Quality Assurance Manager - 1st Shift

LASSONDE PAPPAS AND CO INC•Selah, WA

About The Position

Position Summary: The QA Manager is responsible for the overall plant quality and food safety policies and program direction to ensure products meet regulatory, customer and consumer quality expectations. Cross training with a nearby sister facility will be part of this role to ensure redundancy and continuity at both sites.

Requirements

Education: a. Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Micro-biology or comparable.
Experience: a. Minimum of five (5) years’ experience in consumer packaged goods industry preferably in the high speed food or beverage manufacturing/processing & packaging environment. b. Three (3) or more years’ experience in QA. c. Knowledge of food safety and quality program requirements.
Special Skills: a. Knowledge of statistical analysis, precision measurement and process capability studies. b. Ability to develop and implement programs and procedures for QA. c. Knowledge of and/or experience in SQF Code. d. Excellent communication skills. e. Superb organizational skills and attention to detail.
Licensure, Registration, Certification: a. Juice HACCP b. SQF Practitioner c. Internal Audit Training d. PCQI Training
External Relationships: a. Regulatory authorities, industry quality experts, academic resources, co-packer quality representatives, vendors, customers and auditors
Internal Relationships: a. Hourly employees, Manufacturing supervisors/managers, Purchasing. The Quality manager must work with both internal and external stakeholders to ensure quality programs are effectively implemented. They must also be able to effectively interact with employees and influence them to ensure compliance with programs.

Responsibilities

Ensure that existing food safety, quality programs and other third-party certifications are maintained, which include: 1. SQF, HACCP, Organic, Kosher
Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements related to food safety.
Provide leadership in the continuous improvement of these programs.
Ensure compliance with customer specific quality and food safety requirements.
Meet with vendors, customers, quality representatives and company personnel to discuss and resolve quality problems as required.
Maintain appropriate skills and technical training to act as the SQF practitioner and HACCP coordinator.
Ensure satisfactory technical support is provided both to internal departments for quality and food safety issues.
Provide hands-on support to the production and other internal departments in troubleshooting and continuous improvement initiatives.
Provide support, leadership and direction to the Quality department team members.
Establish and maintain annual budgets for Quality.
Remain current with new government rules, scientific procedures and chemical regulations.
Coordinate training on HACCP & GMPs for all employees plant wide.