Quality Assurance Supervisor

Summary The Quality Assurance Supervisor is accountable to develop and administer Food Safety and Quality programs that result in compliance with Corporate Policies and Procedures, FDA GMPs, and customer requirements as related to process and packaging of products produced at this facility and incoming ingredients.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Audit and ensure compliance with customer requirements, FDA regulations and GMPs, HACCP, as well as all BAF product safety and sanitation policies, procedures and guidelines. Participate in investigation and resolution of customer complaints, foreign material sightings, and reject product episodes. Ensure maintenance of appropriate ingredient, supplies and product records. Resolve direct material quality issues and warehouse receiving problems.

2. Ensure the ongoing coaching, development and training of team members. Complete performance appraisals in a timely manner providing effective performance feedback. Provide expertise and resources for product analysis, product safety and sanitation training for entire plant population. Ensure accurate and efficient attribute analysis and reporting on incoming ingredients and supplies as well as all processed and packaged products. Regularly audit employees who perform quality tests for competency and adherence to written laboratory procedures used to analyze raw materials and production samples. When practice and procedure do not match, submit procedure change request.

3. Ensure the laboratory is equipped with all of the necessary supplies to complete required testing. Purchase all routinely used items in the most cost-effective manner staying within the departmental budget. Budget and coordinate equipment calibration, and service contracts.

4. Manage various document systems, including specifications, HOLD forms, and sanitation procedures, to ensure accuracy, completeness, and consistency. Prepare monthly report for Corporate QRO. Deliver accurately and on time all customer requests for documentation and samples. Coordinate the storage and rotation of all library samples, keeping for specified BAF time period.

5. Complete regular SAFE observations within the manufacturing facility and lab areas. Ensure attendance of self and staff at all required safety meetings. Perform annual review of MSDS sheets with staff for all chemicals used in the laboratory. Ensure that all staff members are aware of and observe all laboratory and plant safety policies. Actively participate in LEAN management practices such as standard work, tiered meetings, and visual controls.

Must maintain the highest standards of ethics and integrity while embodying the tenets of “What We Stand For” and “The Basic Principles.”

Must maintain the highest standards of data management by creating consistent, reliable data which will ensure accuracy and in turn, maximize the use of data and confidence in decision making.

Other duties may be assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Directly supervises 1 Lab Technician II in the Quality and Regulatory Operations department. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

Bachelor's degree (B. A.) in Chemistry, Microbiology, Food Science, or related major from a four-year college or university, and two to four years related experience and/or training. Knowledge of microbiology, FDA GMP and HACCP standards required. Experience in LEAN manufacturing techniques, including value stream mapping and 5S is highly desired.

Language Skills

Ability to read and comprehend simple to complex instructions, correspondence, and memos. Ability to write various types of documents including, but not limited to, Technical Services manuals, specifications, instructions, disciplinary action and performance appraisals. Ability to effectively present information verbally in one-on-one to large group situations. Ability to effectively facilitate meetings.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of geometry and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to creatively apply experience and common sense to a variety of situations, process and people. Ability to recognize lack of direction and motivate organization to take action to correct problems with line efficiency, product quality, safety, and sanitation. Such issues may include conflicts between employees, equipment malfunction, and variation in raw material and process conditions. Ability to determine how to make most efficient use of human resources in Technical Services. Ability to examine trends and interpret trends leading to appropriate action.

Computer Skills

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Ability to access and navigate the Internet is required.

Other Qualifications

May be required to work nights and weekends. Some travel is required.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision and ability to adjust focus.

The employee must possess a valid driver’s license and be able to drive a vehicle. Regular travel via car and airplane is required.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and moving mechanical parts. The employee is occasionally exposed to high, precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals and extreme heat. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud, requiring hearing protection.