Overview:
The Quality and Food Safety (QFS) Manager provides leadership and supervises all quality, food, and feed safety-related matters for the facility. The role of Quality and Food Safety is to ensure that controls are in place to meet customer and regulatory requirements for the products produced.
The primary function of this position is to ensure the integrity and safety of food and feed products throughout the manufacturing process utilizing various standards and established testing methods, operating procedures, and adherence to protocols and policies.
The QFS Manager is responsible for the coordination and monitoring of work activities of associates engaged in performing chemical and physical tests required for quality control of processes and for meal and ready-to-eat plant-based protein products produced at the plant’s protein concentrate operations. This person will lead large projects/initiatives and serve on various cross-functional teams as they will interact with various internal and external groups including customers, suppliers, and auditors.
This position requires strong leadership skills, demonstrated by good communication, organization, and coordination skills. The QFS Manager will foster and sustain excellent relations with direct reports, peers, and co-workers.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Manage the plant QFS Policies and Procedures.
- Ensures that lab procedures conform to AOCS Official methods; trains personnel as required to maintain conformance to established methods for NIR/FTIR, ICP, GC, etc.
- Develop and improve quality control analysis for meal, pellets, and protein concentrate products.
- Monitor lab results to ensure that raw products and finished products are within specification or resolve non-compliance issues with production and/or R&D personnel.
- Compile and analyze test information to determine the operating efficiency of processes and equipment and to work with Operations to diagnose malfunctions.
- Work closely with scientists and/or engineers to develop and test custom products, and to also develop and analyze nonstandard tests for products.
- Represent the company with on-site customer auditors, third-party auditors, food safety inspections/audits, and state/federal inspectors.
- Work with Plant QA/QC personnel, Technicians, and Production personnel to ensure customer expectations are met and plant inspections are executed according to plan.
- Interface with the Facility Manager daily to communicate and address any quality issues/concerns.
- Maintain QC laboratory equipment calibrations and ensured procurement of all lab supplies.
- Review information from suppliers to ensure proper product conformance, requirements, and regulations are met.
- Manage the facility's Food Defense Plan.
- Lead Food Safety Team and work with Operations Manager in the management of plant HACCP/Food Safety Plan, including improvements and updates of documentation.
- Arrange for/conduct external and internal audits of the Food Safety Plan, as required.
- Coordinate recall program including annual mock recalls (includes required traceability exercises).
- Conduct annual Food Safety GMP training of company employees and temporary workers.
- Coordinate plant sanitation program, including monthly internal sanitation inspections with the Operations Manager. Make recommendations to other Managers on sanitation issues.
- Serve as the primary contact on all Lab Information Management System (LIMS, SAP, etc.) issues and inquiries.
- Ensure that customer complaints, concerns, and/or inquiries receive adequate responses in a timely fashion.
- Use of Supply QA TraceGains program, with the support of Corporate QFS, for the management of suppliers/vendors.
- Coordinate collaborative testing and check samples.
- Conduct regular assessments of QFS systems.
- Demonstrate credibility, and willingness to listen and take action when necessary.
- Effectively communicate employee disciplinary matters to the Plant Manager and Human Resources and administer disciplinary programs when necessary.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
- Directly supervise employees in the Quality Assurance department, including Supervisors and/or Lab Technicians.
- Conducts timely coaching sessions and performance appraisals with staff.
- Rewards and disciplines employees; addresses complaints and resolves issues as needed.
- Manages and administers Safety Program to all Lab employees; Ensures compliance with all company policies, rules, and procedures.
