Quality Assurance Manager

Fresh Del Monte Produce Company•Kankakee, IL

About The Position

The Quality Assurance Manager oversees the Quality Assurance department and staff and develops, implements, and monitors company policies and procedures related to food safety, food security, and quality assurance. The role maintains product and process compliance, leads audits and corrective actions, manages sanitation and laboratory programs, investigates complaints, and collaborates with corporate teams, operations, sales, suppliers, and customers. It also prepares periodic reports for Corporate Research & Development and handles special projects as assigned. The position requires a four-year college degree in Agriculture, Food Science, or a related subject, or equivalent work experience; 3–5 years of experience in a similar position; HACCP training or certification and hands-on microbiology skills; and auditor certification in a GFSI standard such as FSSC, SQF, or BRC. Knowledge of Microsoft Office, communication and multitasking skills, risk assessment skills, and crisis management experience are also required. Relocation expenses are not provided.

Requirements

Four-year college degree in Agriculture, Food Science, or a related subject, or equivalent work experience.
3–5 years of previous work experience in a similar position.
HACCP training and/or certification.
Hands-on microbiology skills.
Certified auditor in GFSI standards such as FSSC, SQF, or BRC.
Knowledge of Microsoft Office programs, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
Excellent communication skills.
Ability to multitask.
Risk assessment skills.
Crisis management experience.

Responsibilities

Continuously evaluate quality systems and submit recommendations for changes to Corporate Research & Development.
Oversee and implement food safety and sanitation programs, including HACCP and GMPs.
Ensure application and updates of Food Safety and Food Security Certification standards and procedures.
Maintain sanitation program compliance, including daily processing-room and equipment sanitation, pre-operational sanitation checks, and operational sanitation programs.
Ensure appropriate staffing, scheduling, training, delegation, disciplinary actions, and annual reviews for the Quality Assurance and Sanitation Departments.
Ensure employees receive required internal and external training, and evaluate their development and progress through theoretical and practical training and workplace applicability.
Track the status of company claims for each consignment, including supplier credit notes and whether goods were auctioned, destroyed, or re-exported.
Conduct shelf-life studies on finished goods when products change, including changes to packaging or ingredients.
Facilitate internal, second-party, third-party, and regulatory agency audits and facility inspections.
Complete and submit corrective actions to the auditing entity and Corporate Research & Development.
Maintain compliance with company and customer finished-product specifications, special-handling procedures, and production-monitoring programs.
Review and analyze quality assurance KPIs and trends, and develop improvement plans using benchmarking.
Investigate customer complaints, analyze quality issues, and implement corrective and preventive actions through appropriate investigations.
Implement site-specific protocols and procedures with reference to the Corporate Quality Systems Manual.
Interact with customers on product development and problem-solving projects.
Manage the internal laboratory in compliance with corporate policies, EPA and OSHA requirements, and Good Laboratory Practices.
Manage the Finished Product Retain Evaluation Program, microbiological finished-product testing, and environmental monitoring programs.
Prepare periodic reports for Corporate Research & Development.
Maintain communication with managers and Corporate QA to ensure finished-product quality processes are maintained.
Coordinate with the General Manager, Operations Managers, and Maintenance Managers on quality assurance issues, and establish SOPs, SSOPs, and preventive maintenance programs.
Serve as liaison among internal operations, sales, and customers for food safety, quality, and food security inquiries.
Coordinate and manage the pest control program, including service verification, maps, applicator licenses, and chemical usage.
Complete special projects as assigned.