Director, Quality Assurance

Provide leadership and oversight of quality assurance and food safety activities for multiple plant locations. Demonstrate thought leadership, executive maturity, business acumen, collaboration and a drive to execute with excellence. Measure progress and opportunities through metric management and compliance verification. Leverage expertise to manage risk, establish the proper mitigation controls and grow the business organically by building confidence and strong partnerships with customer base. Function as an integrated business partner to Retort Solutions.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Leadership and Stakeholder Management
  
  
  
  • Champion a culture of excellence with emphasis on food safety and integrity. Drive engagement through servant leadership
  • Create high performing teams that are customer centric and focused on preventive risk mitigation and predictive analytics. Develop and grow teams in a sustainable manner
  • Function as a key contributor as part of the FSQ leadership team. Help shape the strategies, programs and overall FSQ road map
  • Collaborate and work in tandem with R&D, sales, operations, BU leadership and other stakeholders
  • Serve as the FSQ contact for Retort Solutions' customers. Provide support for issue resolution, technical inquiries and metric management. Ensure compliance to customer agreements and monitor trends in data that may lead to rejection or non-compliance. Put preventive programs in place as needed
  • Create a strong partnership with manufacturing leadership and drive alignment regarding current state and any future planning/action regarding FSQ programs, capital needs and optimization of processes
  • Leverage data analytics to improve efficiencies, optimize cost of quality and minimize the cost of nonconformance
  • Provide timely communication, KPI reports and written summaries regarding projects, mitigation activities, findings and compliance to programs/policies (short, mid and long-range goals)
  
  
  
  

• Food Safety and Quality Management
  
  
  
  • Manage the food safety systems and quality assurance programs for the Retort Solutions' manufacturing sites to deliver against customer and regulatory requirements
  • Ensure food safety and quality plans are current, relevant and are being followed and implemented. Ensure all PC's/CCP's are appropriate, and records are complete and accurate
  • Lead serious issue management as it relates to assigned manufacturing sites
  • Apply knowledge of QC requirements; ensure application of GLP to laboratory operations, appropriateness of testing methodologies, analyst proficiency and accuracy and precision of analytical results. Verify QC programs at manufacturing sites are effectively and efficiently supporting production management
  • Monitor plant environmental monitoring programs and verify that their corrective actions and hygiene/sanitation programs are robust and mitigating risk. Provide leadership in mitigation activities
  • Proactively drive continuous improvement by understanding the gaps, and by reviewing trends and data analytics. Ensure root cause analysis/corrective and preventive actions (RCA/CAPAs) are robust and actions are closed in a timely manner. Work with the plant and operations on any items that require capital and ensure the completion of those requests.
  • Support the planning, due diligence, construction and commercialization of new plant or existing plant expansions
  • Provide direction and support to Corporate Sanitation efforts. Ensure Quality Managers review plant service reports and ensure action on any suggestions from the external representatives. Work with the Sanitarians to ensure continued training and education of chemical use, software, SSOP practices and sanitation verification activities
  • Participate in Food Safety Risk Assessment and infrastructure evaluation as needed. Work with Quality Managers to ensure action plans are developed and completed in a timely manner
  
  
  
  

• Technical Services
  
  
  
  • Support R&D, operations, and the business on evaluating new opportunities. Provide risk-based evaluations and customer driven solutions. Provide support and guidance for product commercialization
  
  
  
  

• Regulatory
  
  
  
  • Demonstrate knowledge on US and International regulations
  • Familiarity with LACF (low-acid canned foods) regulations (21CFR113)
  • Adequately interpret regulations, educate the business on regulations, and monitor/verify compliance to the regulations
  
  
  
  

• The requirements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employee, but is not a complete list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Other duties may be assigned

Minimum Requirements:

Education and Experience

• Bachelor of Science in Food Science, Biology, Chemistry or Chemical Engineering
• Master of Science in Food Science or Microbiology preferred
• 10 years' experience in FSQ within the food and beverage industry, preferably within the dairy category
• Experience working with thermally processed beverages including retort, aseptic and ESL
• Experience in a senior FSQ role with multi-plant experience supplying domestic and international markets
• Experience working in a manufacturing plant and operating in a centralized FSQ role
• 5+ years in a managerial position
• Experience in manufacturing technologies, food safety, quality systems, risk mitigation, regulatory compliance, quality control, product commercialization and customer engagement
• Certification and/or License - PCQI (preventive controls qualified individual), Better Process Control, Food Defense Qualified Individual. CMQ/OE certification through ASQ or equivalent preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Comprehensive knowledge in manufacturing technologies, regulatory compliance, product development, food safety, quality control and risk mitigation
• Ability to manage quality processes and methods in multiple locations and maintain consistency and compliance with all applicable regulations
• Ability to work and communicate with people at all levels of the organization
• Ability to demonstrate excellent troubleshooting, problem-solving, and follow-up skills
• Ability to demonstrate good leadership and coaching skills
• Must be able to read, write and speak English

An Equal Opportunity Employer