Product Quality Assurance Manager

Cuisine Solutions•Sterling, VA

About The Position

The Product Quality Assurance Manager will play a crucial role in supporting product development and commercialization processes within the food manufacturing industry. This position involves collaborating with R&D/Innovation teams, ensuring compliance with FSQA and R&D/Innovation standards, and managing the interface between QA and other departments. The manager will be responsible for leading cross-functional teams, overseeing product clearance and post-launch conformity control processes, and ensuring timely delivery of FSQA requirements for various projects.

Requirements

BS in Food Science, Engineering, Chemistry, Biology or other related technical field with 4-6 years of experience in the food manufacturing industry OR Graduate degree (MS or PhD) in Food Science, Engineering, Chemistry, Biology or other related technical field with 2-4 years of experience in the food manufacturing industry
At least 2 years of FSQA and cross-functional leadership positions
Documented experience in working for at least 2 years in an agile work environment
Working knowledge of GFSI certification standards such as SQF, BRC, ISO 22000, etc.
Working knowledge of an agile product development process vs linear like Stage Gate or Waterfall
Successful track record of leading cross-functional technical teams towards the accomplishment of work goals
Ability to effectively work cross-functionally in a fast-paced work environment

Nice To Haves

QA experience in support of product development and commercialization processes is desirable
Experience in a USDA-regulated monitored work environment and sous vide food manufacturing industry a plus
Continuous Improvement and Project Management certification and/or experience preferred but not mandatory

Responsibilities

Assist R&D/Innovation in developing process flows, documentation, and compliance standards for product development and commercialization.
Assure that new or improved Cuisine products follow all FSQA and R&D/Innovation standards during the development process.
Serve as the QA representative on R&D/Innovation team meetings and development discussions.
Lead and be accountable for the timely results of biweekly Corporate QA and R&D/Innovation cross-functional meetings.
Manage the interface between QA and R&D/Innovation during product development and product improvement activities.
Ensure department functional teams deliver all FSQA requirements to R&D and Innovations projects in a timely manner.
Ensure FSQA has the correct R&D/Innovation information needed to support the business effectively on product development and improvement projects.
Routinely communicate to R&D/Innovation the status of FSQA development deliverables.
Routinely communicate to FSQA team members the project status.
Develop standards, assure Continuous Improvements via PDCA, and maintain compliance around the Product Clearance and Post-Launch Conformity Control Processes (PLCC) or equivalent like QCF299s for new products.
Manage the interface between FSQA and other Cuisine departments in the fulfillment of all Clearance requirements leading up to and during Commercialization runs, including First Batch Requests, to assure a timely and compliant market release.
Support R&D/Innovation and other FSQA functional teams to define and verify product specifications through the Clearance and PLCC processes, respectively, using valid statistical approaches.
Act as a team member on Commercial/Sales and other strategic business projects that require FSQA input (e.g., actions, advice, regulations, etc.).
Assure that all departments comply with FSQA standards in the execution of the project.
Ensure that department functional teams deliver all FSQA requirements to each strategic business project in a timely manner.
Routinely communicate to the Project team the status of FSQA project deliverables.
Routinely communicate to FSQA team members the project status.