Quality Assurance Manager

UNC Dairy•Town of West Seneca, NY

16d•Onsite

About The Position

Upstate Niagara Cooperative, owned by over 200 local family farms, is a leading dairy cooperative processing and marketing high-quality milk, yogurt, dips, sour cream, and cottage cheese. The Quality Assurance Manager will oversee all Plant Quality Assurance (QA) activities, ensuring compliance with cooperative and regulatory requirements. This role focuses on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Good Sanitation Practices (GSP), product conformity, and service quality. Reporting to the Manager of Corporate Quality Assurance and functionally to the Plant Manager, the QA Manager is a key member of the Plant’s management team, driving product and process quality improvements.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) in Food, Dairy, or Natural Sciences from a four-year college or university; OR Equivalent combination of education (minimum AAS) and relevant experience.
Five to seven years of related experience and/or training in the Food and Beverage industry.
Active involvement in Quality Programs is required.
Previous supervisory experience is required.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, and government regulations.
Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
Strong presentation skills and ability to respond to questions from managers, clients, and customers.
Strong personal computer skills.
Familiarity with GMP, GSP, SQF (Level 3), HACCP, and related federal/state regulations.
Ability to design, implement, and maintain quality assurance programs (e.g., Hold Policy, Recall Policy, Pathogen Testing, Customer Complaint Resolution).
Proven ability to lead QA teams, train staff, coordinate efforts with Plant Management, and communicate effectively at all levels.
Skilled in reviewing/auditing procedures, identifying nonconformances, and implementing corrective actions.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with ISO Quality Management Systems, HACCP, and statistical process control is preferred

Responsibilities

Develop and Implement a Plant Quality Plan, defining the quality function's role and communicating it to all facility associates for continuous improvement.
Serve as Facility SQF Practitioner, maintaining SQF Level 3 certification and managing continuous improvement programs.
Review and Audit Manufacturing Procedures to ensure compliance with established practices and procedures, identifying and addressing nonconformances.
Ensure Regulatory Compliance by staying current on Federal and State requirements and representing the facility during inspections and audits.
Maintain and Enforce GMP Guidelines in collaboration with Plant Management and Corporate QA.
Oversee Sanitation Practices, establishing and validating sanitation programs, and conducting periodic audits.
Manage Product Specifications and Documentation, establishing systems to control and document release, holds, and disposition of products.
Provide Leadership for the Laboratory, ensuring proper training and supervision of Laboratory Associates and participating in routine lab activities.
Collaborate on Incoming Goods and Raw Materials Assessments, developing quality assessment procedures and working with Purchasing to enforce quality standards with vendors.
Develop and Monitor Quality Department Budget, establishing and documenting the budget and analyzing/reporting status.
Establish Training Programs and continually monitor their effectiveness for Operations and Quality personnel.
Implement Programs Supporting Upstate Niagara’s Commitment to Product Excellence.
Establish Plant Quality Metrics in cooperation with Corporate QA.
Issue Weekly Plant Quality Report.
Represent the Plant in weekly and quarterly Quality Committee meetings.
Maintain Log of Concessions and communicate concessions effectively to Corporate Quality.
Design and Implement Quality Programs as required by Corporate QA (e.g., Hold Policy, Recall Policy, Pathogen Testing, Customer Complaint Resolution, HACCP).