Job description

Company Background:

Culture Fresh Foods, Inc is a fast-growing Non-Dairy processing facility headquartered in Naugatuck, CT. The facility produces a wide range of plant based spoonable and spreadable cultured and ESL (extended shelf life) products for private label, copack and under its own brand.

The Quality Assurance Manager plays a crucial role in all aspects of plant quality assurance and management. They are the Company’s lead quality representative and oversee and manage all quality functions and programs including: GMP’s, HAACP, SQF, FSMA, and Finished goods and inbound material testing. They are directly responsible for all aspects of product quality and plant conformance with applicable state, federal, and third-party licensing and regulations. In addition, they manage pest control services, third-party lab/testing services, assist with finished product label-reviews, and oversee supplier audits. This individual must possess significant technical skills and supervisory management experience. Domestic travel, the ability to creatively solve problems, knowledge of the food industry and product development fundamentals, and the ability to proactively mitigate risks are all prerequisites of this position. Strong customer relationship management skills, organizational and mathematical skills, and the ability to thrive in a fast paced, stressful environment are a must. This position includes complete operational and managerial responsibility for QA and R&D techs and the ability to interact with senior level management at our customers is necessary. They are also responsible for hosting third party inspectors including any and all State, Federal, and Certifying agencies (ex. Organic, Kosher, Customer audits). In conjunction with the Plant Manager, they ensure contractors, subcontractors, vendors, engineers and all facility visitors are in compliance with facility protocols/GMP’s. They must work efficiently and constructively with a variety of third parties, particularly ingredient vendors, and proactively address issues as they arise. They are a member of the senior management team and report directly to the CEO

Leadership Duties and Responsibilities of this position:

• Key Member of Senior Management team with direct responsibility to CEO and, at times, Board members.
• Ensure information flow in all directions.
• Motivate and lead a high-performance technical team; Mentor direct reports to cultivate skills and to increase consciousness of the interrelationship between departments and their shared responsibilities toward how organizational wide behaviors impact quality.
• Oversee and execute GMP, HAACP and related trainings for all new hires, as well as refresher training for existing employees.
• “Hands-on” management of supplier and certifying agency documents and applications.
• Provide leadership and direction to the QA/R&D organization in all major areas of responsibility including: Incoming raw material testing/monitoring; Allergen testing; Finished product testing; Routine product monitoring; New product Development; and quality and new product strategic initiatives.
• Comfortable with and excel at interacting with senior managers in all key business areas: Sales & Marketing, Production, Customer Service, Production Scheduling, Materials Purchasing, Finance, Administration, and Supply Chain.
• Ultimate responsibility for safeguarding product safety and quality while meeting Company and regulatory standards and has oversight responsibility for a continuous quality improvement mentality/program that includes quality control and quality assurance. This person is responsible for ensuring that the production and distribution of products meets or exceeds all quality standards. This person also has responsibility for communicating quality results and the transfer of quality and QA knowledge to the workforce.
• Ensures attainment of product safety, regulatory compliance, and compliance with company standards as stated in the Quality Assurance Manual, Laboratory Manual, and Company directives.
• Drives Continuous Improvement efforts in product quality/performance and process optimization.
• Provides leadership in coaching, education and training of management staff and plant employees. Identifies and secures outside staff training and development resources as needed.
• Collaborate with Procurement team to facilitate strategic sourcing of critical inputs and ensure supplier compliance to our standards.
• Communicates quality metric and inspection results to appropriate managers and others in leadership positions including, but not limited to monthly KPI reporting to Senior Management.
• Assists the Plant Manager in managing local, state, customer/third party, and federal audits and inspections.
• Responsible for managing relationships with major plant service vendors (ex. Cultures; cleaning chemicals/supplies; pest control; etc).
• Leads by example with the CFF Code of Ethics. This includes following Company policies, standards and specifications.
• Engages in the typical responsibilities of a senior manager requiring planning, evaluating, organizing, integrating and delegating.
• Works with Customer Service teams to ensure consumer complaints and inquiries are handled in a timely and appropriate manner.
• “Partners” with CEO on problem solving, cost-saving/efficiency opportunities, problem resolution and customer presentations.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Technical Duties:

• Knowledge of fundamental raw material and finished goods testing and equipment protocols.
• Working knowledge of all core quality principles/practices: SQF; HAACP, GMP; FSMA; PCQI.
• Preparation of monthly TQM (Total Quality Management) report and provides necessary reports to CEO.
• Reviews and authorizes relevant technical aspects of contracts.
• Ability to understand and complete customer related documents which are often completed through their on-line databases.
• Follows up with internal departments to ensure all customer inquiries/issues are resolved in a timely fashion.

Requisite Experience:

• Advanced science or engineering degree or commensurate working experience.
• PCQI certified.
• Excellent mathematical, written and verbal skills.
• Minimum of 5 years working in a quality assurance/product development/laboratory or food safety environment, with progressive managerial experience.
• Proven grasp of microbiological/food safety and science practices and terminology.
• Well versed in Good Manufacturing Practices.
• Possesses a working knowledge of sanitation systems, techniques and procedures.
• Ability to adapt to changing organizational and operational needs; ability to lead others through change.
• Strong excel and computer skills.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Skill in organization and prioritization, and attention to detail.
• Strong team player and leader with the ability to work across multiple functions, disciplines and cultures.
• Ability to select, coach, develop, engage, and retain a team of employees.
• Excellent interpersonal communication and written skills that enable high-level interaction with Executive management within the company and across our customer and supply base.
• Must pass a company pre-employment drug screening prior to commencing work.

Working Environment:

While performing in this role the individual is regularly exposed to working near moving mechanical parts, dusty conditions, high noise environments and may be exposed to chemicals used in the process.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $80,000.00 - $95,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Referral program
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Supplemental pay types:

• Bonus pay

COVID-19 considerations:
All employees are required to perform a temperature check upon arrival and to wear a mask if they are not vaccinated.

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• Quality assurance: 5 years (Required)

Work Location: In person

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