Job Description

Scope:

The Sr. Quality Assurance Manager – Liquids, is responsible for ensuring products manufactured in the liquids plant meet the standards set by Heartland Food Products Group and regulatory authorities. The role ensures execution of the quality systems while ensuring the highest level of commitment to food safety and quality in order to provide assurance that all products have been produced, prepared and handled according to the standards of Heartland Food Products Group, SQF and regulatory authorities. This position actively participates in training and continuous improvement projects.

Essential Duties and Key Responsibilities:

• Provides leadership to assure regulatory compliance, adherence to GMPs, and ensure effective implementation of prerequisite programs, policies and procedures in accordance with corporate guidance.
• Drives implement effective food safety programs. 
• Leads preparations for third party audits and response to findings from those audits.
• Represents Heartland as the primary point of contact for all regulatory inspections.
• Supports daily operations, focusing on delivering business objectives, customer and consumer expectations, at the right cost and on time and in full.
• Manages the non-conformance process including identification of root cause and implementation of corrective and preventive actions to improve food safety, quality, customer and consumer satisfaction.
• Compiles and reviews data for trends and deviations followed by reporting execution of corrective and preventative measures (CAPA).
• Manages integrated pest management performance in the liquids facility.
• Develop, revise and initiate standards and methods for inspection, sampling, testing and evaluation as part of continuous improvement initiatives.
• Provides direction to the sanitation team to improve cleanliness of the entire plant. 
• Maintains effective communication between the Quality and Production departments through collaboration with the Plant Managers. 
• Develop and Maintain procedures to support the company’s quality systems.
• Standardizes the approach to the implementation and maintenance of the Plant Quality Programs including the development, implementation and maintenance of the Quality Monitoring Schemes
• Active member of the factory HACCP and Food Safety teams.
• Act as back up for Dry Sweeteners Quality Manager
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, or related field is preferred. A master’s degree is a plus.
• 10+ years of experience within the food and beverage industry required; must have some familiarity with thermally processed foods.
• Comprehensive experience with (e.g. HACCP, FSSC 22000, GMP) specific to aseptic packaging and processing. 
• Food plant sanitation experience is preferred.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyze complex quality issues and implement effective corrective and preventive actions.
• Familiarity with quality control tools and methodologies, such as statistical process control (SPC) and failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA).
• Must have the ability to communicate effectively at all levels
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop team with direct and indirect reporting 
• Analytical skills and demonstrated problem solving/corrective action/resolution skills
• Must be able to work independently and have strong demonstrated leadership, interpersonal and self-initiative skills
• Ability to develop and implement strategic objectives
• Self-motivated and able to work with people at all levels of the organization, including cross functionally with other departments in and outside the organization to build effective relationships.
• Microsoft Office Suite

Physical Demands:

• Must be able to physically perform the functions of climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, and repetitive motions
• Must be able to work seated using a computer and phone for long periods of time.
• Must be able to work extended hours, such as daily overtime and an occasional weekend
• Must possess visual acuity to document company records
• Continuous walking throughout plant and distribution center.
• Lifting up to 40 pounds

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