Plant Quality Supervisor (SugarCreek)

Sugar Creek Packing Co. and Related Companies•Cambridge City, IN

About The Position

Sugar Creek Packing Co. is a privately held, family-owned food company founded in 1966 and one of the largest independent bacon processors serving the global market. The Plant Quality Supervisor supports the Plant FSQA Manager in quality, food safety, and product-consistency initiatives, and provides leadership to Plant FSQA Technicians through training and performance assessment. The role participates in and leads projects to improve plant quality and food safety performance. The supervisor helps develop and implement quality and food safety programs, policies, procedures, and work instructions; supports pre-operation walkthroughs; trains and manages technicians; schedules and assigns their work; generates product code data; and ensures equipment such as scales and thermometers is calibrated. The role responds to operational issues, assesses potential contamination or foreign-object incidents, resolves non-conformance and quality problems, and works with plant management on corrective actions. It also coordinates with Maintenance and Sanitation to support a clean and safe workplace, advises on the quality and food safety effects of product, process, or facility changes, and ensures compliance with applicable company, federal, and state requirements, including OSHA and HACCP support programs. The supervisor may cover for the Plant FSQA Manager when that person is out of the office. Most work takes place in an indoor, office-like facility, with some work in an indoor manufacturing facility near heavy and hazardous machinery. Required safety wear includes a hard hat, hairnet, hearing protection, safety glasses, steel-toe boots, coats, and other necessary equipment. The role has no unusual physical requirements; work is mostly sitting, with some standing and walking, occasional stair use, and occasional movement of items weighing less than 15 pounds. A flexible schedule is required.

Requirements

3 to 5+ years of experience in a quality assurance role in a food-related industry.
Ability to communicate effectively and efficiently verbally and in writing.
Ability to use critical thinking to identify strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions or approaches to problems.
Ability to work cooperatively with others.
Proficiency with computers, especially Microsoft Office programs.
Ability to lead Plant Quality Technicians in a high-speed production environment.
Strong leadership, independent thinking, organizational, and planning skills.
Ability to read and comprehend printed and electronic information.
Ability to clearly communicate issues to management.
Knowledge of the importance of HACCP, FSIS, and USDA requirements.
Ability to use simple tools and basic laboratory equipment, such as a scale, caliper, magnet, and thermometer.
Ability to work on a flexible schedule.
Ability to meet the stated physical requirements: mostly sitting with some standing and walking, occasional stair use, and occasional movement of items weighing less than 15 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree with a major in chemistry, biology, microbiology, or food science preferred.
Supervisor experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Participate in developing and implementing programs, policies, procedures, and work instructions for quality and food safety assessment and improvement.
Assist with pre-operation walkthroughs, checking for problem areas and broken equipment.
Train, develop, and manage Plant Quality Technicians.
Monitor technicians’ day-to-day activities and evaluate their work performance.
Create work schedules and assign duties and responsibilities among Plant Technicians.
Generate product code data, including creation dates, plant location, and other product specifications.
Ensure equipment such as scales and thermometers is calibrated correctly.
Remain on call to respond to operational situations, including broken machines or possible product contamination.
Assess incidents involving potential contamination or foreign objects and take appropriate action, such as shutting down a line or alerting the Plant FSQA Manager.
Resolve non-conformance issues and quality problems at plant facilities, warehouses, and in the market.
Work with the Plant Management team to develop corrective action plans and communicate them to the Plant FSQA Manager and Plant Manager.
Work with Maintenance and Plant Sanitation to support a clean and safe working environment for Production Associates.
Recommend or develop orientation and training programs for quality, food safety, and good manufacturing practices.
Advise the plant about quality and food safety implications of changes to products, processes, or facility design.
Ensure compliance with quality, food safety, OSHA, and HACCP support programs.
Cover for the Plant FSQA Manager when that person is out of the office.
Comply with federal, state, and company policies, procedures, and regulations.
Support safety, food quality, and sanitation initiatives and policies, and follow company safety rules and procedures.
Perform other duties and tasks as assigned.