Our client is a global leader in premium food colorings. Their customers are the largest and most selective producers of various food products. They are seeking a Quality Assurance Manager for their facility located in the South.
Purpose of Position:
Responsible for managing and directing all aspects of the Quality Assurance Department at the plant level. This requires investigation and response to quality-related customer complaints; ensuring all Food Safety and Quality Assurance policies and procedures are followed; ensuring finished product conforms to customer and product specifications; monitoring, verification and documentation associated with adherence to regulations. Handles any customer technical questions as required. Specific responsibilities include supplier audits, plant HACCP Coordination, inspection programs (including Third Party), supervising Laboratory Technicians, interacting with customers and their agents for technical questions, product showings, plant tours and audits, visits to customer facilities and initial product runs. Protects the Customer.
Principal Responsibilities:
- Uphold Company’s Mission Statement, Quality Policy, and Values and Beliefs.
- Perform work accurately and reliably with proper thoroughness according to established procedures.
- Proper work ethic including being at work when scheduled, arriving to work on time, and being ready to work at the start of the work day or shift.
Quality Manager:
Food Safety: Manage the plant food safety systems to create an environment where food safety threats are recognized and eliminated/mitigated. Manage compliance with all regulatory and Company-defined food safety and sanitation standards. Examples of these systems include: internal/third-party audits, vendor audits / certification, inbound and outbound inspection, ingredient, intermediate and finished product inspection, microbiological testing, product traceability, HACCP, organic foods, EU, kosher requirements, sanitation and pest control. Lead GMP compliance team and training.
Quality / Manufacturing: Demonstrates a working knowledge of production equipment (processing and packaging equipment) and its’ related impact on overall quality. Assists with all aspects of new product development, production trials, test sampling and production test runs of new materials and finished products, as needed. Manages QC Lab, QC Systems and related documentation. Oversees the preparation of various reports monitoring product quality results and customer feedback. Leads continuous improvement projects and shares best practices between plants. Recommends improvements as appropriate. As back up to Plant Manager and as integral part of plant leadership team, must possess complete understanding of logistics, scheduling and operations. Must possess a “roll up sleeves” attitude and have visible presence on manufacturing floor.
Customer Focus: Provide direct, on-site assistance to customers regarding product selection, product use, complaint resolution, troubleshooting, etc. Ability to conduct customer site visits with or without sales associates. Protects the Customer.
Back-up for the Plant Manager when out.
Other duties as assigned.
Competency Requirements:
Integrity/Ethics
Deals with others in a straightforward and honest manner, is accountable for actions, maintains confidentiality, supports Company values, conveys good news and bad.
Work Environment/Safety
Promotes mutual respect, keeps workplace clean and safe, supports safety programs.
Quality
Is attentive to detail and accuracy, is committed to excellence, looks for improvements continuously, monitors quality levels, finds root cause of quality problems, owns/acts on quality problems.
Vision and Values
Supports values and daily actions and decisions, communicates vision and values to others, generates enthusiasm, incorporates vision when planning.
Decision Making/Judgment
Recognizes problems and responds, systematically gathers information, sorts through complex issues, seeks input from others, addresses root cause of issues, makes timely decisions, can make difficult decisions, uses consensus when possible, and communicates decisions to others.
Initiative
Tackles problems and takes independent action, seeks out new responsibilities, acts on opportunities, generates new ideas, practices self-development.
Problem Solving/Analysis
Breaks down problems into smaller components, understands underlying issues, can simplify and process complex issues, understands the difference between critical details and unimportant facts.
Results Focus
Targets and achieves results, sets challenging goals, prioritizes tasks, overcomes obstacles, accepts accountability, sets team standards and responsibilities, provides leadership/motivation.
Managing Performance
Applies clear/consistent performance standards, handles performance problems decisively and objectively, is direct but tactful, provides guidance and assistance to improve performance.
Skill Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline.
- 5-10 years’ experience in food manufacturing management with demonstrated success in Quality Assurance roles.
- Strong quantitative skills, interpersonal skills, and the ability to think critically.
- Self-directed with the ability to manage associates, work independently and contribute to plant management team.
- Excellent oral, written and presentation communication skills.
- Ability to effectively plan, organize and prioritize work.
- Certification in Lean/Six-Sigma desired
Physical Demands:
Be available on call as required to support plant operations.
Occasional travel to other facilities, customers and vendors will be required (<25%).
All applicants for this position must be authorized to work in the U.S. now and in the future without requiring sponsorship.
For additional information, please contact Susan Canarick, (954) 428-3888 (o) or (954) 830-7539 (c), or susanc@foodscience.com.