Director of Quality

•    Are you passionate about food safety and quality?

•    Do you love to develop and lead people?

•    Are you able to bring clarity and calm to complex problems or situations?

•    Are you an excellent communicator who honors people AND the quality process?

East West Tea is seeking a talented, passionate, and experienced Director of Quality to lead our Quality team. This role will provide strategic direction, support and oversee quality management systems throughout the organization and ensuring programs are compliant for dietary supplement manufacturing and distribution.   

Role Summary

The Director of Quality is responsible for the effective management of Yogi’s Quality Programs. This role encompasses hands-on responsibilities in governing the elements of product quality assurance and control; dietary supplements compliance (21CFR Part 111); and food regulations compliance (21CFR Part 110 and 117).  This position will provide leadership for the development, implementation, communication, and maintenance of Quality Management Systems, policies and procedures in accordance with US FDA regulations, Global Food Safety Initiatives, and industry best practices. 

WHO WE ARE:

We exist to inspire and enhance everyday life. We are here to be the best global well-being company by creating meaningful products and experiences that serve all people around the globe as often as we can.  Our guiding principles, beliefs, and philosophies shape our identity. They are the essence of our culture and define how we do what we do.

We inspire, enable and empower our partners, team members, customers, and consumers to not just follow, but to become leaders in partnership with us in service of leaving the world better off because we are in it together.

OUR INVESTMENT IN YOU:

•    We offer competitive compensation, including a generous annual bonus.  

•    We have exceptional wellbeing-focused benefits including health, dental, vision and alternative care, life and disability insurance, retirement, paid time off, company picnics, social activities, and a surprise every so often!  Who doesn’t love a surprise? 

•    This position is located in Eugene, Oregon 

•    As a certified B Corp, we’re a company that lives our values every day.

•    We work in a LEED certified facility which prioritizes the planet in our daily operations and optimizes our employee experience while at work. 

•    We prioritize sustainability as a business by embedding it into our values, our strategic priorities, our decision-making, and our resource allocations.

•    Our Nourish Market provides employees subsidized healthy lunch and snack options.

•    We commit to our purpose in every aspect of our culture. 

•    We have employees that are committed to “Doing Good” in our community and around the world.

•    We are a growing company with products that customers love. 

•    We believe in investing in you and your growth and development. 

WHAT YOU’LL OWN:                                             

Regulatory Compliance                                

•    Leads the Company in meetings with the US FDA, Oregon Department of Agriculture, other regulatory agencies and third-party inspections and audits.

•    Responsible for the effective management and maintenance of manufacturing facility compliance to and with the dietary supplement’s regulations 21CFR Part 111, 110, and 117.

•    Responsible for the effective management and maintenance of Quality Audit program and assessing improvement initiatives resulting from all quality audits, internal and external; the Company’s sanitation program ensuring compliance to FDA and cGMP practices; the documentation and retention processes as it relates to the Quality System and FDA guidelines/regulations; and development and validation of laboratory test methods

Continuous Improvement                                     

•    Effectively interact with Manufacturing, Sourcing, and R&D to maintain product supply and transition new products from the bench, through piloting and into production

•    Analyze, evaluate, trend, and present key performance quality indicators and recommendations to executive management on a quarterly and annual basis

•    Maintain and continuously improve the company’s quality management system by directing and providing oversight and input into the relevant quality systems and standards; provide oversight to the EWTC CAPA team

•    Collaborate with Production to ensure quality inspections, product release programs for incoming, in-process, and finished goods meet specifications

•    Provide oversight for Supplier qualification procedures, audit plans, and assessments

•    Ensure equipment, material qualification and validation procedures are available and followed, including review and approval of risk assessments, quality testing plans, qualification/validation protocols, specification management, and release of test product

Leadership and Team Development                                 

•    Hire, manage, and develop Quality staff to support the company’s goals and objectives; conduct performance evaluations; assist in setting goals and objectives in alignment with the overall company goals and objectives

•    Develop and gain alignment on the annual Quality budget including allocations for capital expenses; ensure adherence throughout the fiscal year 

•    Direct, participate in, and provide philosophical direction on the “culture of Quality” for the Company

•    Maintenance of the Quality Management Systems

•    Training of all company personnel in regulatory and GFSI requirements

•    Provide leadership on Food Safety, Food Defense and HACCP teams

Organization                                        

•    Behaves in a way that is consistent with the mission, vision, and values of East West Tea Company and supports the ongoing development of the organization’s culture

WHAT YOU KNOW AND HAVE EXPERIENCED:

•    Application of Quality methodologies in a food or beverage manufacturing environment

•    In-depth knowledge of CFR Title 21 - Part 110 cGMP in Manufacturing, Packing or Holding Human Food and CFR Title 21 – Parts 117 cGMP, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventative Controls for Human Food (FSMA)

•    Working knowledge of Global Food Safety Initiatives (SQF, BRC, IFS, FSSC2200) and HACCP and their application to manufacturing

•   Data analysis and problem solving using common quality tools (5 Whys, Root Cause Analysis, Fishbone Analysis, Corrective and Preventive Action, etc.)

•    Ability to prioritize and manage your time and the activities of your team

•    Leading development and implementation of strategic goals and budget/cost control

•    Personnel performance management and development of staff to broader and higher levels of skills

•    Adept at collaborating with and gaining alignment from internal and cross-functional teams to further departmental and organizational objectives

•    Detail-oriented in work performance and documentation

•    Decision making skills at stated level of authority

YOU’LL BE A GREAT FIT:

•    Strong interpersonal skills 

•    Responsible and a high degree of ownership

•    Balances attention to detail and swift execution

•    Ability to communicate technical information – articulating and altering depending on audience

•    Ability to drive direction and accountability

•    Encourages and models interdepartmental collaboration, professionalism, and cooperation

•    Natural ability to develop strong, trusting relationships 

•    Enjoys collaborating with cross-functional partners

•    Inspires others to strive toward continuous improvement

•    Enjoys teaching and developing others

•    Strong critical thinking ability to navigate and solve complex problems

•    Analytical approach to understand and synthesize data to make impactful outcomes 

•    Ability to connect changes in programs to organizational outcomes

Work Environment:

•    Work is primarily done in an office setting

•    Frequent warehouse environment exposure which includes noise, dust, forklifts, and fluctuations in temperature 

•    Travel as needed (< 10%)

Physical Requirements:

•    Stand, walk, and climb stairs 

•    Sitting at workstations for extended periods of time

•    Must be physically capable of working in high dust environments. Environment may aggravate pre-existing conditions such as allergies, asthma, or COPD.

Minimum Requirements:

•    Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Food Science, Chemistry, or related discipline

•    7 years’ experience within food manufacturing in a GFSI-certified facility or company

•   Experience with budgeting and advanced operations planning

•    Working knowledge of Lean and Six Sigma or any combination/variation thereof

•    PCQI certification and formal training in a GFSI auditing scheme (BRC, SQF, etc.)

•    Proven success leading audits (Kosher, FDA, and GFSI) and successfully managing interactions with regulators and auditors

•    Comfortable with public speaking

•    Proficient in KPI creation, tracking, and trending

•    Experience with supplier auditing/approval

•    High level of proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, especially Outlook, Teams, Excel, and PowerPoint

•    Minimum of 5 years’ experience as a people manager, including goal-setting and performance review experience

•    Expert in technical writing, and developing/maintaining a Quality Management System

•    Working knowledge of legal considerations which apply to the food industry

•    ERP and supply chain experience

•    15 years of experience in Quality Assurance, Quality Control, and/or Food Safety in FDA-regulated industries, preferred

•    Experience in Dietary Supplements industry and execution of CFR 111 requirements preferred

•    Working knowledge of organic regulations/requirements for certification, preferred

•    Canadian Natural Health Products experience, preferred

•    Working knowledge of Alchemy for training, preferred

WHAT WE DO:

We manufacture Yogi and Choice Organics brand products. Yogi has over 40 tea blends made from 140 exotic spices and botanicals sourced from 100% non-GMO growers around the globe. These herbal, green, and black teas are formulated for delicious taste and healthful benefits. Choice Organics offers a collection of organic traditional tea, herbal tea, and unique, flavorful organic tea blends. Choice teas are sourced exclusively from 100% organic and non-GMO growers around the world and are beautifully balanced to perfection for a full-flavored taste experience.

Yogi is an equal opportunity employer. We value and respect each person's individuality and unique talents. We honor diversity and inclusion. The strength of our people and our guiding principles contribute to East West Tea's leadership and continued success in the natural tea category.

Please apply directly on our Career Site.  We look forward to connecting with you soon!