Lab Supervisor

AMPI•Blair, WI

About The Position

The Lab Supervisor oversees laboratory testing, documentation, compliance, and personnel activities at an AMPI manufacturing facility. The role carries heightened responsibility for food safety and food quality, including required testing certifications, testing procedures, calibration monitoring, regulatory compliance, environmental monitoring, and implementation and maintenance of food safety and quality systems. The supervisor works with state inspectors, regulatory officials, co-manufacturing partners, brand owner leadership teams, the QA Manager, and laboratory and cheesemaking personnel to support product quality, safety, service, and continuous improvement. The position also supervises laboratory activities and compliance, maintains accurate records, coordinates testing and certificates of analysis, supports investigations and corrective actions, and helps ensure laboratory and analytical areas meet product quality, housekeeping, and hygiene standards. Other duties may be assigned as needed. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. AMPI owns six Midwest-based manufacturing plants producing American-type and processed cheese. Its cheese and powdered dairy products are marketed to foodservice, retail, and food ingredient customers. In 2019, the cooperative launched its Dinner Bell Creamery brand and Co-op Crafted promise.

Requirements

High School diploma with a minimum of 3 years of laboratory experience, or High School diploma with a minimum of 5 years of food manufacturing experience, or a Bachelor’s Degree.
Ability to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the position.
Compliance with company rules and regulations.

Responsibilities

Fulfill requirements for testing certifications required by state and federal agencies as outlined in the PMO, and train employees on these requirements as needed.
Manage testing procedures and documentation for microbial analysis, daily intake screening, drug residues, dairy water supplies, and adulteration of raw milk product.
Review and format procedures, and implement continued monitoring and training for personnel conducting facility analyses.
Work with state inspectors, regulatory officials, and laboratory evaluation officers to comply with testing protocols.
Monitor calibration of testing equipment used at the facility.
Communicate in-process and finished-product QC and laboratory results and data to co-manufacturing partners.
Work with the QA Manager to clear and address issues in co-manufacturing partners’ product hold logs.
Participate in and lead finished-product sensory testing and evaluation; coach laboratory and cheesemaking teams on standard evaluation metrics.
Help evaluate quality records needed to release finished goods from hold.
Perform sanitation procedures according to requirements.
Coordinate and compile test analyses for certificates of analysis as needed.
Adapt to required changes within the AMPI system and ensure compliance with company rules and regulations.
Issue corrective disciplines when needed.
Prepare environmental samples, collect swabs, and follow up with corrective actions as needed.
Supervise the Enviromap Program, including scheduling swabs, monitoring results, and implementing corrective actions to meet plant requirements.
Assist with implementation and maintenance of FSMA, PCQI, and SQF food safety and quality systems.
Order laboratory supplies.
Execute required finished-product tests according to standard operating procedures and customer requirements.
Execute required incoming-ingredient tests according to the Quality Monitoring Scheme.
Support investigations and improvement projects, including holds and customer complaints; help identify root causes and corrective actions and monitor their effectiveness.
Organize laboratory records and files and ensure compliance with procedures and work instructions.
Ensure laboratory and quality records are correctly recorded in compliance with SOPs, including their storage and retrieval.
Supervise laboratory activities to maintain and improve product, service, housekeeping, and hygiene standards in laboratory and other analytical areas.
Supervise laboratory compliance, including calibration and equipment testing, to SQF and AMPI requirements.
Support facility improvement initiatives, including complaints and holds.
Build and maintain strong working relationships and partnerships with brand owner leadership teams to promote accountability, continuous improvement, and strong safety, quality, service, and cost performance.
Perform other duties as assigned.