LAB SUPERVISOR

AMPI•Blair, WI

About The Position

Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI) is a dairy cooperative that owns six manufacturing plants in the Midwest and produces American-type and processed cheese, along with powdered dairy products marketed to foodservice, retail, and food ingredient customers. The Lab Supervisor oversees laboratory activities and testing to support product safety, quality, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement at the facility. The position has heightened food safety and food quality responsibilities and may include other duties assigned by management. The supervisor manages laboratory testing, documentation, calibration, environmental monitoring, and compliance with applicable company, customer, state, federal, PMO, SQF, and SOP requirements. The role coordinates with inspectors, regulatory officials, co-manufacturing partners, QA management, and brand owner leadership teams. It also supports food safety and quality systems, investigations, corrective actions, finished-product evaluations, and laboratory staff training and supervision.

Requirements

High school diploma and at least 3 years of laboratory experience, or a high school diploma and at least 5 years of food manufacturing experience, or a bachelor’s degree.
Ability to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the position; reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.

Responsibilities

Report employee safety, food safety, and food quality issues to appropriate personnel.
Fulfill testing certification requirements established by state and federal agencies and the PMO, and train employees on these requirements as needed.
Oversee testing procedures and documentation for microbial testing, daily intake screening, drug residues, dairy water supplies, and adulteration of raw milk products.
Review and format procedures and implement continued monitoring and training for personnel conducting facility analyses.
Coordinate with state inspectors, regulatory officials, and laboratory evaluation officers regarding testing protocol compliance.
Monitor calibration of testing equipment used at the facility.
Communicate in-process and finished-product quality-control and laboratory results and data to co-manufacturing partners.
Work with the QA Manager to address issues in co-manufacturing partners’ product hold logs.
Lead and participate in finished-product sensory testing and evaluation, and coach laboratory and cheesemaking teams on standard evaluation metrics.
Help evaluate quality records needed to release held finished goods.
Perform sanitation procedures according to requirements.
Coordinate and compile test analyses for certificates of analysis (COAs) as needed.
Adapt to required changes within the AMPI system and ensure compliance with company rules and regulations.
Issue corrective discipline 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.
Conduct finished-product tests according to SOPs and customer requirements, and incoming-ingredient tests according to the Quality Monitoring Scheme (QMS).
Support investigations and improvement projects involving 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, stored, and retrievable in compliance with SOPs.
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, with 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 and continuous improvement and support safety, quality, service, and cost performance.
Perform other duties as assigned.