Manager, Quality Assurance

Dairy Farmers of America•Monroe, WI

About The Position

The Manager, Quality Assurance leads the quality department and ensures effective quality execution, continuous improvement, and regulatory compliance. In partnership with plant operations, this role maintains a culture of food safety and quality and develops or maintains processes to ensure finished products are food safe and meet specifications. The role requires strong organization and communication, and the ability to investigate issues and lead solution-based decision-making in the plant. The manager oversees plant food safety and quality programs, sanitation, pest control, change control, preventive controls, laboratory activities, customer complaint investigations, and the quality management system. The role leads employees through coaching, training, performance conversations, and other management activities. It also partners with plant leadership and R&D, supports audits and visits, analyzes quality data, and provides leadership during unplanned events or emergencies. Travel is listed as 5%–15% (1–3 times per year).

Requirements

Undergraduate degree in food science, biological sciences, or a related curriculum, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
5 to 8 years of quality assurance or related experience in a food, beverage, or similar facility.
Demonstrated leadership attributes, team leadership, or supervisory experience.
Strong knowledge of laboratory and plant current good manufacturing practices (cGMPs).
Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and company computer systems.
Knowledge of supervision, training, and personnel management principles and practices.
Leadership and coaching skills.
Critical thinking, analysis, mathematical calculation, and statistical evaluation skills.
Ability to organize and prioritize resources to achieve goals; multitask; maintain organized records; and work accurately with attention to detail.
Ability to translate accounting, financial, and KPI data into plant performance and identify corrective and improvement steps.
Clear and effective verbal and written communication skills for diverse internal and external audiences.
Ability to collaborate effectively and foster teamwork.
Ability to find solutions to complex problems and present options and ideas for current processes or procedures.
Ability to handle challenging or conflict situations tactfully and professionally.
Ability to respond courteously and efficiently to inquiries, complaints, and requests.
Ability to interpret and apply company policies and adapt to and manage change effectively.
Must be able to read, write, and speak English.

Nice To Haves

At least 1 year of manager experience is preferred.
PCQI, HACCP, and SQF Practitioner certifications are preferred; they may be required during employment.

Responsibilities

Ensure daily plant quality and food safety operations comply with DFA policies and procedures and local, state, and federal regulations.
Maintain audit readiness and robust food safety and quality programs.
Escalate non-conformance events to the quality director and plant manager in a timely manner.
Oversee plant sanitation and maintain current, followed, and effectively used pest control programs.
Manage the facility change control program to support risk assessment and decision-making.
Ensure compliance with specifications, manufacturing instructions, and preventive maintenance programs; partner with operations to maintain and adhere to preventive maintenance.
Lead investigations into non-conforming events and drive root cause analysis and effective resolution.
Manage hold and release programs.
Review records daily to ensure required records are complete and reviews and approvals are current for preventive controls, laboratory, sanitation, production, and verification checks.
Track and report plant quality key performance indicators.
Participate in the annual plant budgeting process and partner with the plant manager to identify capital projects supporting food safety and quality.
Train plant personnel on food safety, FSMA, and regulatory compliance.
Provide quality leadership during unplanned events or emergencies.
Participate in facility walkthroughs and internal audits and engage with personnel to address food safety questions and challenges.
Collaborate with R&D on new or reformulated products to ensure compliance with specifications and regulatory requirements.
Serve as the contact for customer issues, complaints, and inquiries; manage thorough, timely complaint investigations and communicate customer specification or expectation concerns.
Maintain preparedness for customer and regulatory visits.
Manage facility analytical and microbiological activities and oversee laboratory practices that produce accurate and precise QC results.
Analyze data to identify trends and leading indicators for proactive decisions.
Coordinate collection and evaluation of raw materials and finished products.
Maintain a robust, risk-based Environmental Monitoring Program, determine causes of failures, and take corrective action.
Coordinate and supervise factory and external laboratory testing and generate Certificates of Analysis.
Maintain the quality management system and ensure documents meet food safety and quality policies and standards and remain current.
Prepare plant-specific work instructions as needed; ensure SSOP documents are robust and meet sanitation standards; ensure forms and work instructions are reviewed, revised, and updated annually.
Administer employee promotions and transfers, conduct ongoing performance conversations, and mentor, train, and coach employees.
Follow DFA good manufacturing practices and corporate regulatory, food safety, quality, and sanitation requirements; perform other duties as assigned.