QA & Food Safety Supervisor (Pasco, WA)

Summary

This role coordinates and supports all functions within the Plant Quality Assurance and Food Safety Department and oversees the auditing of QA programs at the plant level. Facilitates and or participates in developing, implementing, and maintaining quality assurance and Food Safety related programs such as HACCP, SSOP’s, and GMP’s and make sure they comply with any regulatory directive including FDA. It supervises the functions of product audits and cuttings, the development and maintenance of division procedures and specifications. This role uses skills and knowledge to oversee the development of new equipment strategies as well as the development of extensions to existing line products. Statistical and processing knowledge are used to support all departments in the continued building of quality and production strategies.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure that the interface with other support groups is conducted in a manner that is conducive with operational goals.                    
• Ensure compliance to state, federal, and local regulations.
• Supervise microbiology laboratory and interpret results. Responsible for lab safety.
• Coordinate plant and laboratory equipment calibration and certification programs.
• Maintain systems for checking and verifying process compliance, including, but not limited to: SPC, HACCP, Quality Systems, Formula Control, GMP, etc.
• Follow up any out of specification result by conducting investigations within the process to identify the possible source.
• Support with environmental program, corrective actions reports and process investigations.
• Support validation of different processes and procedures to assure food safety.
• Follow up with customer complaints, product information and investigation as needed.
• Support with customer and QA system audits.
• Review and analyze data trends to improve the process and controls needed.
• Train personnel in subjects related to Quality Assurance and Food Safety programs.
• Lead by example and work with the personnel to maintain and improve Food Safety Culture so that they implement it in their daily activities.
• Dotted line responsibility for employees (QA technicians, Micro Technicians) in the monitoring and testing of a wide variety of ingredients and finished product.
• Supervise the maintenance of records and distribution of analysis information.
• Ensure that additional accountabilities, as may be required by management, are handled in a manner necessary to meet operational and Division standards.      
• Execute programs, communicate effectively, anticipate and react to problems so as to minimize product loss or deviations from established standards.
• Conduct oneself in a professional manner and ensures personal appearance meets the standards necessary to perform the job function while representing the Company. 

Typical Education

Relevant Experience

• 3+ years related experience and/or training
• Ready to eat process control knowledge is preferred

Other Information

• Thorough knowledge of HACCP program and FDA regulations.
• Knowledge of state, federal, and local regulations.
• Also have basic knowledge of the budget process.
• Degree in food science (or related discipline), chemistry, biology, or microbiology preferred.