Assistant Quality Assurance Manager

Join the Our Talent Network•Buffalo, NY

About The Position

The Assistant Quality Assurance Manager supports the Quality Assurance Manager in ensuring that plant quality assurance activities comply with Upstate Niagara Cooperative and regulatory requirements. The role is responsible for GMP, GSP, product conformity, and quality of services, and represents Corporate Quality Assurance at the plant. The position reports directly to the Site Quality Assurance Manager, with functional reporting to the Plant Manager, and participates on the plant Food Safety team. In collaboration with the Quality Assurance Manager and Plant Management Team, this position develops, implements, and maintains site Food Safety and Quality plans that comply with FSMA, applicable SQF modules, and customer requirements. The role serves as Document Control Coordinator for the Quality Assurance Department, maintains the document registry, communicates revisions, and ensures current document versions are in use. It provides leadership for the facility laboratory, including staff training and supervision, supply purchasing, task coordination, equipment maintenance and calibration, and schedules. The position may also perform laboratory analyses and routine lab work. The Assistant Quality Assurance Manager leads continuous improvement and site change management, audits manufacturing procedures, identifies nonconformances, and ensures corrective and preventive actions are established and effective. The role helps maintain regulatory compliance and represents the facility during customer and regulatory inspections and audits. It also works with Plant Management and Corporate Quality Assurance to establish, validate, and audit sanitation practices, and supports sanitation activities through inspections, CIP verification, coaching, and guidance. Off-shift and weekend work may be required to support cleaning and sanitation. Additional responsibilities include developing internal audit schedules; maintaining product specifications; establishing controls for product release, holds, and disposition; setting quality standards for incoming goods and raw materials with Production and Purchasing; maintaining accurate test data and quality records; preparing customer samples and Certificates of Analysis; and preparing routine reports for Corporate Senior Staff. The role may travel between company manufacturing locations to support food safety and quality programs and third-party audits. It must obtain applicable certifications, including PCQI, HACCP, Internal Auditor, Food Defense, and SQF Practitioner. In the Quality Assurance Manager’s absence, the Assistant Quality Assurance Manager assumes that manager’s duties. The position supervises Plant Quality Control personnel and is responsible for their direction, coordination, and evaluation. Supervisory duties include interviewing, hiring, training, assigning and directing work, performance appraisal, maintaining the department budget, handling complaints, and resolving issues.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Food, Dairy, or Natural Sciences and three to five years of related experience and/or training, or an equivalent combination of education (minimum AAS) and experience.
Active involvement in Quality Programs in the Food and Beverage industry.
Previous supervisory experience.
Ability to perform the essential duties satisfactorily; reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.
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.
Ability to receive applicable certifications, including PCQI, HACCP, Internal Auditor, Food Defense, and SQF Practitioner.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist the Quality Assurance Manager in ensuring plant QA activities comply with company and regulatory requirements.
Participate in the plant Food Safety team and represent Corporate Quality Assurance at the plant.
Develop, implement, and maintain site Food Safety and Quality plans compliant with FSMA, applicable SQF modules, and customer requirements.
Serve as Document Control Coordinator, maintaining the document registry, communicating document changes, and ensuring current revisions are in use.
Provide overall leadership for the facility laboratory and ensure laboratory personnel are trained and supervised.
Perform laboratory analysis and routine laboratory activities as needed.
Lead or participate in Quality Assurance continuous improvement projects and develop and execute site change management processes.
Review and audit manufacturing procedures, report nonconformances, and ensure corrective actions are taken and effective.
Maintain facility compliance with Federal and State regulatory requirements and represent the facility during customer and regulatory inspections and audits.
Establish and validate sanitation practices and conduct periodic audits for compliance.
Support sanitation through visual inspections, CIP effectiveness verification, and coaching and guidance for sanitation supervisors and technicians.
Establish and monitor training programs for Operations, Sanitation, and Quality personnel.
Purchase laboratory supplies, coordinate laboratory tasks, maintain and calibrate testing equipment, manage staff schedules, and coach laboratory technicians.
Develop and maintain internal auditing schedules with plant management and the Food Safety Team.
Establish processes to implement, verify, and evaluate corrective and preventive actions for nonconformances, including SQF internal audits and facility inspections.
Review and maintain product specifications and establish systems for product release, holds, and disposition.
Work with Production Associates to establish quality assessments for incoming goods and raw materials, and with Purchasing to establish and enforce vendor quality standards and specifications.
Ensure accurate entry of plant testing results and take prompt action on quality and food safety nonconformances.
Collect, review, sign, and file quality and food safety records according to site document control procedures.
Travel between company manufacturing locations to support food safety and quality programs and third-party audits.
Obtain applicable certifications, including PCQI, HACCP, Internal Auditor, Food Defense, and SQF Practitioner.
Prepare and present routine reports to Corporate Senior Staff, including complaint, shelf-life, and pathogen-swabbing trends.
Maintain, update, and enforce GMP guidelines and support the plant SQF program.
Prepare samples according to customer and regulatory requirements and prepare accurate customer Certificates of Analysis for each delivery.
Assume the Quality Assurance Manager’s duties in that manager’s absence.
Manage Plant Quality Control personnel, including hiring, training, work direction, performance evaluation, budget maintenance, complaint handling, and issue resolution.
Perform other duties as requested by the Quality Assurance Manager.