Job Description

SUMMARY 

This position will be tasked to create, implement, and manage food safety and quality systems at the manufacturing site(s) to meet or exceed customer, regulatory and company requirements.   This leader is responsible for assuring released product is safe for its intended use and that quality attributes are clearly monitored, reviewed, and deemed acceptable.  Position will also support Food Safety, Quality Assurance and Regulatory (FSQA&R) projects and initiatives at the Corporate Office as requested. The FSQA Manager will support all safety programs, policies, and procedures, and have a personal value system that will assist in creating a work environment that is based on trust, human dignity, and honesty. 
 
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

This FSQA Manager will be responsible to implement and manage all related Food Safety, Quality and Regulatory programs as required by the role.  Duties will include but not be limited to the following:

• Manage all quality and lab functions as it pertains to processes for which this manager has oversight, including sampling, testing, product dispositions and related technical services.
• Coordinate and maintain applicable Food Safety Plans to meet FSMA (21 CFR 507) and food safety code standards for pet food, including management of required documentation, verifications, and validations as it relates to preventive controls and pre-requisite programs.
• Design and implement effective Environmental Monitoring and Sanitation Controls to create and maintain a low-risk RTE environment, including direct involvement in sanitation procedures and verification activities.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable regulatory and product identity requirements, including those required for USDA-APHIS certifications for export, Organic certifications and other programs as identified.
• Serve as HACCP/HARPC/Food Safety Team Coordinator, PCQI and SQF Practitioner for the processes for which the manager has oversight.  Work closely with site management team(s) to drive adherence to food safety systems and programs.  Lead initiatives as assigned, to include support of change management and continuous improvement. 
• Create, manage, support and/or influence policies and procedures to comply with food safety and quality requirements.  Implement and provide training on new procedures as needed.  Always promote culture of audit-readiness.  
• Implement/manage internal audit and CAPA systems to allow for easy tracking and close-out of site corrective and preventative measures.
• Execute root cause analysis for non-conformances, including product quality, food safety or customer issues.  Support production facility management team(s) in responding to customer corrective actions.  Interpret requirements and monitor activities to identify when further investigation may be needed.
• Communicate effectively with internal customers (human resources, maintenance, shipping / receiving, purchasing, customer service, production, etc.) and external customers.  Be a key leader for facility audits, including customer, third-party and/or regulatory inspections.
• Recognize business risks associated with food safety and quality deviations; respond and communicate effectively and expediently according to identified risk.
• Review and recommend changes to processes or equipment in areas of ownership to continuously improve quality assurance functions and services.
• Management of quality budget.
• Support the Director of FSQA / Corporate FSQA on specific or assigned projects, which may include but not be limited to: Regulatory Documentation, Supplier Programs, Document Control and/or Customer Care.
• Cross-train on food safety and/or quality programs and initiatives within 3D as needed.
• Ability to work varying shifts, weekends, holidays, and overnight as required.
• Other tasks as assigned.

BACKUP PERSONNEL
The site QA / Sanitation Supervisor PCQI(s) will provide coverage for this position, with support from Corporate Quality, when the FSQA Manager is absent or when the position is vacant.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES 
 This position may have one or more direct reports.

TRAVEL This position requires occasional travel to company and supply facilities, including some overnight travel.   

QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 
 

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE 

Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) from four-year college or university preferred.  Degree considerations: Food Science, Agriculture, Animal Science, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, etc.  Five or more years of experience preferred within quality and/or food safety in food or pet food manufacturing with demonstrable quality management experience required.  HACCP certification required.  Certifications and trainings for SQF, PCQI, Internal Auditing and Food Defense strongly preferred.

 SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS:

• Communication – Strong verbal and written communication skills; speaks clearly and persuasively, demonstrates group presentation skills and conducts meetings.  Communicate effectively in stressful situations.
• Judgment – Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; makes timely decisions in order to meet organizational objectives in a legal, moral and ethical manner. Responsible for technical understanding of job specific decisions.
• Initiative – Works well independently; displays readiness to undertake or instigate projects on her or his own.
• Planning/organizing – Advanced organizational skills with attention to detail; prioritizes and plans work activities, uses time efficiently and develops realistic action plans.  Create, prioritize, plan, and complete job functions and projects with little supervision.
• Problem solving – Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner and gathers and analyzes information skillfully.
• Quality management – Seeks ways to improve and promote quality through systems and processes, demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.
• People skills – Ability to work and influence across multiple disciplines, including knowledge and use of motivational language and ability to see others’ perspective.
• Information skills – Ability to use or acquire advanced research skills in order to obtain the information needed to complete tasks.  Must be proficient in use of Microsoft Office, Word, Excel and PowerPoint, with capacity to learn and adapt to new software systems quickly.
• Safety and security – Actively promotes and personally observes safety and security procedures; uses technology, intellectual property, equipment and materials properly.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell 0-33% of the time.  The employee will be required to stand, walk, sit, and reach with hands and arms 34-66% of the time, and be required to talk or hear 67-100% of the time.  The employee will be required to lift and/or move up to 40 pounds 0-33% of the time.  Specific vision requirements for this job include: close vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 While performing the duties of this job, the employee will occasionally work near moving mechanical parts.   Adherence to all safety requirements is a must. 

Core Values

It may be an understatement to say that we work every day to uphold our company’s core values.  Because being a servant leader, committed to relationships, pioneering, results driven and tenacious are not just ideals we work towards. We live them.  We breathe them.  These values are the true essence of how we work and are in every product, service, and opportunity we offer.

1. Servant Leader to All – Humbly listening to and serving our employees, customer, and suppliers
2. Committed to Relationships – Caring about the long-term well-being of our employees, customers, and suppliers
3. Pioneering – Using our industry knowledge and entrepreneurial spirit to connect our stakeholders to innovative solutions
4. Results-Driven – Having an intense desire to go beyond what is expected
5. Tenacious – Persevering in all that we do

Equal Opportunity Employer
Protein for Pets OPCO, LLC is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.