This position will manage and implement quality and food safety systems at the manufacturing site to meet or exceed customer, regulatory and company requirements.

This leader is responsible for assuring released product is safe for its intended use and that quality attributes are clearly monitored, reviewed and deemed acceptable.

The QA Manager will support all safety programs, policies and procedures, and have a personal value system that will assist in creating a work environment that is based on trust, human dignity, and honesty.

Essential Duties / Responsibilities:

Manage all quality and lab functions at the site, including sampling, testing, product dispositions and related technical services.
Coordinate and maintain site Food Safety Plans to meet FSMA (21 CFR 507) and food safety code standards for pet food, including management of required documentation, verifications and validations as it relates to preventive controls and pre-requisite programs.
Ensure compliance with all regulatory and product identity site requirements, including those required for USDA-APHIS certifications for export, Organic certifications and other programs as identified.
Serve as HACCP/HARPC/Food Safety Team Coordinator, PCQI and SQF Practitioner for the site. Work closely with site management team to drive adherence to food safety systems and programs. Lead initiatives as assigned, to include support of change management and continuous improvement.
Manage, support and/or influence policies and procedures to comply with quality and food safety requirements. Implement and provide training on new procedures as needed. Promote culture of audit-readiness at all times.
Implement/manage internal audit and CAPA systems to allow for easy tracking and close-out of site corrective and preventative measures.
Execute root cause analysis for non-conformances, including product quality, food safety or customer issues. Support production facility management team in responding to customer corrective actions. Interpret requirements and monitor activities to identify when further investigation may be needed.
Communicate effectively with internal customers (human resources, maintenance, shipping / receiving, purchasing, customer service, production, etc.) and external customers. Be a key leader for facility audits, including customer, third-party and/or regulatory inspections.
Recognize business risks associated with quality and food safety deviations; respond and communicate effectively and expediently according to identified risk.
Review and recommend changes to processes or equipment in areas of ownership to continuously improve quality assurance functions and services.
Management of site quality budget.
Support the Poultry Platform Director of Quality on specific or assigned projects.
Cross-train on quality programs and initiatives within Poultry as needed.
Ability to work varying shifts, weekends, holidays, and overnight as required.
The site backup PCQI will provide coverage for this position, with support from Platform and Corporate Quality, when the Quality Assurance Manager is absent or when the position is vacant.
 

Education / Experience
Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) from four-year college or university preferred. Degree considerations: Food Science, Agriculture, Animal Science, Chemistry, Microbiology, etc.

Five or more years of experience within quality and/or food safety in food or pet food manufacturing with demonstrable quality management experience. HACCP certification required.
Certifications and trainings for SQF, PCQI, Internal Auditing and Food Defense strongly preferred.