Quality Assurance and Food Safety Manager

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

Company is a manufacturing company based in Brookings South Dakota that is improving animal health and nutrition by providing high-quality feed ingredients. Using patent-pending technologies, the Company is upgrading soybean meal to high-quality ingredients used in animal feeds.

JOB DUTIES

As a key member of the Quality Assurance and Food Safety team, the Quality Assurance and Food Safety Manager will report to the General Manager and will be responsible for the following:

·        Manage and provide oversite to Quality and Sanitation department functions within the facility.

·        Manage all feed safety external certifications and registrations, associated paperwork, and audit reports and findings.

·        Monitor various aspects of plant operations to ensure compliance with company policies and guidelines, including FSMA, GMP+, SQF, Proterra, and Non-GMO Project Verified.

·        Oversee the facility's internal audit program and coordinate improvement activities with other departments.

·        Lead and/or participate in Corrective and Preventative Action (CAPA) and Root Cause Analysis (RCA) discussions, diagrams, and documentation.

·        Lead the food safety team and as a Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI)

·        Serve as SQF Practitioner.

·        Verify and validate quality, operations, and analytical documentation per the HACCP plan and other relevant certifications.

·        Facilitate feed safety and proficiency training records including visitor and vendor training, as well as new hire and annual employee feed safety training.

·        Ensure Master Sanitation Schedule and other sanitation records are complete and encompasses all aspects of current certifications.

·        Review processing conditions for food safety, verify final product and specifications and approve final product releases through the company ERP system.

·        Participate and/or lead Management of Change (MOC), and customer sample requests.

·        Lead quality support efforts to enable collaborative efforts among other departments.

·        Spearheaded Lean Six Sigma project or process improvement initiatives with support and collaboration among Houdek departments.

·        Conduct efforts within the Quality Department to enable company Operations, Logistics, and Analytical to commercially release products efficiently.

·        Lead the scientific efforts to internalize new quality methods as needed.

·        Implement the ongoing practices needed to ensure the effective and efficient repeatability and reproducibility of the Quality functions.

·        Responsible for the oversight, revision, and handling of standard operating procedures and records.

·        Guide strategic planning initiatives in the Quality Department including microbiological and sanitation testing and assist in budget maintenance,

·        Lead department check-in, quarterly and annual review meetings, and assist with ongoing staff professional development.

·        Assist with quality programs at other company sites as needed.

·        Other job-related tasks as assigned based on availability and relevant experience.

·        Upholds the company core values of: Safety, Quality, Respect, Transparency, and Innovation

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

·        Strong managerial and organizational skills including experience working with teams of varying size and disciplines is preferred.

·        Ability to manage multiple projects and departments simultaneously and take on challenges in a fast-paced dynamic environment.

·        Proficient in quality and microbiological procedures and associated instrumentation.

·        Ideal candidates will have 3-5+ years of experience in supporting commercial product manufacture in the feed or food industry. Experience with Quality Programs is desirable.

·        Degree in a science-related field or equivalent work experience required.

·        Strong computer skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office products; experience with statistical toolboxes a plus.

·        Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

·        Ability to be flexible and take on challenges in a fast-paced dynamic environment.

·        Ability to lead the transition into human food consumption.