Quality Assurance Supervisor

Irca Group•Union City, CA

6d•$60,000 - $120,000•Onsite

About The Position

IRCA is a leading international provider of semi-finished ingredients for the bakery, pastry and gelato markets, serving independent producers as well as large food manufacturers (e.g. CPG). Core products include chocolate, chocolate decorations, creams, pastry mixes, gelato ingredients, and other bakery / pastry ingredients. The Company, headquartered in Italy, was acquired by Advent International, the global Private Equity firm, in July 2022, and has a strong track record of growth over the last decade. IRCA has made 2 bolt-on acquisitions in the areas of candied fruits (Cesarin) and pistachio ingredients (Anastasi) in 2022, and recently entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire a leading manufacturer of sweet and cereal products in Europe and the US. The target’s business focuses on high-value add specialty ingredients for the Food Manufacturers segment, with a portfolio that incorporates a range of products including sweet particulates, chocolate confections, baked inclusions, variegates and fruit purées. This transformative deal would create a global leader in the semi-finished ingredients industry, with 22 manufacturing facilities in Europe, US and Vietnam and a combined €1 billion of revenues (2022). The 2nd shift Quality Assurance Supervisor will provide leadership in quality and technical matters to the plant team to comply with Corporate Quality Policy. Hiring and Supervision of Quality staff. This includes scheduling, approving time records, periodic evaluation, counselling, and performance documentation. Responsible for conducting departmental and job specific training. Conduct laboratory analyses and investigations, develop and apply new techniques. Notify key stakeholders of identified issues and ensure proper communication. Provide technical support for resolution of quality problems with operations. Maintain files of test results and product dispositions. Support Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). Maintain and update product specifications including customer specifications and raw material specifications to reflect any changes or product use requirements. Ensure finished product and raw materials are tested per specification. Monitor test results in relation to these specifications. Development and adherence to Quality SOP’s. Support the plant Food Safety & Quality System to produce safe quality food, acting as SQF Practitioner or equivalent GFSI manager (BRC, FS22000), including compliance to Food Safety Modernization Act. Prepare test schedules and procedures, solutions, and reagents for use by laboratory personnel in conducting tests. Maintain Good Laboratory Procedures (GLP’s) including calibration. Order laboratory supplies. In conjunction with the Quality Manager, update and support food safety programs and food safety systems: HACCP, sanitation, and environmental monitoring program. Maintain the quality systems for the plant. Ensure work instructions, SSOPs, procedures and other pertinent documentation is up to date. Recommend revisions plant work instructions as needed. Participate in quality complaint investigations. Verify corrective action completion and continued conformance. Perform and/or participate in internal and third-party audits while ensuring compliance to internal quality policies and applicable local regulations through the audits, observations, process reviews, and development of corrective actions with site management. Support facility during inspections, customer audits, communications, commercialization’s, inter plant transfers and other interactions with regulatory agencies or customers. Provide technical assistance to quality assurance and operations. Performs other duties and responsibilities as required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Food Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Microbiology, or similar science/Engineering.
Minimum 1-2 years of quality experience
Experience with laboratory, quality, and/or food safety systems
Knowledge of relevant GFSI standards such as SQF, BRC, IFS or FS 22000
Knowledge and understanding of Food Safety regulations, FSMA, and industry and market trends HACCP/food safety experience in food, chemical, or pharmaceutical industry
Knowledge and experience with quality management systems, GFSI audit standards, SSOPs,
Environmental hygiene programs, prerequisite programs, and HACCP
Ability to communicate effectively, both written and verbal, with a variety of stakeholders.
Effectively organize and manage numerous work tasks of a diverse nature.
Strong Computer Skills (Microsoft Office

Nice To Haves

Experience in a plant environment preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership in quality and technical matters to the plant team to comply with Corporate Quality Policy.
Hiring and Supervision of Quality staff. This includes scheduling, approving time records, periodic evaluation, counselling, and performance documentation.
Responsible for conducting departmental and job specific training.
Conduct laboratory analyses and investigations, develop and apply new techniques.
Notify key stakeholders of identified issues and ensure proper communication.
Provide technical support for resolution of quality problems with operations.
Maintain files of test results and product dispositions.
Support Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).
Maintain and update product specifications including customer specifications and raw material specifications to reflect any changes or product use requirements.
Ensure finished product and raw materials are tested per specification.
Monitor test results in relation to these specifications.
Development and adherence to Quality SOP’s.
Support the plant Food Safety & Quality System to produce safe quality food, acting as SQF Practitioner or equivalent GFSI manager (BRC, FS22000), including compliance to Food Safety Modernization Act.
Prepare test schedules and procedures, solutions, and reagents for use by laboratory personnel in conducting tests.
Maintain Good Laboratory Procedures (GLP’s) including calibration.
Order laboratory supplies.
In conjunction with the Quality Manager, update and support food safety programs and food safety systems: HACCP, sanitation, and environmental monitoring program.
Maintain the quality systems for the plant.
Ensure work instructions, SSOPs, procedures and other pertinent documentation is up to date.
Recommend revisions plant work instructions as needed.
Participate in quality complaint investigations.
Verify corrective action completion and continued conformance.
Perform and/or participate in internal and third-party audits while ensuring compliance to internal quality policies and applicable local regulations through the audits, observations, process reviews, and development of corrective actions with site management.
Support facility during inspections, customer audits, communications, commercialization’s, inter plant transfers and other interactions with regulatory agencies or customers.
Provide technical assistance to quality assurance and operations.
Performs other duties and responsibilities as required.