Supervisor, Quality Assurance

Mizkan America•Owensboro, KY

33d•$70,000 - $80,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Supervisor, Quality Assurance oversees and enforces plant quality initiatives, including execution of food safety and quality programs, supervision of quality activities, plant microbiological testing, and leadership of quality investigations. The role is the on-shift point of contact for plant sanitation personnel and is based onsite at Mizkan America’s Owensboro facility. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 2:00 PM–10:00 PM, with overtime, weekends, holidays, rotating shifts, or on-call coverage as applicable. The supervisor executes food safety and quality plans on the production floor; coordinates microbiological testing and laboratory equipment readiness; verifies sanitation effectiveness; leads floor audits, investigations, and corrective actions; reviews shift HACCP and finished-product quality records; and supervises auditors and sanitation staff. The position works with Quality leadership and plant teams to maintain compliance, improve programs, train employees, and ensure product meets release criteria. The role also requires maintaining current knowledge of regulatory requirements and completing specified training upon hiring. The position requires a bachelor’s degree in food science, engineering, or a related field and five years of relevant food quality experience, or an associate degree with seven years of proven quality operations experience may be considered. Extensive laboratory experience and microbiological testing experience are required. The position involves physical activity including standing, walking, reaching, bending, twisting, ascending and descending, and handling loads up to 50 pounds (heavier loads with assistance). Annual salary is $70,000–$80,000, with eligibility for a short-term incentive plan target bonus of 7%.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in food science, engineering, or a related field and five years of relevant food quality experience; an associate degree with seven years of proven quality operations experience may be considered.
Extensive experience in a laboratory setting, with strong experience in microbiological testing.
One to two years of microbiological testing experience, including preparation and reading of sample results.
Strong organizational, problem-solving, and analytical skills.
Strong computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with individuals and groups at all organizational levels.
Ability to travel up to five percent of the time.
Ability to maintain a professional, businesslike appearance and demeanor.
Complete Thermal Processing School upon hiring.
Complete Lead Auditor Training upon hiring.
Complete HACCP and PCQI training upon hiring.
Willingness and flexibility to adapt to changing business needs and deadlines.
Ability to perform the stated physical activities and pull, push, lift, and carry up to 50 pounds; loads over 50 pounds require assistance.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States; the company cannot provide or assume employment visa sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

One to two years of supervisory experience is preferred.
Experience in a high-speed packaging or processing plant is preferred.
FSPCA Preventive Controls for Human Food course completion is preferred.

Responsibilities

Perform duties in accordance with company safety policies, OSHA regulations, GMP, and SOP requirements.
Execute the food safety and quality plan on the production floor throughout the assigned shift.
Coordinate and perform plant microbiological testing, including environmental monitoring, plant water testing, and cleaning validation sampling; ensure samples are collected, handled, documented, and tested according to approved procedures.
Assist with laboratory equipment calibration and documentation, and coordinate installation, verification, qualification, and user training for new laboratory equipment as applicable.
Serve as the on-shift point of contact for sanitation personnel.
Verify completion and effectiveness of on-shift cleaning and sanitation tasks.
Lead daily scheduled Quality Floor Audits and provide coaching and training to promote compliance, detect abnormalities, reduce deviations, and sustain good practices.
Lead investigations of incidents, deviations, and nonconforming conditions; place affected product on hold and report it; identify root causes and corrective actions; and verify correction of nonconforming process conditions before line restart.
Sign off on post-maintenance handovers to verify required procedures and standards before equipment returns to service.
Collaborate with other Quality Shift Supervisors, the Senior QA Supervisor, and the Quality Manager to improve food safety and quality programs.
Review and sign off on shift HACCP and finished-product quality testing records for completeness, required signatures, and compliance with release criteria before submission for product release.
Partner with Quality leadership to develop, deliver, track, and verify HACCP and new-hire food safety training for the assigned shift, including temporary employees.
Participate in internal and external audits as required.
Work any shift or schedule needed to meet position demands and provide coverage for other supervisors or staff as required.
Supervise Finished Product Auditors, HACCP Floor Auditors, and sanitation staff during the assigned shift, ensuring effectiveness, efficiency, and appropriate overtime control.
Stay current with regulatory requirements and communicate applicable changes to the plant.
Apply quality specifications, in-process checks, finished-product checks, and Statistical Process Control principles.
Perform traceability exercises and annual mock recalls.
Maintain laboratory supplies for Finished Product Auditors as assigned.
Update food safety forms and control charts as assigned.
Lead and develop the Quality team through coaching, accountability, and employee development.
Promote a culture in which food safety and quality are integrated into operations, and partner with plant leadership and cross-functional teams to drive compliance and continuous improvement.
Hold team members accountable to performance, safety, GMP, and quality standards; drive root-cause problem solving and sustainable corrective actions.
Perform other job duties as required.