Quality Assurance Director jobs in North Carolina

Job Description:

Ham Farms is searching for a multiple manufacturing plant-based Quality Assurance Manager that will provide leadership, technical assistance and direction to Quality Managers, QA/QC Supervisors, QA/QC Technicians and sanitation Supervisors. Directly responsible for ensuring that received raw materials, suppliers, production and distribution of products meets or exceeds all quality and food safety standards. See new product concepts from inception through to commercialization. Qualify, monitor, and provide feedback to raw material vendors, end users, brokers, Co-Packers, sales team, and upper management. This individual will be responsible for FSQA for Ham Farms, Ham Produce, Yamco, Covington and Natural Blend Vegetable Dehydration.

Responsibilities: 

·        Responsible for reviewing and verification of raw material and raw material specifications.

·        Responsible for evaluation of raw materials and suppliers.  

·        Identifies and recommend creative and practical applications and modifications of ingredients, formulas, chemicals, procedures and packaging materials. 

·        Oversee specifications, shelf-life, and other activities for new products, chemicals, and brand maintenance. 

·        Supervise plant trials and start-up activities. 

·        Responsible for ensuring Pest Control procedures are being followed and contacting proper individuals.

·        Monitoring city water testing for Farmville site to ensure in compliance for Natural Blend Vegetable Dehydration.

·        Identify innovation opportunities with Supplier and Contract Manufacturers. 

·        Develop and execute department budget and implement Capitol Budget to ensure facilities and equipment are sufficient to support department goals and objectives. 

·        Manage supervisor level team members to execute against project timelines for pipeline activities.

·        Attend daily upper management meetings at Ham Produce and Yamco to discuss daily plans, issues, complaints, and sales.

·        Oversee Yamco and Farmville’s Quality system and train new QA Manager on protocols. Assume all QA Manager duties when either QA Manager is absent or the position is vacant.

·        Assist and provide guidance to improving Yamcos FSQA system by improving CAR, driving for root analysis for CARs, improving Master Sanitation schedule.

·        Manage the day-to-day operation of the Receiving Laboratory including ensuring supplies and equipment are available and in proper working condition. Monitoring all tested materials to ensure all product is in compliance per customer. Monitor trends to see if Corrective Actions need to be taken due to faulty equipment, operator error, product changes, etc.

·        Supervise the monitoring and inspection of the raw materials, product, equipment use and processing steps of raw ingredients through finished goods, including monitoring ingredients, formulation and processing procedures to ensure production to design quality product. 

·        Manage and direct Sanitation Supervisor to follow established guidelines and expectations.  

·        Manage all testing completed off-site through taking samples and mailing off samples, ensuring all proper testing is done per customer requirements, annual water testing, annual surface testing, logging all data results, as well as handling all issues with third party laboratories.

·        Creating all Certificate of Analysis per Customer and Company requirements.

·        Oversee chemicals used on the line properly used and work with third party supplier of chemicals.

·        Develop team members technical and professional skill sets through mentoring and training. 

·        Provide leadership in coaching, education and training of management staff and plant employees for Quality Assurance; seeks assistance as needed from other training resources. 

·        Responsible for engaging in customer feedback cycle i.e. customer input, complaint, supplier approval, anomaly, research, report, resolution, corrective action reports. 

·        Communicate quality metric and inspection results to appropriate managers and others in leadership positions including, but not limited to daily, weekly or monthly KPI reporting. Communicate through platforms and find root causes for quality complaints through third party portals, as well as accepting and denying credits.

·        Responsible for all local, state, federal and third-party food safety and quality audits, customer/second-party audits, organic and kosher certifications/inspections, and non-GMO verification. 

·        Manage and Direct the work flow of Receiving Quality Assurance Technicians, Graders, Associates, Supervisors and Managers. 

·        Assisting with supervising of harvesting verification from field, communicating with Farm Management of issues.

·        Responsible to comply with FSMA requirements, SQF Code and ISO 22000 Food Safety Management Standards. 

·        Responsible to enforce all Quality and Food Safety Management Standards and Regulations to ensure continual improvement and effectiveness of the Food Safety Management System with the ability to satisfy our customers and provide products that are in accordance to their intended use and safe for human consumption. 

·        Manage and implement effective corrective action systems to improve quality. 

·        Develop and communicate plant programs to meet compliance with government standards and HACCP guidelines. 

·        Develop and improve auditing of product on the line, management of chemicals/chlorine levels and ensure metal detection testing is followed.

·        Assist with special projects as needed. 

·        Prepare and present new projects, plans and opportunities to all levels of management. 

·        Drive innovation and strategic development. 

·        Document processes and procedures which standardize and support company and regulatory information requirements. 

·        Convey, demonstrate, implement and enforce good manufacturing practices and food safety training across all facilities. 

·        Ethically represent the company and be compliant with corporate Code of Conduct. 

·        Assist with special projects, as needed. 

·        Follow and enforce company policies. 

·        Follow and enforce safety procedures. 

Supervisory Duties:  

·        Manage Quality Assurance Managers, Supervisors, Quality Control Supervisors, Quality Assurance Associates, Quality Control Associates 

 Physical Requirements: 

·        Industrial Plant environment with related noise and temperatures.  

·        Ability to lift a minimum of 40 lbs. and reach overhead 

·        Must be able to climb stairs 

·        Requires climbing, standing, stooping, twisting, lifting, and other physical movements to perform the job

·        Ability to sit and use a computer for extended periods of time; ability to answer phones, and utilize a variety of office equipment.

Travel Requirements:  

·        10-15% travel, both domestic and international, may be required. 

Qualifications 

·        Bachelor of Science Degree or equivalent required in Food Science, Engineering, Microbiology, Biology, Chemistry or related fields, with a preference for a higher degree 

·        Four (4) years of supervisory experience in Manufacturing and Quality Assurance in food industry 

·        Understanding of HACCP, GMP, FSMA, SQF Code, ISO 22000 Standard, Food Allergens and Microbiology 

·        Proven track record of successful product realization from concept to commercialization 

·        Industry leading understanding of ingredient functionality, product evaluation, health and nutrition, food manufacturing processes, microbiology, quality assurance principles, and market research practices 

·        Must be formally trained on HACCP implementation 

·        Advanced training and knowledge to ensure compliance with FSMA regulations, state and federal food standards, sanitation chemical/material use and procedures, food safety procedures, and plant inspections, 3rd party audits, food labeling, and product distribution and handling 

·        Must be a trained Preventive Control Qualified Individual 

·        Knowledge in government regulatory requirement in the process of Foods including FSMA 

·        Quality and Food Safety Attitude 

·        Excellent communication skills both written and oral, and ability to work effectively with teams 

·        Strong organizational and planning skills 

·        Strong drive for results and execution ability 

·        Effectively use standard business suite of Microsoft software 

·        Excellent record keeping documentation skills 

·        Previous experience in the supervision of personnel 

·        Must be able to lead team members effectively 

·        Familiar with food manufacturing processes, protocols and safe food handling concepts 

·        Must be able to lead team members effectively 

·        Must be assertive and able to function independently 

·        Must be able to recognize and correct any quality problems 

·        Must be able to exercise good judgment and decision-making skills 

·        Must be able to complete tasks in a timely fashion 

·        Must be dependable and willing to work all hours/shifts required to meet departmental demand 

Benefits:

·        BlueCross BlueShield Health Insurance

·        One Two tank of Vehicle gas per week for personal vehicle (Farm Gas Depot)

·        Vacation & Holidays as stated in Ham Farm Foods handbook