Quality Manager - Commercial

Scope of Job: The Quality Assurance Manager is responsible for the management, development, and continuous deployment of the quality strategy. This person is technically savvy with applied expertise in HACCP food safety, FDA/ USDA regulations, frozen foods production, thermal processing of Low Acid Canned Foods (LACF), principles of food science, flexible packaging, sanitation, quality assurance and quality control systems development and implementation. The QA manager must be a strong leader with such expertise that their recommendations and programs are beyond reproach. 

 The QA Manager provides technical expertise in the application of Lean/ Total Quality principles, processes, and tools to improve product and service quality and operational results. This position provides leadership and support to the food plant operations, aimed at producing quality products at a least cost. This activity includes quality systems development and maintenance, work instruction development, training, audits, project support, new product commissioning, and employee and organizational development. This position drives continual improvement in both quality systems and food safety and sanitation as measured by internal and external audits, and KPI goal achievement.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:

• Responsible for implementing and maintaining the effectiveness of the food safety and quality program, based on company, customer, legal, and regulatory requirements.
• Establishes and implements Quality Assurance policies and procedures for inspecting and controlling raw or packing materials, in-process and finished product to ensure that all products generated conform to predetermined standards and specifications.
• Manages human and physical resources to maximize efficiency and company investment. 
• Reviews performance of the processes and personnel against approved objectives, budgets, and plans, and takes necessary remedial actions.
• Monitors, audits, and approves facilities and manufacturing operations for conformance with established procedures and requirements.
• Ensures maintenance of required records and documents, including formula test results, inspections, file samples, vendor performance, product complaints, and product disposition.
• Interfaces directly with the FDA, USDA, as well as various state and local agencies to maintain plant/product certifications. 
• Supports New Business Development activities in introducing new products through the plant and test products for testing and data evaluation. Supports major plant project expansions and new products to assure proper technical input and regulatory requirements.
• Responsibility for laboratories which include chemical, biological, sterility and environmental testing.
• Collaborates with other functions to understand and troubleshoot product complaints and improve customer service/product performance.
• Identify and implement statistically driven quality programs (SPC) as well as to provide assistance in continuous improvement in all manufacturing areas. Coordinates or aids in problem evaluation and problem solving.
• Timely positive release of raw materials and finished product. 
• Provide leadership and operations with quality updates. 
• Establish action to address quality incidents and trends. 
• Maintain the quality systems by which BNA expectations, Customer requirements, regulatory compliance, and GFSI certification is achieved. 
• Manage quality and food safety incidents at the site level. 
• Oversee monitoring, verification, and validation activities to ensure that all products leave the facility meet the facility Food Safety and Quality Plans. 
• Works with Purchasing to assure that suppliers have appropriate quality systems and process controls to guarantee the delivery of usable inventories of the needed quality.
• Conducts performance reviews; develops growth plans; interprets, implements, and supports employee-related policies, procedures, and programs. Delegates projects/tasks to other staff, enabling employee growth and development. Assures compliance to all procedures and policies concerning all areas of quality, regulatory, safety and human resources.
• Collaborate with production and supporting departments to ensure the food safety and quality of our products. 
• Holds all duties and responsibilities in the absence of QA Supervisor.
• Other duties, as assigned.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in food science/food technologies or a related discipline required. 

Experience: 10 years of Quality Assurance experience, including at least 5 years in a Quality Management role, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. External audit experience with various customers and regulatory agencies. Regulatory (FDA and USDA) experience with demonstrated knowledge of current interpretations of quality management system requirement and current industry best practices. Prior experience in food processing with a manufacturing environment under HACCP, SQF or BRC requirements. 

Competencies: Batch Testing, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), Inspections, Kaban Methodology, Lean Methodology, Nondestructive Testing, Product QA, QA Management, Quality Assurance Process, Quality Audit, Quality Control Testing, Quality Improvement, Quality Management, Radiographic Testing, Total Quality Management (TQM), Quality Management Systems (QMS), Leadership Skills, Strong Technical written and communication Skills, Team Building, Detail Oriented, Driven for Results, Analytical Skills, Problem Solving Skills, Project Management, Planning and Decision-Making Skills, Integrity, and Operational Excellence.

Physical Requirements: Requires prolonged sitting and continuous use of computer. May lift, carry, push, or pull objects up to 10 lbs.