Supervisor QFS

Post Holdings • Lawrence, KS

236d

About The Position

As a Quality & Food Safety Supervisor in pet food production, you will be responsible for overseeing and ensuring the highest standards of food safety and quality throughout the manufacturing process. Your key responsibilities will include monitoring production activities to ensure compliance with safety, quality, and sanitation standards, conducting regular inspections and implementing safety protocols to meet regulatory requirements, leading a team of quality assurance and food safety personnel, providing training on food safety, quality, and sanitation practices, and collaborating with other departments to address and resolve any quality issues. Your role is crucial in maintaining the integrity and safety of our pet food products, ensuring they meet both company standards and customer expectations. You will accomplish this by supporting, implementing, and maintaining food safety practices as required through internal and external audits and regulatory inspections.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree preferred (Technical, Science, Engineering or a related degree preferred).
• Minimum of three years of experience in a quality role required.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and proven experience in developing people required.
• Basic understanding of chemistry and microbiology required.
• Experience in managing people and/or teams in a high-performance work environment preferred.
• Prior experience in food processing and/or manufacturing preferred.
• Thorough working knowledge of cGMPs (current Good Manufacturing Practices).
• Strong proficiency in Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, along with basic statistical knowledge.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret technical procedures, policies, and governmental regulations.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedural manuals, and to effectively present information in various settings.
• Effective communication skills with internal and external parties at multiple levels.
• Ability to understand and write standard operation procedures and work instructions.
• Keen awareness and enforcement of safety procedures and precautions.
• Strong organizational, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Familiarity with HACCP and FSMA food safety plans a plus.
• PCQI certification in Animal Food a plus.
• Willingness to receive ongoing training in FSMA and cGMP practices.
• Excellent organizational skills related to people, projects, and data.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and influence cross functional teams.
• Experience in environments that value peer-to-peer collaboration and upward management.
• Ability to work effectively across organizational boundaries and with diverse teams.
• Capability to compile, analyze, and present collected data in summary form.
• Proficient in communicating technical, scientific, and regulatory information.
• Strong interpersonal and presentation skills, including the ability to make presentations, facilitate meetings, probe for root cause, and provide training.
• Ability to be a decisive, proactive, and strategic decision-maker while role modeling balance for others.
• Willingness to work a flexible schedule across multiple shifts as needed to support the organization.
• Readiness to address key and/or critical issues whenever necessary.

Responsibilities

• Ensure the department meets safety, quality, and sanitation standards.
• Oversee team development, including skill building, performance management, staffing strategy, and developing a 'flow to the work' culture.
• Partner with Quality & Food Safety Manager to develop and deliver QFS goals and initiatives.
• Exemplify the company's mission and values to foster alignment and engagement through the organization.
• Ensure clear communication and retention of essential business information and general expectations by all team members.
• Develop and coach the technical and leadership skills of Quality & Food Safety team members to enhance peak performance through the performance management system.
• Assist in developing and executing key technical and organizational projects, while enhancing Quality Management System capabilities within the organization.
• Drive department issues to root cause while fostering a zero-loss, continuous improvement culture.
• Champion the QFS Daily Operation Review to ensure daily planning and follow-through on open items to completion.
• Collaborate effectively across all departments and leadership functions.
• Provide technical food safety, quality, and sanitation support to Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, and other departments, with a focus on continuous improvement, consumer and customer requirements, and consistent product quality.
• Ensure compliance with all aspects of the PCB Quality Systems, including cGMP and GFSI certification, as well as adherence to food safety, quality, and sanitation requirements.
• Maintain historical QFS records as mandated by regulatory agencies.
• Conduct process and system audits to ensure individual unit operations are in conformance with site and corporate food safety, quality, and sanitation procedures.
• Ensure facility is prepared for announced and unannounced GFSI and regulatory audits, including maintaining both procedures and records (physical and electronic).
• Manage the Roundtable of Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) audit program for site.
• Facilitate scheduling and timely completion of the internal audit and GMP & Facility inspection programs for the site, and log and track all findings in the CAPA system.
• Support QFS Manager with FDA and Kansas Dept. of Ag documentation and inspections.
• Enter audit findings in CAPA system, tracking corrective & preventive actions to completion.
• Collaborate with department managers to ensure timely completion of all CAPAs.
• Conduct CAPA effectiveness reviews and report any gaps to the QFS Manager.
• Manage the creation and revision of food safety, quality, and sanitation system documents.
• Coordinate, perform, and write work instructions as needed.
• Collaborate with Department Managers to organize and maintain current site procedures.
• Develop and conduct Quality & Food Safety function trainings in coordination with the QFS Manager and/or training department.
• Assist with QFS-related build and maintenance of site data collection systems, such as Redzone.
• Ensure compliance to all QFS standards, hygienic zoning, and cGMP requirements.
• Maintain open communication with the production team to ensure integrity of raw materials and finished product.
• Aid the QFS Specialist in investigating finished product holds and proposing disposition to QFS Manager in a timely manner.
• Consult with production management on out of tolerance ingredients, processes, and materials to minimize the impact of finished product quality.
• Review documentation of preventive controls to ensure compliance with corporate and legal standards.
• Guide laboratory leads and technicians in evaluating the food safety and quality characteristics of ingredients, intermediates, and finished products.
• Support the QFS Specialist in overseeing all lab equipment maintenance and calibrations.
• Represent the department in interdisciplinary groups to provide recommendations for food safety, quality, and sanitation improvements.
• Lead QFS team in conducting reviews of production and sanitation records, food safety controls, quality checks, and holds, to proceed with positive release of products.
• Provide leadership and support for traceability exercises and mock recall activities.
• Function as the QFS responsible party onsite in the absence of the QFS Manager.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Repair and Maintenance
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree