Supervisor, Quality

Saputo•Decatur, AL

12d

About The Position

The Quality Assurance Supervisor directly supervises laboratory employees to maximize productivity and uphold 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 provides leadership for the lab team and supports quality assurance and food safety systems across the department and plant. It coordinates schedules to maintain laboratory coverage and production support, supports internal and external audits, reviews records and reports variances, and recommends improvements to production methods, equipment performance, and product quality. The supervisor uses root cause analysis to address work, quality, and food safety variances and maintains quality and food safety records. The role also supervises employee scheduling and performance management, including selection, retention, feedback, discipline, and development. It reviews and updates product testing procedures and trains employees on quality and food safety standards and processes. The position primarily works day shift, with flexibility to work varying hours and weekends according to plant and staffing needs. Compensation is $70,000–$84,000, depending on qualifications and experience.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a science-based area of study, such as Microbiology, Food Science, or Dairy Science, preferred; alternatively, at least 3 years of demonstrated laboratory experience in a leadership role, preferably in dairy food manufacturing.
Familiarity with Good Manufacturing Practices.
Experience leading and following safety and security policies and procedures.
Ability to follow sanitation and quality policies and procedures, and report and follow through on deficiencies.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and LIMS application; SAP preferred.
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.
Organizational and prioritization skills, with attention to detail.
Ability to work as a strong team player and leader across multiple 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

Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, Food Science, Dairy Science, or another science-based field.
Laboratory leadership experience in dairy food manufacturing.
Experience with SAP.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership and direction to 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, including process evaluation and product protection programs, process specifications and standards, sanitation programs, HACCP and GMP programs, production labeling, and product 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 members in 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 effective 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 part of managerial responsibilities.
Adhere to the Saputo Code of Ethics and apply Saputo Values.
Perform other duties as assigned.