Job Description
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Quality Assurance Food Safety Manager functions as a key member of the senior management team by being responsible for leading all aspects of quality, food safety, manufacturing regulations and overall sanitation within the SQF production facility. The QAFSM is responsible for developing, monitoring and maintaining Quality Assurance systems and programs to assure product integrity and compliance with SQF, GMP, HAACP, regulatory, customer standards and company Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). They must also promote healthy, clean processing standards, documentation, training and employee development.
JOB REQUIREMENTS:
● 5+ years of Quality Assurance Management experience
● BA/BS Degree, Food Science, Food Technology, or a related field
● Education and experience in food-related technology, safety and management required
● Certification and training in SQF, HACCP, Food Safety required
● Experience working with regulatory agencies such as USDA, FDA, SQF and BV
● Excellent managerial, organizational, interpersonal skills, attention to detail, and ability to adapt to different needs and working styles of managers
● Must be a self-starter, able to work independently as well as part of a team to help achieve goals and maintain compliance
● Resourceful problem solver with ability to prioritize and tackle tasks each week
● Trustworthy and reliable with confidential communications
● Positive attitude and fortitude to work through an ever-changing, growing, and dynamic operation
● Proficient in Spanish preferred
PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:
● Work closely with all departments to ensure the facility is always operating at the highest level of food safety standards. Ensure all staff follow and enforce rules, adhering to safety, food safety, and company SOPs.
● Closely support the Sanitation Manager in making sure proper cleaning and sanitation procedures are being followed
● Effectively manage the QA team, keeping all team members on task, and upholding a positive, food-safe culture
●Responsible for overseeing and managing the safe production of all products that meet company objectives. Monitor, report and fix deviations to standards
● Work in collaboration with the production management, operations and R&D teams to ensure standards are being met, and proper data is being collected
● Utilize food safety audit-readiness software to manage day-to-day operations and hold team members accountable
●Maintain supplier and internal documents as required by SQF – including, but not limited to, GFSI Certificates, COAs, COCs, raw material spec sheets, safety data sheets, product integrity logs, temperature tracking, trailer inspections, etc.
●Responsible for implementation and training of SQF rules, GMPs and compliance with regulatory standards
● Respond to and resolve customer quality complaints, conducting investigations and root cause analyses, implementing corrective and preventative actions where necessary
●Hold monthly senior management meetings to discuss complaints, non-conformances and implementation of solutions
● Create and maintain guides, conduct training for team members and visitors on GMPs, sanitation and food safety standards as required by SQF
● Work closely with R&D and production teams to document adherence to product specifications, production runs, results, timing, proper labeling, samples and trials
● Ensure the highest quality standards and good business relations are maintained with customers and governing agency representatives, such as USDA, FDA, and BV
● Verifies food safety and quality from supplier factories from raw material stage to finished product. Verifies texture, visual quality, shelf life, extended shelf life, temperature logs, packing alternatives along with R&D team
● Prepare regular reports and KPI’s to establish accomplishments and efforts toward meeting objectives
● Oversee the launch of new products or trials, documenting production run data, customer and employee feedback
● Perform various lab tests to verify and validate food safety
● May participate in sensory and test panels, documenting the results
● May complete a variety of routine office tasks that may include typing, preparing reports, completing research, tracking information and KPI’s, preparing or updating spreadsheets, copying, scanning, etc.