements; Review and document completion of any corrective actions and provide follow up with customers and regulatory agencies.

Develop and manage the site internal quality auditing program.

Manage troubleshooting efforts and investigations to determine root cause when personnel or process deviations or failures occur and subsequently, identify and implement necessary corrective actions to prevent recurrence; Provide full documentation of investigations and corrective actions implemented.

Oversee and investigate all site customer returns and complaints to ensure accurate determination of root cause and implementation of any necessary corrective actions.

Develop and monitor the site environmental monitoring program to assure manufacture of the highest quality products.

Oversee the site Kosher program and procedures and maintain Kosher status on required products.

Oversee the site allergen program and procedures and assure allergens are properly controlled to prevent cross contamination.

Oversee site QC lab; Review and authorize Certificates of Analysis and ensure the lab is complaint to GLP.

Ensure the development, reporting, and achievement of quality metrics to drive continuous improvement in site quality programs; Provide site management an accurate view of site performance through reports, meetings and presentations.

Use continuous improvement methodologies and projects to improve and streamline quality processes.

Coordinate with groups on new commercialized products so that quality and customer issues can be resolved, ensuring a successful product launch.

Manage the department quality budgets and spending.

Receive orders, review order details, enter into order system, and assign appropriate dates for new orders.

Analyze production specifications and plant capacity data; Perform mathematical calculations to complete orders.

Draw up the master schedule to establish sequence and lead-time of each operation in order to meet shipping dates.

Expedite operations that delay schedules and alter schedules to meet unforeseen conditions.

Initiate purchase orders for raw materials needed either to maintain stock levels or secure appropriate quantities for production; Work with the purchasing manager and/or suppliers to increase or decrease purchase orders when needed.

Track raw materials and ensure they are delivered within the time frame that they are needed by production; Participate in meetings with other facilities to review pending material shipments and secure exact delivery dates.

Keep in constant contact with customer service regarding customer issues, due dates, and any other related issues which impact customer delivery schedules.

Assist customers with any questions or concerns they may have regarding their orders.

Inform production and batching of upcoming order dates to coordinate staffing and scheduling.

Assist with post operational checks and plant shutdowns as needed.

Conduct full plant inventory of raw materials and finished goods to verify materials and quantities; Arrange for cycle counts based on need from Accounting.

Delegate assignments to Batchers and ensure that they are prepared accurately and provided on time for the rooms to produce.

Occasionally operate a forklift to move raw material skids within the facility.

Provide supervisory support to Batchers and the Production Dispatcher regarding training, attendance, evaluations, and time off requests.

Minimum Training, Education, and Experience Requirements:

Education level:Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry, microbiology, food science, or health science; or five to ten years related experience and/or training with two to five years experience in a food manufacturing environment

Experience Necessary:Leading, developing, and coaching exempt and non-exempt employees, interacting with regulatory agencies strongly preferred

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:Knowledge of FDA and non-US quality regulations, guidelines, and standards is essential; Should understand aspects of quality testing and standards within the food industry including analytical, microbiological, and sensory; Should have strong computer skills including proficiency with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and business management software

Key Metrics:

The Quality Manager is held accountable to the following metrics (not all inclusive) as they relate to the operational area assigned:

Customer complaints

Pest control

ATP swab percentage

Environmental monitoring trending

First time pass

Internal audit performance

Audit Findings

Overdue corrective actions

Competencies:

Know the Business Envision the future by using global marketplace, technology, and business knowledge; Possess and leverage broad industry knowledge; Analyze trends/issues that affect the business; Identify and act upon cross-organization and cross-business opportunities.

Set Vision and Strategy Be goal-oriented, articulate a vision of the future and communicate a consistent message of that vision to employees; Translate the business vision and strategy into actionable work plans and goals; Consider the organizations mission, strategy, strengths, and weaknesses when making decisions and align individual strategy with organizational strategy.

Drive for Results Give attention to detail and have the ability to multitask; Encourage employees who are innovative, coach others to guide their development, hold others accountable for delivering on their goals, and recognize, reward, and promote people based on their performance, results, and development.

Make Difficult Decisions Have the ability to make performance-based decisions, whether related to people, projects, or businesses, balance and/or reallocate limited resources as conditions change, quickly acknowledges crisis situations and take timely corrective action, and make midcourse corrections as business need dictates.

Build the Organization and Inspire People Be team-oriented by building effective teams whose members have complementary strengths, building team spirit, and motivating your teams; Support and encourage an ethical and entrepreneurial environment, modeling calculated risk taking; Serve as a role model for others by maintaining high energy and a positive attitude in challenging situations.

Encourage an Open Environment and Knowledge Sharing Have positive interactions with other professionals without being critical, provide accurate feedback to subordinates and peers, whether positive or negative, openly share relevant information, and encourage the expression of different points of view.

Be Dependable Be willing to commit to additional hours and/or days of work, possibly in different departments, when necessary to reach goals.

Work Environment and Physical Demands:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job:

Office, laboratory, and manufacturing environments

Moderate noise

Exposure to airborne particles

Long periods of sitting, standing, and walking

Lifting 20 lbs at maximum and carrying 10 lbs at maximum

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

401(k)

401(k) matching

Dental insurance

Employee assistance program

Health insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Vision insurance

Schedule:

8 hour shift

Ability to commute/relocate:

Plain City, OH 43064: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Experience:

Quality management: 5 years (Required) - food manufacturing experience

Full-time