Quality Assurance Supervisor

Scope:

The QA Supervisor has the primary responsibility for developing, implementing, communicating and reviewing the Food Safety and Quality Assurance programs for the Moscow Mills facility to be in compliance with Corporate, Regulatory and GFSI food safety & quality requirements.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Food Safety:

The QA Supervisor is responsible for monitoring the systems and controls necessary to ensure the safety of the products delivered to the consumer.  These include:

• HACCP Program: assuring consistent procedures and proper documentation are followed in regards to the plant CCPs, including prerequisites such as pest control, master cleaning and sanitation, vendor qualification, etc.  This is to be implemented by multidisciplinary group, including manufacturing and quality.  The system shall be audited and evaluated annually and the results reported to upper management.

• GMP Compliance: including conducting periodic (monthly) GMP facility audits with corrective action follow-up, developing and implementing periodic documented employee GMP training.

• Develop, implement and conduct employee food safety and quality training.

• Allergen Control: material segregation, equipment cleaning and product labeling to ensure undeclared allergens are not introduced into product distribution. 

• Accept, hold or reject products, in-process samples and finished goods.

• SQF: assist in the development and implementation of supporting policies or programs.

• Adhere to all environmental, health and safety requirements and procedures

• Responsible for food safety and quality.

• Other tasks as assigned

Quality Systems:

The QA Supervisor is responsible for implementing and managing the systems that ensure delivered product meets or exceeds customer expectations.  These include:

• CQPs and QPs: monitors final QA acceptance of production and document results on the release spreadsheet.  Assures all process QPs are met.

• Quality Hold: material (raw, in process, finished or packaging) suspect or determined to not meet specification shall be placed “On Hold” in inventory and physically quarantined.  Only the QA Manager or designee has the authority to release material from Quality Hold.

• Promote Product Specifications compliance during production.: to be developed as a consensus between Product Development, Sales and the Customer.  Critical attributes are to be defined as objectively as possible.

• Development of in-process and finished goods sampling and analysis sufficient to comply with specifications and standards.

• Records and reporting are to be maintained accurately and distributed in a timely manner to support process control, product release and support customer and regulatory documentation requirements.

• Document Control: a controlled manufacturing process is required.  The means to control process is through documentation (specific policies, procedures, material specifications and records).  The documents themselves must be controlled (review, approval, issue and revision).

• Product Trace and Recovery: To prepare for the event unsafe product is introduced to distribution, a system shall be in place to rapidly identify, isolate and recover specific lot of material.  The system shall be recorded and reported to upper management with suggestions for possible improvement.

• Kosher Certification: Vendors shall be certified, material shall be segregated and records shall be maintained to support label claims of product kosher status.

• Support CAPA initiatives and follow through. 

Quality Reporting:

• It is the responsibility of the QA Supervisor to supply timely and accurate reports of product quality data and analysis to both internal and external customers such as:

• Certificates of Quality/Analysis/Guarantee to customers.

• Process control information to Manufacturing.

• Compliance reports required by regulatory agencies.

• Quality Key Performance Indicator reports to Management.

Regulatory Compliance:

• The QA Supervisor is the secondary contact between the company and product related regulatory agencies (FDA, State and local Health Departments and agencies licensing kosher).  The QA Manager is the primary contact.  It is the responsibility of the manager to maintain necessary records, prepare required reports and keep management informed of the compliance of each facility with each agency.

• The QA Supervisor may be assigned some environmental compliance responsibility.

Supervision of Reports:

• Under the direction of the QA Manager, the QA Supervisor is responsible for the supervision of the Quality Department staff in compliance with all company personnel and safety policies and procedures; provides leadership, mentoring and process direction to the Quality Technicians; analyzes and resolves, or assists employees in solving work related problems; trains the lab group on quality procedures and SOPs; provide employees ongoing coaching and feedback.

• Enforce all company rules in a fair and consistent manner.

• Follows all OSHA safety rules, GMPs, and all food safety laws and regulations.

• Other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:

• Associates degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Minimum three years in a food plant environment; prior QA experience preferred.

• HACCP Certified.

• PCQI Certified, preferred.

• SQF Certified, preferred.  

• Excellent interpersonal skills.

• Proficient Microsoft Office skills.

• Must be able to work off shifts.

• Regular and reliable attendance.

• Must be able to walk, sit, stand, stoop, climb, and lift up to 50 lbs.

• Must be able to work for extended periods in a hot, fast-paced food manufacturing environment.

Additional Information

• Requires technical knowledge, food manufacturing experience and the interpersonal skills to lead and inspire not only the department staff but the whole Operations group to anticipate quality issues and drive the continuous improvement initiative.

• Must be knowledgeable in using lab equipment and able to use reasoning and logic for data analysis.

• Have the visual acuity and palette to evaluate product and test results.

• Possess professional phone skills to communicate with customers, vendors, agencies, managers, etc., on routine matters.

• SQF Practitioner QA Manager will service as backup to QA Supervisor.