Quality Lead

Russell Stover•Abilene, KS

12d•Onsite

About The Position

At Russell Stover, we are looking for a Quality Lead to work directly with the Quality Assurance manager and team members to ensure that only the finest product is shipped to our consumers. This role involves conducting quality inspections, resolving quality issues, investigating root causes, directing and training team members, and following proper procedure for all documentation. The Quality Lead will also learn the job functions of all quality team members to provide coverage during breaks, vacations, or sick leave. Key functions also include inventory management, audit preparation, and general leadership.

Requirements

18 years of age or older.
High school diploma or GED.
Excellent communication skills and the ability to speak, read, and write English fluently, with or without an accommodation.
Two or more years in a plant involved with quality and/or food safety tasks.
Experience using the MS Office Suite.
Ability to routinely and frequently stand, stoop, bend and lift overhead.
Must be able to differentiate between colors and shifts in colors.

Nice To Haves

HACCP and PCQI Certifications.
Sanitation experience.
SAP/CRM experience.
Results-driven with good interpersonal skills.
Strong conflict resolution and problem-solving skills to help drive culture of plantwide ownership of proactive FSQA process.

Responsibilities

Ensure QA department team performs and verifies food safety, sanitation, and quality programs per plant food safety plan, prerequisite programs, ssops, sops, and training.
Lead the QA team.
Provide floor support for audit preparation and during the audit.
Act as back-up to any hourly team member within the QA department.
Ensure that daily inventory (ingredients or consumables) shortages do not impact the plant meeting customer demand within the FSQA requirements.
Provide oversight and verification of food safety & quality programs such as traceability management including mock recalls.
Manage daily QA paperwork to ensure the department and plant team has the correct forms needed to meet FSQA requirements, including updating and managing QA setup and the weights master log.
Manage lab ingredient inventory, batching process, traceability paperwork review, and SAP minor usage to ensure batching meets schedule needs.
Manage expired and obsolete product, working cross-functionally with other plant departments to ensure FSQA requirements are met while minimizing impact to schedule, compliance, and OEE.
Oversee CCPs and PRP floor implementation.
Oversee CAPA floor implementation.
Be an active member in root cause analysis and preventative measures on the floor.
Conduct QA department training, including new QA team members, updating training for current QA team, and annual requalification.
Conduct daily PCQI audit review, including documentation tracking and follow-up on corrective and preventative actions.
Act as the first line of contact for plant FSQA procedures and sanitation SSOPs implementation on the floor, answering questions and providing guidance.
Provide floor support for audits in preparation and during the audit.
Manage the hold management program on the floor daily, ensuring all potentially affected product is segregated and identified, and working with other departments to complete final disposition with proper documentation.
Manage department consumable inventory to ensure FSQA required tasks can be completed and the department stays within the FSQA manager’s budget plan.
Report directly to the FSQA Supervisor and escalate concerns or issues to the Food Safety Coordinator or specialist in their absence.
Adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to ensure product quality and maintain compliance with food safety standards.
Complete and follow FSQA training and programs to comply with regulatory requirements, ensure consumer safety, and support the plant’s food safety and quality objectives.
Promptly report and take appropriate action on any observed or potential food safety hazards, process deviations, or non-conformities by notifying the designated plant supervisor.
Actively contribute to the continuous improvement of the company’s Food Safety Culture through engagement and actions aligned with your role.