Assistant Quality Assurance Manager

UNC Dairy•Town of Cheektowaga, NY

10d•$75,000 - $85,000

About The Position

The Assistant Quality Assurance Manager assists the Quality Assurance Manager in ensuring that plant quality assurance activities comply with Upstate Niagara Cooperative requirements and applicable regulations. The role is responsible for Good Manufacturing Practices, Good Sanitation Practices, product conformity, and service quality. It reports directly to the Site Quality Assurance Manager, with functional reporting to the Plant Manager, participates on the plant’s Food Safety team, and represents Corporate Quality Assurance at the plant level. In the absence of the Quality Assurance Manager, this position assumes that manager’s duties. The position develops and maintains site food safety and quality plans, supports the SQF program, coordinates document control, leads the facility laboratory, and oversees plant quality control personnel. It manages audits, corrective and preventive actions, product specifications and disposition, testing records, sanitation verification, training, regulatory and customer audits, and reporting. The role also supports continuous improvement and change management, coordinates laboratory supplies, equipment and staff schedules, and may travel between manufacturing locations. The position requires applicable certifications, including Preventive Controls Qualified Individual, HACCP, Internal Auditor, Food Defense, and SQF Practitioner.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Food, Dairy, or Natural Sciences, plus three to five years of related experience and/or training; or an equivalent combination of education and experience, with a minimum of an associate degree.
Active involvement in Quality Programs in the Food and Beverage industry.
Previous supervisory experience.
Ability to perform each essential duty satisfactorily; reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Attention to detail and commitment to quality standards.
Adaptability in a fast-paced, regulated manufacturing environment.
Collaborative mindset and strong decision-making capabilities.
Effective verbal and written communication abilities.
Willingness to work off shifts, including weekends, to support cleaning and sanitation.
Willingness to travel between company manufacturing locations.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of ISO Quality Management Systems, HACCP, and statistical process control is desired.
Strong computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office and quality systems software, are preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop, implement, and maintain site Food Safety and Quality plans with the Quality Assurance Manager and Plant Management Team, ensuring compliance with FSMA, relevant SQF modules, customer requirements, and continuous-improvement practices.
Serve as Document Control Coordinator for the Quality Assurance Department; maintain the document registry, catalogue and communicate changes, and ensure current document versions are in use.
Lead the facility laboratory, ensuring personnel are trained and supervised; perform analyses and routine laboratory work as needed.
Participate in and take ownership of Quality Assurance continuous-improvement projects, and develop and execute site-level change management processes.
Review and audit manufacturing procedures, report nonconformances, and ensure corrective actions are taken and effective.
Ensure facility compliance with federal and state regulations, stay current on requirements, and represent the facility during customer and regulatory inspections and audits.
Work with Plant Management and Corporate Quality Assurance to establish and validate sanitation practices and conduct periodic compliance audits; evaluate new products and techniques as needed; establish and monitor training programs for Operations, Sanitation, and Quality personnel.
Work off shifts, including weekends, as needed to support cleaning and sanitation; conduct visual inspections, verify CIP effectiveness, and coach and guide sanitation supervisors and technicians.
Purchase laboratory supplies; coordinate laboratory tasks; oversee laboratory testing equipment maintenance and calibration; manage laboratory staff schedules; and coach and guide laboratory technicians.
Develop and maintain internal auditing schedules with plant management and the Food Safety Team; establish processes to implement, verify, and assess the effectiveness of corrective and preventive actions for nonconformances, including SQF audits and facility inspections.
Review and maintain product specifications; establish systems to control and document product release, holds, and disposition.
Work with Production Associates to establish quality assessment procedures for incoming goods and raw materials, and with Purchasing personnel to establish and enforce vendor quality standards and specifications.
Ensure accurate entry of plant testing results and promptly address quality and food safety nonconformances through resolution.
Collect, review, sign, and file quality and food safety records according to site document-control procedures.
Travel between Upstate Niagara Cooperative manufacturing locations to support food safety and quality program development and third-party audits.
Perform other duties as requested by the Quality Assurance Manager.
Obtain applicable certifications, including Preventive Controls Qualified Individual, HACCP, Internal Auditor, Food Defense, and SQF Practitioner.
Prepare and present routine reports to Corporate Senior Staff, including trends in complaints, shelf life, and pathogen-swabbing results.
Maintain, update, and enforce GMP guidelines in coordination with the Quality Assurance Manager.
Support maintenance and implementation of the plant SQF Program.
Prepare samples according to customer and regulatory sampling requirements.
Prepare accurate customer Certificates of Analysis for each delivery.
Manage plant Quality Control personnel and the unit’s overall direction, coordination, and evaluation; interview, hire, and train employees; plan, assign, and direct work; appraise performance; maintain the department budget; and address complaints and resolve issues in accordance with organizational policies and applicable laws.