QA Manager at Dairy Farmers of America

Englewood, Colorado, United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

15 Apr, 26

Salary

110000.0

Posted On

15 Jan, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Quality Assurance, Food Safety, Regulatory Compliance, Leadership, Communication, Problem Solving, Data Analysis, Team Management, Training, Sanitation, Auditing, Risk Assessment, Customer Service, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Good Manufacturing Practices

Industry

Dairy Product Manufacturing

Description

Meadow Gold Dairy has a job opening for a QA Manager. The QA Manager will manage and lead a quality department and ensure effective quality execution, continuous improvement, and regulatory compliance. In conjunction with plant operations, maintain an effective culture of food safety and quality within the facility. Develop and/or maintain processes that ensure finished product is food safe and meets finished product specifications. Function as a highly organized and effective communicator with the ability to investigate and lead solution-based decision making in the plant. Meadow Gold Dairy is a farmer-owned brand of Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), a dairy marketing cooperative owned by more than 12,500 family farmers. Our mark matters and it represents the wholesomeness of dairy that we share with our communities and loved ones. DFA manufactures a variety of dairy products, including cheese, butter, fluid milk, ice cream, dairy ingredients and more, under well-known and established regional brands. Our fingerprints touch thousands of brands across the marketplace, and we’re passionate about delivering the simple pleasures of dairy to people everywhere, straight from our family farm-owners. At Meadow Gold, we create fluid milk products and are proud to provide families with fresh, delicious dairy. By joining DFA, you can help us continue to make a difference that matters. We care deeply about the well-being of our neighbors and friends, and we celebrate the diversity of our company and our world. It takes an incredible team to deliver the goodness of dairy and enrich our communities – come join us! Location: 1325 W. Oxford Avenue Shift: First Shift Job Duties and Responsibilities * Ensure daily plant quality and food safety operations are compliant with DFA policies and procedures and local, state, and federal regulations * Maintain audit readiness * Maintain a robust food safety program and subsequent quality program * Escalate non-conformance events to the quality director and plant manager * Oversee plant sanitation to drive a robust sanitation program * Ensure the plant pest control programs are current, followed, and utilized to enable proactive maintenance * Manage the facility’s change control program to enable robust risk assessment and decisions * Ensure compliance to specification, manufacturing instructions, and preventive maintenance programs. Partner with operations to ensure preventive maintenance program is robust and adhered to * Collaboratively lead investigations relating to non-conforming events driving to root cause(s) and effective resolution * Manage hold and release programs * Review records daily to ensure all records are completed as required and review/approval is current for preventive controls, laboratory, sanitation, production, and verification checks * Track and report on plant quality key performance indicators (KPIs) * Participate in the annual plant budgeting process * Partner with the plant manager on identifying key capital projects that support food safety and quality initiatives * Provide training to the plant personnel concerning food safety, Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), and regulatory compliance * Provide quality leadership during unplanned events or emergencies * Provide visible leadership by participating in facility walk throughs and internal audits * Engage and interact with all personnel on a regular basis assisting them with their challenges and questions concerning food safety * Collaborate with R&D during new/reformulated product introduction to ensure compliance with already established specifications and regulatory requirements * Serve as the point of contact for customer related issues, complaints, or inquires * Manage plant complaint investigations ensuring a thorough, effective, timely and customer facing response * Monitor compliance to customer expectation and specifications; communicate any issues/concerns * Maintain plant preparedness for customer and regulatory visits * Manage all analytical and micro activities performed at the facility * Oversee the development of laboratory practices to ensure accurate and precise quality control (QC) results * Perform data analysis to identify critical trends or find leading indicators to enable proactive decisions * Coordinate the collection and evaluation of raw materials and finished products * Ensure the Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP) is robust, and risk based with a search and destroy mentality applied. Determine root cause of failures and take the appropriate corrective action * Escalate nonconformances to quality director and plant manager in a timely fashion * Coordinate and supervise factory and external lab testing of samples; generate Certificate of Analysis (COA’s) * Maintain the quality management system and ensure documents are up to date and comply to the food safety and quality (FSQ) policies and standards * Prepare plant specific work instructions as needed * Ensure SSOP documents are robust and adhere to the sanitation standard * Ensure all forms and work instructions are reviewed, revised, and updated annually * Perform management activities such as administering employee promotions and transfers; conducting ongoing performance conversations; mentoring, training, and coaching employees * Follow all DFA good manufacturing practices (GMP) and work in a manner consistent with all corporate regulatory, food safety, quality, and sanitation requirements. * The requirements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employee, but is not a complete list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Other duties may be assigned as required. Benefits: * Health and Welfare benefits begin 1st of the month after start date * 401(k) with company contribution – 100% vested at day one of eligibility * Competitive salary:$100,000.00 - $110,000.00. This is a bonus eligible position * Paid vacation and holidays * Career growth opportunities – we promote from within! * Comprehensive healthcare benefits * Service recognition and employee rewards * Employee referral program * Tuition reimbursement * Work for dairy farm families Qualifications * Undergraduate degree in food science, biological sciences, or related curriculum (or equivalent combination of education and experience) * 5 to 8 years of quality assurance or related experience in a food, beverage, or similar facility * Demonstrated leadership attributes, team leadership, or supervisory experience; 1+ year of manager experience preferred * Certification and/or License – PCQI, HACCP, SQF Practitioner certifications preferred; may be required during course of employment Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities * Strong knowledge of both laboratory and plant current good manufacturing practices (cGMPs) * Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and company computer systems * Knowledge of principles and practices of supervision, training, and personnel management * Skill in leadership and coaching * Critical thinking, analysis, mathematical calculations, and statistical evaluations * Able to organize and prioritize resources to achieve goals * Able to multi-task; able to keep organized records; able to work with accuracy and attention to detail * Able to translate accounting, financial, and KPI data into plant performance and determine steps to correct and improve * Able to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing, for a diverse range of internal and external audiences * Able to work in collaboration effectively and foster good teamwork * Able to take appropriate steps to find solutions to complex problems * Able to present options and ideas to current processes or procedures * Able to handle challenging or conflict situations with tact and professionalism * Able to respond courteously and efficiently to inquiries, complaints, and requests * Able to interpret and apply company policies * Able to adapt and manage to change effectively * Must be able to read, write and speak English Reporting to this Position * Quality assurance supervisors * May have technicians, support staff, production staff, or professionals as direct reports Travel 0-10% An Equal Opportunity Employer including Disabled/Veterans

Responsibilities

The QA Manager will lead the quality department, ensuring compliance with food safety and quality standards while driving continuous improvement. Responsibilities include managing quality operations, overseeing sanitation programs, and collaborating with plant operations.