Assistant Quality Assurance Manager - Plant

The Assistant Quality Assurance Manager - Plant will play a pivotal role in ensuring the highest standards of food safety and quality within the facility. Reporting directly to the Plant Manager of Quality Assurance, this role involves providing leadership, direction, and day-to-day support to our quality assurance team. Responsibilities include managing critical processes, overseeing quality personnel, problem-solving, and conducting assessments and analyses to uphold food safety standards. Moreover, the incumbent will be responsible for communicating and documenting food safety and quality-related reports. Ensuring compliance with FDA, State, and USDA regulations, as well as adherence to GFSI certification procedures, is paramount. The successful candidate will contribute significantly to the overall success of our business by maintaining unparalleled quality and sanitation standards across our Fresh Express FDA and USDA operations

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees, and are not to be construed, as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.

Essential Functions, Duties and Responsibilities

• Ensures that food safety and quality is his or her top priority and is the top priority for all employees involved in the quality control operations of the company at all levels, and that the company's food safety culture and emphasis on taking proactive actions to ensure food safety and quality is clearly and continually communicated to all employees involved in the quality control operations of the company at all levels.
• Ensure compliance in the following areas: FDA, GDA and USDA regulatory compliance, Food Safety Plans, HACCP Plan and associated food safety programs, Sanitation Standard Operation Procedures (SSOP's), microbial and/or ATP testing of process equipment and environmental surfaces, good manufacturing practices (GMP's), quality specification compliance, Statistical Process Control (SPC), Quality training programs and food analytical testing procedures.
• Actively supporting the plant's GFSI food safety system and audit to maintain certification status.
• Must be thoroughly knowledgeable with the company's food safety procedures.
• Continuously evaluate and implement risk mitigated approach to Environmental Monitoring that meets or exceeds FDA and USDA regulations and expectations.
• Manage and lead a team of QA supervisors/staff and collaborate with Sanitation supervisors/staff (as appropriate to the facility).
• Manage and respond to customer and consumer complaints through investigation, root cause analysis, corrective and preventive actions and reporting.
• Actively engage with and communicate effectively across various departments and teams as needed to facilitate collaboration and ensure smooth coordination of tasks and projects.
• Provide ongoing support and monitoring of the Food Safety Program Process Control Points to ensure adherence to standards and regulations.
• Maintain standardized product quality specifications, process SOP's and performance targets.
• Apply SPC concepts to reduce process variation, improve quality, and optimize cost.
• Quality Reporting: Develop appropriate business-related reports to drive quality improvement across the supply chain. This includes historical quality metrics and data to develop and track product quality and cost of quality failure.
• Aid in the development, implementation, execution, and management of food safety programs, including electronic database systems such as Safety Chain.
• Implement and oversee robust quality inspection processes. Develop and manage systems that integrate product and process quality data to guarantee the delivery of the highest-quality products to customers and consumers.
• Assess the impact of any plant-related change event to ensure food safety and quality is at the center of all decisions.
• Support customer relations by providing support to sales team with information, audits, and customer tours and meetings.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Experience with and strong working knowledge of FDA and USDA regulations and program requirements
• Experience with a GFSI food safety certification scheme.
• Ability to effectively communicate and develop positive working relationships with USDA and other regulatory inspectors.
• Experience in the processing of foods (floor, lab, and quality assurance management)
• Management and supervisory experience, building teams.
• Strong knowledge of statistics, including fundamental analyses, SPC and other quality tools
• Proven analytical skills resulting in decision making that protects the customer, consumer, and the brand.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, ability to effectively write reports and customer facing communications.
• Demonstrated ability to develop people, teams, and oneself through innovative means.
• Demonstrated ability to both lead a team and work in a matrix organization.
• Ability to influence at all levels of the organization across all functions.
• Ability to prioritize duties in a changing environment to meet business objectives.
• Effective presentation, and public speaking skills.
• Experience in Environmental Monitoring and pathogen testing protocols
• Strong computer skills and proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Travel

• Minimal travel is expected for this position.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in a Biological Science, Food Science or related field, Master's degree is preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years' experience supervising or managing in an FDA or USDA regulated food manufacturing facility.
• Fresh produce related experience is highly preferred.
• HACCP Certified
• PCQI Certification
• Experience with Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)-
• Certification in Food Safety/Quality disciplines (i.e. ASQ CQE, CQA, FSSC 22000, BRC, SQF etc.) preferred

Other Information:

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees, and are not to be construed, as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.