Regional Quality Manager

Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc.•Fayetteville, AR

1h•$85,000 - $100,000

About The Position

The Regional Quality Manager oversees, assists with, and supports Prairie Farms Dairy’s corporate Quality and Food Safety Program and supports plants within the assigned region. The role routinely travels to 6–8 manufacturing locations, with the goal of visiting each plant at least quarterly. The manager works closely with plant QA managers and other leaders to build effective working relationships, address quality issues, review plant data and complaints, provide training, conduct audits, and support regulatory, certification, and customer audits. The position also reviews environmental results, laboratory counts, scorecards, service reports, and chemical costs; observes sanitation practices; and collaborates with the Corporate QA team to improve quality and food safety programs. Additional projects and duties may be assigned. The role requires travel and work across plant environments and shifts, including hot, cold, wet, and humid conditions. The manager must maintain a safe, clean work area and follow applicable plant safety, PPE, food safety, and program requirements.

Requirements

Previous experience working in a food manufacturing facility.
3–5 years of experience in Quality Assurance.
Ability to work without direct supervision.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to follow and communicate written and verbal instructions.
Ability to work well with and direct others in completing tasks and cleaning procedures.
Strong leadership, interpersonal, and conflict-resolution skills.
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
Ability to act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
Willingness to learn and ability to quickly learn organizational systems.
Ability to perform detailed work.
Analytical skills for interpreting data.
Strategic thinking to develop training plans and reports.
Ability to collaborate with personnel across multiple locations.
Ability to lift 10 pounds frequently and occasionally lift up to 50 pounds.
Ability to communicate effectively in quiet and loud conditions.
Ability to climb, stoop, crawl, twist, turn, move objects above and below the head, and walk continually.
Ability to work in varied plant conditions, including very hot temperatures above 100°F, very cold temperatures below 20°F, and wet and humid environments for extended periods.
Ability to travel and work all shifts and days of the week.

Responsibilities

Routinely travel to 6–8 assigned manufacturing locations and attempt to visit each plant at least quarterly.
Work with QA managers and other plant leaders to build productive working relationships and pursue common goals.
Assist in resolving quality issues at assigned locations.
Review complaints for assigned plants and follow up on trends or reports involving foreign material, illness, hospitalization, or legal counsel.
Review environmental results, laboratory counts, scorecards, and other relevant data as received.
Provide training at plants when qualified and requested by plant management.
Conduct internal audits at assigned plants and other plants as scheduled.
Attend SQF certification audits and FDA check ratings at assigned locations.
Attend state regulatory inspections and customer audits when requested or needed for support.
Observe sanitation practices at assigned plants.
Assist with group training delivered by the Corporate QA team.
Collaborate with the Corporate QA team to update and improve quality and food safety programs.
Review service reports and chemical costs, follow up on noted issues, and report on assigned locations’ chemical usage at the Ecolab annual review.
Take ownership of projects and perform other duties as assigned.
Attend required GMP, Food Defense Awareness, allergen, and Alchemy training.
Meet SQF Program and FSMA Preventative Controls requirements, including PCQI and intentional adulteration training requirements.
Comply with FMP requirements, plant PPE procedures, and plant safety rules and policies.
Perform product sensory evaluations; work around cleaning solutions and chemical-cleaning activities; and move through plant areas as required.
Keep the work area safe and clean and work safely and efficiently.