Supervisor, Quality

Saputo Inc. • Decatur, AL

1d • $70,000 - $84,000

About The Position

The Quality Assurance Supervisor directly supervises laboratory employees to maximize productivity while maintaining high quality and food safety standards. The role includes training employees, planning and assigning work, directing daily activities, addressing product and employee complaints, and resolving problems. The supervisor carries out these responsibilities in accordance with company policies and applicable federal, state, and local regulations.

The position supports quality assurance and food safety systems across the department and plant, including process evaluation and product protection programs, specifications and standards, sanitation, HACCP and GMP programs, labeling, storage, and distribution. It coordinates schedules and staffing to ensure laboratory coverage and production support, supports audits, reviews records, analyzes variances, and recommends improvements to production methods, equipment performance, and product quality. The supervisor also maintains quality and food safety records, updates product testing procedures, and collaborates with other supervisors to coordinate departmental activities.

The role oversees employee selection, retention, feedback, discipline, performance management, training, and development. It requires planning, evaluating, organizing, integrating, and delegating, and adherence to the Saputo Code of Ethics and Values. The position primarily works day shift, with flexibility to work varying hours and weekends based on plant and staffing needs.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a science-based field such as Microbiology, Food Science, or Dairy Science, or at least 3 years of demonstrated laboratory experience in a leadership role; dairy food manufacturing experience is preferred.
• Familiarity with Good Manufacturing Practices.
• Experience leading and following safety and security policies and procedures.
• Ability to follow sanitation and quality policies and procedures, report deficiencies, and follow through on them.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to adapt to changing organizational and operational needs and lead others through change.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills and attention to detail.
• Strong teamwork and leadership skills, including the ability to work across functions and disciplines.
• Ability to select, lead, coach, influence, motivate, develop, engage, and retain a team of employees.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to understand cost-containment and budgetary principles.
• Flexibility to work varying hours and weekends based on plant and staffing needs.

Nice To Haves

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, LIMS applications, and SAP; SAP is preferred.
• Laboratory leadership experience in dairy food manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Lead and direct laboratory team members to maximize product quality, food safety, and productivity.
• Ensure procedures are established and followed for product quality, employee safety, and compliance with state and federal guidelines.
• Support quality assurance systems that meet internal and customer requirements, including process evaluation, product protection, specifications and standards, sanitation, HACCP and GMP programs, labeling, storage, and distribution.
• Support food safety systems and procedures throughout the department and plant.
• Coordinate work schedules and estimate labor-hour requirements to ensure continuous laboratory coverage and production support.
• Support internal and external audits.
• Review records and report variances to the Supervisor.
• Recommend improvements to production methods, equipment performance, and product quality.
• Analyze and resolve work, quality, and food safety variances through root cause analysis, and support team problem-solving activities.
• Maintain quality and food safety records.
• Collaborate with other supervisors to coordinate departmental activities.
• Supervise assigned employees’ schedules and daily activities, including selection, retention, feedback, disciplinary action, and performance management.
• Participate in grievances or other contract-related activities and discussions when a collective bargaining agreement exists.
• Review and update product testing procedures.
• Train and instruct employees on quality and food safety standards and processes; oversee instruction, implementation, and enforcement of policies.
• Plan, evaluate, organize, integrate, and delegate as required in managerial responsibilities.
• Adhere to the Saputo Code of Ethics and apply Saputo Values.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Development opportunities that enhance career fulfillment.
• Meaningful compensation and benefits to help employees care for their families.
• Opportunities to contribute to the community and enhance the lives of others through Saputo products.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager