QA/QC Laboratory Manager

South Dakota Soybean Processors•Volga, SD

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Quality Assurance & Quality Control Manager ensures that all raw materials, in-process products, and finished products meet customer specifications, regulatory requirements, and company quality standards by leading laboratory operations and supervising a small team, driving continuous improvement initiatives, and supporting operational excellence throughout the plant.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in a Science oriented field or equivalent combination of experience
5+ years of laboratory management experience preferred
Familiarity with food safety systems and controls
Strong computer skills including experience with Microsoft office suite.
Maintain a safe, positive work attitude and demonstrate willingness to be a team member.
Perform duties outside normal responsibilities as needed to support the team and overall organizational goals.
Effective and professional communication through speaking, writing, and listening.
Excellent problem solving and analytical thinking skills with ability to prioritize, adapt and act.

Responsibilities

Keep safety at the forefront. Demonstrate and lead safety culture through compliance, training, hazard identification, reporting, emergency response, and active participation in safety initiatives.
Work with the safety department and SQF management to implement and monitor employee safety, product safety, plant sanitation, and environmental compliance.
Set the example as the primary resource for chemical and laboratory safety at High Plains Processing.
Maintain standards above minimum compliance with all governing laws and regulations.
Provide leadership by demonstrating teamwork, personal accountability, cooperation, and ethical conduct.
Lead, coach, and mentor all laboratory team members on laboratory operations to achieve KPI’s on safety, productivity, efficiency, budgetary expectations
Provide excellent customer service through professional interactions and utilize interdepartmental collaboration skills to resolve customer complaints and clearly communicate with all team members and departments.
Responsible for laboratory sampling and testing of soybeans, sunflowers, meal, hulls, pellets, oil, oil by-products, water, and any additional processing streams.
Calibrate, validate, maintain, and troubleshoot all laboratory equipment, including but not limited to KF, NIR, ICP, OSI, Eco Titrators
Establish and maintain clear processes and controls to ensure the quality standards are met and upheld
Manage all food, feed, and ingredient labeling to maintain regulatory compliance under the direction of SQF and commercial teams
Administer and maintain a document management system for the facility
Point of contact to support the resolution of operational, technical, or mechanical issues in assigned area.
Facilitate investigation and corrective action development for out-of-specification products/materials
Have working knowledge of all lab functions to cross train and back up employees as needed.
Develop collaborative relationships with all internal departments and supporting teams, including refinery, crush, maintenance, loadout, receiving, commercial, transportation, and finance.
Provide World Class customer service to internal and external customers
Represent the QA/QC function in collaborative meetings and presentations, communicating results, issues and recommendations
Perform duties outside normal responsibilities as needed to support the team and organizational objectives.