QA Supervisor

Russell Stover•Iola, KS

12d•Onsite

About The Position

At Russell Stover, we are looking for a QA Supervisor to oversee all quality-related initiatives, with a primary focus on production, warehousing, and logistics operations at the Russell Stover Chocolate site. This role involves developing, implementing, and monitoring programs to manage and enhance product quality. The QA Supervisor will also supervise all QA Technicians across all shifts, lead the Daily QA PCS, and support the FSQA Manager on related initiatives. This position is primarily on the second shift, with potential for support on the first shift for development and team assistance.

Requirements

BS degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Engineering, Nutrition, Biology, or related field (Or an equivalent combination of education and experience)
Minimum 3 years of experience in Food Safety & Quality experience in a food production environment.
Formal training in basic to intermediary food safety/regulatory, and Preventive Control Certified Individual (PCQI)
Working knowledge of regulatory and quality system requirements – Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001), AIB, HACCP, Good Manufacturing Process (GMP).
Champion for food safety & quality.
Strong people management skills.
Ability to lead, coach and mentor direct reports.
Excellent communication skills and the ability to speak, read, and write English fluently, with or without an accommodation.
Leads by example.
Collaboration with other departments and people.
Drives for timely results.
Strong problem solving/troubleshooting skills with continuous improvement tools (FMDA, RCA, project management).
Statistical Process Control.
Understanding of sanitation and related practices.
Strong auditing/assessment skills.
Solid understanding of a production/manufacturing environment.
Proficient in MS Office applications and productivity tool.
Detail oriented.
Excellent organizational skills.
Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities.
Must be able to differentiate between colors and shifts in colors.

Responsibilities

Verification of quality programs performed by the different departments and individuals at the site.
Lead Quality Technicians, Batch Technicians and Team Leads.
Lead in Quality initiatives to advance the department and company.
Support for food safety and quality audits.
Maintain and implement quality standards and procedures to meet Russell Stover Standards.
Conduct process and procedure audits and implement corrective actions to ensure compliance.
Perform inspections on packaging materials, semi-finished and finished products.
Lead improvement initiatives in non-conformances, partnering with other departments such as Procurement, Operations, Industrial Performance, Research and Development.
Responsible for making impromptu decisions regarding manufacturing defects, packaging defects, and overall quality issues that arise on a daily basis, providing daily and weekly reports to management.
Collaborate with stakeholders to manage potential non-conformances by isolating product, following HOLD procedures, investigating, determining disposition, and ensuring full documentation for traceability.
Support QA department on meeting all standards and requirements including AIB, GFSI, FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act), local and federal regulations as well as the industry’s best practices.
Cross training in the related Quality positions to assist in backshift receiving and analytical activities, as well as supporting quality and food safety functions, providing quality training to other departments.
Maintain systems for all inspection/audit records and ensure all product information remains accurate, complete, consistent and timely.
Document and communicate quality issues, trend analysis, and provide corrective action for the resolution of quality issues.
Responsible for supervising, coaching, and developing all QA Technicians in all shifts.
Ensure adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) guidelines during plant visits to support product quality and uphold food safety standards.
Complete and follow FSQA training and programs to comply with regulatory requirements, ensure consumer safety, and support the company’s food safety and quality objectives.
Promptly report any observed or suspected issues that may impact food safety, quality, or compliance to the designated plant personnel, to support timely corrective actions and maintain compliance.
Actively contributes to the continuous improvement of the company’s Food Safety Culture through engagement and actions aligned with your role.
Participate in LPW pillars and teams and support continuous improvement initiatives as needed.
Follow LPW methodology (TPM) in order to monitor and report production (PCS) and continuously improve processes to reduce defects, applying lean methodology using tools such as 5S, 5 Why, Kaizen, etc.