Full-Time

Quality Assurance Coordinator

Posted on 8/27/2024

Tender Food

Tender Food

11-50 employees

Produces sustainable plant-based meat substitutes

No salary listed

Mid

Cambridge, MA, USA

Category
QA & Testing
Quality Assurance
Requirements
  • You have a good understanding of food industry standards of quality, food safety, and FDA regulations.
  • You have knowledge of or an or interest in food product design, formulation, ingredient functionality and interaction, process design, product scale-up, product testing, and commercialization.
  • You can travel as needed (~50% of your time)
  • Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Biological Sciences, or related field.
  • 3+ years of experience with Food Safety and Quality Assurance and Quality training
  • HACCP or PCQI experience
  • Experience in implementing SQF Certification.
  • Experience leading audits (Customer, Regulatory)
  • Supervisory and Leadership skills
  • Knowledge and experience in FDA regulations
  • Experience in a quality assurance role within the food industry
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • Certifications, Licenses, Registrations: PCQI Certification, HACCP certified, SQF Certification for Manufacturing
Responsibilities
  • Responsible for overseeing the implementation of the company’s food safety and quality management system to ensure food product integrity and compliance with specifications, SQF, GMPs, HACCP, FDA regulations, and customer requirements at our processing co-manufacturing facility.
  • Liaise with governmental, supplier, production, plant management, co-manufacturing and commercial partners.
  • Responsible for coordinating food defense and food fraud programs.
  • Work closely with other departments to provide guidance on and ensure implementation of Food Safety and Quality Assurance programs that address both corrective and preventative activities.
  • Manage our Environmental Monitoring Program.
  • Audit, monitor, validate processing activities, new technologies, products, and packaging to ensure they meet specific product quality, food safety criteria, as well as regulatory and company requirements.
  • Conduct risk assessments of the processing steps and engineering controls, and enforce food safety standards.
  • Play a significant role in new product development, validation, and implementation at the co-manufacturing facility.
  • Establish product controls and procedures to ensure that newly developed products meet customer, company, and regulatory needs.
  • Track and present key performance indicators of quality and food safety with the Quality team to meet corporate quality, food safety goals and objectives monthly.
  • Support the supplier onboarding and compliance process by reviewing documentation, monitoring performance, and conducting on site audits.
  • Manage investigations of reported issues, ensuring concerns are resolved in an effective and timely manner and corrective/preventative actions have been implemented.
  • Ensure traceability programs meet or exceed regulatory requirements and support mock withdrawals/recalls.
  • Initiate certification approvals involving production and product quality claims.
  • Review and verify all master manufacturing records and quality control reports for validity and accuracy.
  • Maintain written procedures for processes related to the quality and reliability of all products.
  • Develop training materials for new processes and procedures, and provide support for training events.

Tender Food creates plant-based meat substitutes that are designed to be both sustainable and tasty. The products are developed using scientific research and expertise from Harvard University, ensuring high quality and appealing flavors. Tender Food sells its meat alternatives directly to consumers through its website and select retail partners, making it accessible to those who are health-conscious and environmentally aware. Unlike many competitors, Tender Food focuses on delivering a product that does not sacrifice taste or texture, aiming to provide a satisfying alternative to traditional meat. The company's goal is to promote a more sustainable food system while offering delicious options for consumers.

Company Size

11-50

Company Stage

Series A

Total Funding

$23.3M

Headquarters

Somerville, Massachusetts

Founded

2020

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Rising demand for plant-based foods supports Tender Food's market growth.
  • Recent $11M Series A funding boosts Tender Food's expansion and innovation efforts.
  • Partnerships with food service providers could enhance Tender Food's market reach.

What critics are saying

  • Competition from established brands like Beyond Meat may limit Tender Food's market share.
  • Consumer skepticism towards lab-grown foods could hinder Tender Food's product adoption.
  • Regulatory hurdles may delay Tender Food's international expansion plans.

What makes Tender Food unique

  • Tender Food uses novel fiber production technology for realistic meat textures.
  • Founded by Harvard researchers, Tender Food leverages cutting-edge scientific expertise.
  • Direct-to-consumer model allows Tender Food to maintain control over product distribution.

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Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

0%

1 year growth

-4%

2 year growth

6%
Rhapsody Venture Partners
Oct 2nd, 2024
Rhapsody Venture Partners

Rhapsody Venture Partners invests in early stage, hard-tech innovations -- things like new materials, engineering innovations, chemistries, food tech -- helping bring them from the lab to market.

Seed Fund
Oct 2nd, 2024
Award History Details | NSF SBIR

National Science Foundation 2415 Eisenhower Ave. Alexandria, VA 22314 USA

VC News Daily
Aug 5th, 2024
Tender Food Secures $11M Series A

Tender Food, a food technology startup based in Somerville, MA, has closed over $11 million in Series A funding. The round was led by Rhapsody Venture Partners, with participation from existing investors Lowercarbon Capital and Safar Partners, and new investors Claridge Partners and Nor'easter Ventures.

Food Business Africa
Jun 26th, 2024
Tender Foods raises $11M, partners Clover

Tender Foods Inc. raised $11 million in its initial funding round, led by Rhapsody Venture Partners, Lowercarbon Capital, Cladridge Partners, Nor’easter Ventures, and Safar Partners. The funds will be used to scale up production and commercialize plant-based meat products. CEO Christophe Chantre highlighted the need for better-tasting, affordable plant-based meats. Additionally, Tender Foods announced a partnership with Clover Food Lab to bring its products to all Clover locations in the US by 2025.

Yahoo Finance
Jun 18th, 2024
Plant-Based Meat Company Tender Closes $11 Million Series A, Launches Partnership with Clover

Tender™ Plant-Based Shredded Pork Tender™ plant-based shredded pork, known for its succulent texture and savory flavor, is a perfect addition to any dish. Tender™ Plant-Based Chicken Breast Tender’s plant-based chicken breast, created using their unique process that spins plant proteins into fibers identical in size to animal muscle, ensuring a convincingly meaty texture and flavor. SOMERVILLE, Mass., June 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tender Food Inc., a food technology startup based in Somervil

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