Quality Manager II

Refresco Careers•Wharton, NJ

10d

About The Position

The Quality Manager II oversees the site’s quality department and is responsible for total product and package quality, food safety and quality cost management, safety, compliance, GMPs, and execution of quality protocols to meet plant quality objectives. The role directly manages the Quality team and the facility’s laboratory, water treatment, syrup blending, sanitation, microbiological equipment, raw materials, and quality processes. It ensures products and materials meet specifications and applicable manufacturing, food safety, and regulatory requirements, and maintains the facility’s food safety and quality management systems, including the SQF System. The Quality Manager is the facility’s SQF Practitioner. The role leads employee training and performance management, quality and food safety audits, corrective actions, continuous improvement, and site projects. It also contributes to cost management and capital planning, supports a safe work environment, and ensures required food safety and quality documentation is maintained and accessible. The position reports to the Plant Manager. The role operates in a fast-paced production plant with moving equipment and a structured, supervised environment. Noise may require hearing protection, and temperatures may be very hot or relatively cold, though the laboratory is temperature controlled. The role may involve sitting for periods, pronounced deadline and production pressure, and rare travel. Weekday, weekend, afternoon, evening, and overnight work may be required, with overtime scheduled as needed.

Requirements

Undergraduate degree in Food Science, Quality, or a related discipline or field.
At least 5 years of direct Quality management experience in a manufacturing environment.
Proficiency with a 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.
Knowledge of quality management systems, HACCP plans, food safety and security standards, and governmental regulations relating to the food and beverage industry.
Ability to lead teams and communicate with other departments, suppliers, stakeholders, and employees.

Nice To Haves

Experience in the food or beverage industry.
SQF Practitioner certification.
Familiarity with GFSI, FDA, and other relevant standards and regulations.

Responsibilities

Ensure compliance with health and safety policies and procedures, GMPs, PPE requirements, and applicable food quality and food safety standards.
Manage the Quality team to achieve KPIs and continuous improvement goals, track costs, reduce waste, oversee training, and maintain department morale.
Manage and utilize the laboratory, water treatment, syrup blending, sanitation, microbiological equipment, raw materials, and quality processes.
Ensure raw materials and finished products meet specifications and applicable manufacturing, FDA, CFIA, GMP, HACCP, and other governmental requirements.
Maintain compliance with third-party food safety and quality certifications and continually improve the facility’s food safety and quality 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 and maintain Quality Program standard operating procedures.
Champion internal audits, continuous improvement, shared best practices, and teamwork.
Use plant financial information to understand fixed and variable costs, the impact of other cost centers and production volume on costs, and management of variable labor.
Participate in planning capital requirements, prepare capital requests, 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 safely stored, maintained, and accessible.
Manage departmental non-conformances and corrective actions, ensuring actions are documented and closed promptly.
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 staff development.
Plan and evaluate employee performance, training and development, and recruitment, and may contribute to pay recommendations.
Develop strategies for a safe working environment, accident reduction, and energy and waste minimization.
Serve as the facility’s SQF Practitioner and lead site projects such as waste reduction, validation, and new product launches.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts.
Life and AD&D insurance, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and accident insurance.
Short-term and long-term disability insurance.
Pet insurance.
Legal benefits.
401(k) savings plan with company match.
12 paid holidays.
Vacation days and paid sick time off.
Well-being benefit.
Discount and Total Reward programs.
Eligibility for performance-based bonuses based on company objectives.