Quality Manager

Refresco Careers•San Antonio, TX

10d

About The Position

The Quality Manager oversees the site’s quality department and is responsible for total product and package quality, food safety and quality cost management, safety, compliance, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), and execution of quality protocols to meet plant objectives. The role reports to the Plant Manager and leads the facility’s SQF program and food safety and quality management systems. It manages quality personnel and processes, laboratory and microbiology operations, water treatment, syrup blending, sanitation, raw materials, inspections, documentation, audits, and corrective actions. The Quality Manager also supports regulatory and certification compliance, cost and resource management, capital planning, employee development, and site improvement projects. The position operates in a fast-paced production plant. The schedule may include weekdays, weekends, afternoons, evenings, and overnight work, with overtime scheduled as needed. Travel is anticipated rarely. The role involves sitting for periods of time, pronounced deadline and production-related pressure, and working around noise that requires hearing protection and temperatures that can become very hot or relatively cold; the laboratory is temperature controlled. The work environment is structured and supervised.

Requirements

Undergraduate degree in Food Science, Quality, or a related discipline or field.
Minimum 5 years of direct Quality management experience in a manufacturing environment.
Knowledge of quality management systems, HACCP plans, food safety and security standards, and governmental regulations relating to the food and beverage industry.
Proficiency in Lab Data Collection Program, Excel, Word, SAP, and PowerPoint.
Ability to analyze and solve problems and be results oriented.
Organized, detail oriented, and adaptable to change.
Excellent verbal and written interpersonal and communication skills.
Ability to apply statistical methods to analyze data and identify trends.
Ability to read and understand the metric system.
Ability to lead teams in site projects.

Nice To Haves

Direct Quality management experience in the food or beverage industry is preferred.
SQF Practitioner certification is preferred.
Familiarity with GFSI, FDA, and other relevant standards and regulations is preferred.

Responsibilities

Ensure compliance with health and safety policies and procedures, GMPs, and PPE requirements.
Ensure compliance with food quality and food safety standards established by corporate, customers, and governing bodies, including GFSI requirements.
Manage the Quality team, KPIs, continuous improvement project goals, costs, waste reduction, employee training, and department morale.
Manage and utilize laboratory analytical and microbiology operations, water treatment, syrup blending, sanitation, microbiological equipment, raw materials, and quality processes.
Optimize resources and ensure raw materials and finished products meet specifications and manufacturing standards, including applicable FDA, CFIA, GMP, HACCP, and other governmental requirements.
Support and maintain third-party food safety and quality certification compliance, including implementation and continual improvement of facility management systems.
Develop, implement, maintain, and continually improve the SQF System and ensure compliance with relevant food safety and quality requirements.
Oversee daily quality inspections to ensure products meet compliance requirements.
Write, update, and maintain Standard Operating Procedures for the Quality Program.
Lead the internal audit process through continual improvement, sharing best practices, and teamwork.
Use plant financial information to understand fixed and variable costs, the effect of other cost centers and production volume on quality costs, and variable labor management.
Participate in future capital planning, prepare capital requests using the current format, and manage capital projects through completion.
Lead development, implementation, review, and maintenance of Food Safety Fundamentals, Food Safety and Quality Plans, and the SQF program; communicate relevant information to employees.
Ensure food safety and quality documents are securely stored, maintained, and accessible.
Manage departmental non-conformances and corrective actions, ensuring documentation and timely closure of outstanding actions.
Ensure compliance with OSHA, environmental regulations, and corporate standards; investigate non-compliance and identify root causes.
Lead and direct employees, including hiring, performance management, termination, training, instruction, performance evaluations, and guidance on work standards and expected outcomes.
Plan and evaluate performance, staff training and development, and recruitment; contribute to pay recommendations as applicable.
Develop strategies for a safe working environment focused on accident reduction, energy minimization, and waste minimization.
Serve as the facility’s SQF Practitioner.
Lead teams in site projects such as waste reduction, validation, and new product launch.