Prairie Farms

Location: Rochester MN

Job Title: Quality Assurance Manager

Immediate Supervisor: General Manager

FLSA Status: Exempt

Schedule: Primarily: Mon - Thurs. 8am to 5pm (some Fridays/flexibility may be required)

Summary: It is the responsibility of the Quality Assurance Manager to develop, implement, and maintain plant quality, sanitation, and pest control systems in compliance with Company and regulatory standards. Support execution of OSHA mandated programs as directed by the General Manager. As a member of the plant management team assume, supervisory relief coverage as directed by the General Manager.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assume role of plant champion of quality through promotion of quality standards and expectations, execution of accountability of all employees, both management and hourly, to Prairie Farms standards, and implementation of quality and food safety communication and training systems.
• Develop, maintain, and implement the plant HACCP program.
• Manage plant sanitation and pest control activities including the EPM program per company expectations.
• Maintain certificates of insurance for 3rd party contracted services.
• Understand the manufacturing process flow and provide technical support to plant operations regarding any quality, food safety, or sanitation related issues.
• Manage the plant’s incoming raw materials and monitor quality per company specifications. Make recommendations as necessary to modify incoming materials inspections or requirements to limit impact of raw material variability on finished product quality.
• Ensure compliance of all quality programs per requirements of Quality Systems Standard Expectations. Execute effective auditing systems to measure compliance, and facilitate corrective and preventative actions to address non-compliance issues.
• Serve as liaison for any regulatory or 3rd party plant inspections. Provide written follow-up and reporting to Director of Quality Assurance and Vice President of Operations. Must be able to effectively articulate Prairie Farms quality programs to adequately answer auditor questions and promote a high level of confidence and professionalism.
• Track product quality for conformance to specification, and other plant quality scorecard results, and report monthly results.
• Conduct quality, food safety, and product and process security training for all employees upon hiring and routine refresher training thereafter. This training shall include HACCP awareness, HACCP operational procedures for employees who perform HACCP control procedures, GMP’s, allergen awareness, food security, and overall quality expectations.
• Manage specific customer requirements pertaining to finished product quality and food safety, i.e. specifications, certificates of analysis, complaint follow-up and corrective actions.
• Assist plant safety committees in the development, maintenance, and verification of plant safety activities to ensure OSHA compliance and promote safety awareness and accountability throughout the facility.
• Provide leadership in areas of corrective and preventative action systems in areas of non-compliant product or downgrades, customer complaint follow-up and plant audit systems.
• Supervises laboratory analysts and/or quality technicians. Provide plant operations supervision relief coverage as needed.
• Depending on plant happenings, some work schedule flexibility may be required at times
• Perform all other duties as assigned

Qualifications/Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science or related field with 3-5 years food industry experience preferred.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills needed to manage multiple priorities and work well in a team based environment.
• Good PC skills with working experience using Word, Excel or other spreadsheet and network experience.
• Excellent data management skills.
• Must be able to verbally communicate, understand and write in the English language.

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit, stand or walk for prolonged periods of time. The employee will be required to operate a computer and keyboard; have visual acuity to review written documentation; ability to hear and understand speech; manual dexterity to operate a telephone; lift horizontally and vertically, bend and stoop.

Prairie Farms is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law

Benefits

• Thrift retirement plan with generous company contributions
• Employee morale program
• Excellent health benefit plans. $600 deductible/single plans starting at $16/wk (includes medical, dental, and vision).
• Insurance effective date of hire
• Company paid STD and Life Insurance
• Flex spending account (FSA)
• Paid Time Off
• Paid holidays
• Employee Assistance Program
• Company pays for all required training and certifications
• Company provided uniforms