Your Opportunity as the Assistant Quality Assurance Manager
The Assistant Quality Assurance Manager works with the Quality Manager to manage the Sanitation focused Operations Excellence systems and develop strategic plans, while integrating the Quality Pillar with AM, PM, & FI pillars, with a focus on sanitation. The individual selected for this role will openly interact with other sanitation site leaders, operations and technical organizations as part of the day-to-day work. Maintain integrity of product quality and safety by ensuring that all bakery equipment, structural and storage facilities are sanitary and following Current Good Manufacturing Processes, Federal, State, and local food protection standards, and programs to produce safe quality food for consumers.
Location: 1 Hostess Way Arkadelphia, AR 71923 (Hostess Manufacturing Plant)
Work Arrangements: 100% on-site, Day Shift Mon-Fri (flexibility to support off-shifts or weekends when required)

In this role you will:

• Oversee day-to-day sanitation of equipment and facilities.
• Supervise, motivate, and train sanitation work.
• Train all full-time and temporary employees in the areas of Food Safety, GMP’s, BRC, Allergens, Pest Control, Quality Risk Assessment, Proficy, Food Defense and Sanitation.
• Train, plan, assign, and direct sanitation work.
• Train and document all sanitation work for the safe operation and disassembly of equipment.
• Responsible for developing and leading systems and initiatives for the manufacturing of consumer foods, which comply with all food safety, quality and regulatory requirements.
• Comply with and understand FDA and company policies for food safety, sanitation, and quality.
• Ensure quality, productivity, and food safety standards are met.
• Develop and document cleaning procedures, including SSOPs and cleaning logs for all equipment and facility areas.
• Develop, maintain, and comply with the Master Sanitation Schedule.
• Understand the fundamentals of the Smucker 19 Key Elements and policies, BRC scheme, Food Safety Preventive Control concepts to back up the site QA Manager as needed.
• Ensure compliance with corporate standards and systems to monitor food safety, and facility cleanliness.
• Execution of monitoring and maintaining compliance of the sanitation budget.
• Inspect, monitor, and educate departments regarding food safety and sanitary conditions within the facility.
• Promote safety through work procedures, orderly work environments, and employee safety programs.
• Empowerment, Collaboration, Motivation, and Enthusiasm - supervisory skills; demonstrate leadership by influencing others in implementing sanitation programs through effective communication, individual technical knowledge, and training. Build organization capability through Quality Pillar methodologies and ensuring QA system health through QAKE and SPC work
• Be an active member of the site Quality Pillar Team.
• Ensure food safety, quality control specifications, and food safety standards are met.
• Collaborate with management and chemical suppliers to improve sanitation results and reduce costs.
• Ensure food safety and quality during sanitation processes.
• Work closely with R&D and Quality Assurance on sanitation issues concerning production, new products, special runs, etc.
• Coordinate with Maintenance and Operations to address any setup, machinery, pump, or mill problems.
• Work independently and within a team on special non-recurring and ongoing projects.
• Work to ensure quality products and services are delivered defect free to every customer and consumer.
• Lead potential foreign material investigations and drive foreign material outages through root cause.
• Responsible for identifying corrective and preventive actions from root causes.
• Understand and support The J.M. Smucker, Safety Program policies and performs work related activities in a safe manner.
• Ensure compliance with all safety rules and standards, including the proper use of personal protective equipment.
• Recognize unsafe work conditions and suggest new safety standards
• Appraise performance, reward, and discipline employees; address complaints and resolve problems.
• Build the business by increasing through-put, driving out losses/inefficiencies, increasing organizational capability & mastery
• Perform other duties as assigned.

The Right Place for You
We are bold, kind, strive to do the right thing, we play to win, and we believe in a strong community that thrives together. Our culture is rooted in our
Basic Beliefs
, and we believe in supporting every employee by meeting their physical, emotional, and financial needs.
What we are looking for:

Minimum Requirements:

• A Bachelor’s degree or higher is required
• Minimum 5 years of manufacturing experience in the food industry; food industry sanitation experience preferred; or equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as MSDS, safety rules, and procedure manuals.
• Proficient in writing reports and computing rates, ratios, and percentages for preparing cleaning chemicals.
• Knowledge and understanding of food manufacturing pest control regulations and requirements.
• Must have strong Leadership Skills. Must be able to direct the efforts of a team, including engaging team members and enabling the team’s success.
• Previous experience using problem solving tools - root cause analysis and statistical driven analysis is required
• Proven people/organizational development skills. Willing to work effectively with individuals and teams across the organization
• Have the ability to work effectively given basic coaching and guidance. Have the ability to communicate clearly and effectively verbally and in writing
• Ability to define a problem statement, identify root cause, and develop/implement systemic corrective actions
• Have the ability to prioritize work based on impact to the business and communicate priorities effectively to leadership and to peers.
• Efficiently utilize a computer with Microsoft Office software, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Skilled in analytical, critical, inductive, and deductive logic and reasoning.
• Adaptable, flexible, and effective in time and scheduling management.
• Occasionally required to conduct meetings or lead group discussions
• Willing to work flexible hours (weekends, off shifts), as needed

Additional skills and experience that we think would make someone successful in this role:

• A BS in Science in Food Science, Microbiology, or Engineering is preferred but not required
• HACCP Certification is preferred
• An understanding of Food Safety, Food Defense, PCQI Principles, Quality 19 KE and BRC auditing is desired
• Knowledge and experience in the proper and safe use of sanitation chemicals. Certification in chemicals is a plus.
• Knowledge of regulatory bodies (FDA, USDA, Department of Ag), and BRC or similar standard inspection procedures.
• Understanding and knowledge of SSOP’s, LOTO, GMP’s, Programs and Policies regarding food manufacturing sanitation.
• Previous experience with statistical analysis processes and PQM tools to analyze complex data bases to expose losses, develop improvement and action plans is desired
• Understanding and previous experience of Prodika and SharePoint data base management is desired
• Have the high potential to grow and be able to assume the Site Quality Manager role in the future

Work Environment: This job operates in a manufacturing environment. The noise level in the work environment and manufacturing sites can be high.

Physical Demands:

• Regularly required to talk and hear.
• Frequently required to stand; walk; use hands and fingers to handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms.
• Occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.
• Able to lift objects up to 50 pounds frequently.
• May push and pull heavy trash carts, dough carts, portable equipment, and catch pans.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Learn More About Working at Smucker
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Delivering on Our Purpose
Our Continued Commitment to Ensuring a Workplace for All
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In this role you will:

• Oversee day-to-day sanitation of equipment and facilities.
• Supervise, motivate, and train sanitation work.
• Train all full-time and temporary employees in the areas of Food Safety, GMP’s, BRC, Allergens, Pest Control, Quality Risk Assessment, Proficy, Food Defense and Sanitation.
• Train, plan, assign, and direct sanitation work.
• Train and document all sanitation work for the safe operation and disassembly of equipment.
• Responsible for developing and leading systems and initiatives for the manufacturing of consumer foods, which comply with all food safety, quality and regulatory requirements.
• Comply with and understand FDA and company policies for food safety, sanitation, and quality.
• Ensure quality, productivity, and food safety standards are met.
• Develop and document cleaning procedures, including SSOPs and cleaning logs for all equipment and facility areas.
• Develop, maintain, and comply with the Master Sanitation Schedule.
• Understand the fundamentals of the Smucker 19 Key Elements and policies, BRC scheme, Food Safety Preventive Control concepts to back up the site QA Manager as needed.
• Ensure compliance with corporate standards and systems to monitor food safety, and facility cleanliness.
• Execution of monitoring and maintaining compliance of the sanitation budget.
• Inspect, monitor, and educate departments regarding food safety and sanitary conditions within the facility.
• Promote safety through work procedures, orderly work environments, and employee safety programs.
• Empowerment, Collaboration, Motivation, and Enthusiasm - supervisory skills; demonstrate leadership by influencing others in implementing sanitation programs through effective communication, individual technical knowledge, and training. Build organization capability through Quality Pillar methodologies and ensuring QA system health through QAKE and SPC work
• Be an active member of the site Quality Pillar Team.
• Ensure food safety, quality control specifications, and food safety standards are met.
• Collaborate with management and chemical suppliers to improve sanitation results and reduce costs.
• Ensure food safety and quality during sanitation processes.
• Work closely with R&D and Quality Assurance on sanitation issues concerning production, new products, special runs, etc.
• Coordinate with Maintenance and Operations to address any setup, machinery, pump, or mill problems.
• Work independently and within a team on special non-recurring and ongoing projects.
• Work to ensure quality products and services are delivered defect free to every customer and consumer.
• Lead potential foreign material investigations and drive foreign material outages through root cause.
• Responsible for identifying corrective and preventive actions from root causes.
• Understand and support The J.M. Smucker, Safety Program policies and performs work related activities in a safe manner.
• Ensure compliance with all safety rules and standards, including the proper use of personal protective equipment.
• Recognize unsafe work conditions and suggest new safety standards
• Appraise performance, reward, and discipline employees; address complaints and resolve problems.
• Build the business by increasing through-put, driving out losses/inefficiencies, increasing organizational capability & mastery
• Perform other duties as assigned

Additional skills and experience that we think would make someone successful in this role:

• A BS in Science in Food Science, Microbiology, or Engineering is preferred but not required
• HACCP Certification is preferred
• An understanding of Food Safety, Food Defense, PCQI Principles, Quality 19 KE and BRC auditing is desired
• Knowledge and experience in the proper and safe use of sanitation chemicals. Certification in chemicals is a plus.
• Knowledge of regulatory bodies (FDA, USDA, Department of Ag), and BRC or similar standard inspection procedures.
• Understanding and knowledge of SSOP’s, LOTO, GMP’s, Programs and Policies regarding food manufacturing sanitation.
• Previous experience with statistical analysis processes and PQM tools to analyze complex data bases to expose losses, develop improvement and action plans is desired
• Understanding and previous experience of Prodika and SharePoint data base management is desired
• Have the high potential to grow and be able to assume the Site Quality Manager role in the futur