Quality Assurance Manager Job Listing at Lassonde Pappas in Hendersonville, NC (Job ID 3354)

Description

PAY INCENTIVES:

• Sign-On Bonus: $2500, payable during the pay period following successful completion of 90 days of continuous employment
• Retention Bonuses: Two additional $500 bonuses paid at 6 months and 1 year of employment, contingent upon active employment and good standing
• Annual Merit Increases: Eligible for yearly performance-based pay increases
• All bonuses are subject to applicable federal and state tax withholdings

Lassonde Pappas & Co. is a US Leader in beverage manufacturing dedicated to our team members, customers and consumers satisfaction. We remain committed to our small-town roots and rural values. Hardworking and caring are qualities that make our teams special. Since 1942, we've been producing delicious products for our customers across the country!

To provide the best for our customers, we focus on building the best team by creating and advancing an inclusive environment amongst our diverse workforces. If you're passionate about customer satisfaction, reliable, and committed to being and doing better, join us! 

We value each of our employees' total wellbeing. To support employees in all stages of their wellness journey, we have a robust benefits program including medical, dental, and vision coverage options, growth and development potential, along with 401-K, Life & Disability Insurance, PTO, Tuition Reimbursement, Health Fairs, Gym Membership Discounts, and so much more!

POSITION SUMMARY

The Quality Assurance Manager reports to the Plant Manager and is based out of our Hendersonville, NC plant. This role is responsible for managing and executing the adherence to the quality of the product, product safety, and production-related issues, including the oversight of others involved in these operations.  

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES (essential functions of the job) 
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Responsibilities include:

• Manages the daily operations of the department including following the basic production scheduling, work assignments, employee supervision, counseling, employee safety, and administration of company policies and procedures.  
• Prepares written performance evaluations and counsels employees as needed.        Resolve any employee issues and document disciplinary actions and performance recognition on all employees in their area.

• Oversees the Quality departments.

• Oversees QA Supervisor's management of the sanitation department and supports their role through coordination with the production and warehouse departments to maintain cleanliness throughout the plant.  

• Manage the quality operation, including staffing and training, productivity, people development, quality and safety. Align, quality and sanitation departments to work effectively 

• Provide leadership and training opportunities to department leads to plan for future development and company needs
• Ensure employees are cross-trained in sanitation, and quality to ensure backup/coverage and developmental purposes
• Interfaces and effectively works cross-functionally with others in the organization (Processing, Maintenance, Production, Supply Chain, Warehousing, and Finance).
• Ensure employees comply with established standards and counsels and disciplines as appropriate.  Reinforce that GMP, HACCP, Food Safety, Food Security, Food Quality, Safety Rules, Work Rules, and company policies and procedures are followed.
• Oversees document review of all Food Safety and Quality Reports. 
• Manages customer audits, 3rd party audits, FDA audits, USDA audits, Organic audits, and SQF audits with a focus on food safety, food quality, and pest control programs.  Acts as the contact for the plant as it relates to audit corrective actions. 
• Works in accordance with the Corporate QA Manager on consumer complaints.        Reviews and performs trend analysis to determine the root cause for each consumer complaint.  Also, determines when to place the product on hold and when to release the product from hold.  Point person for product recalls.
• Ensures financial performance in the department including labor and materials budget.
• Monitors and assures the quality of the product produced from the beginning of the process to the end.
• As the SQF Practitioner, this individual ensures that employee training is defined and customized training is created. Along with the validation and verification of all other SQF-related programs.
• Responsible for Supervisor's duties Supervisors are not available.

• Advanced knowledge of the field
• Lead by example and assist others who may need guidance
• Be accessible for employees to ask questions regarding areas of expertise 
• Provide positive recognition to employees who exhibit good behavior in their work area
• Perform other related duties as required and assigned

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage 2 direct employees and 8 indirect employees.

• Monitor employee productivity and provide constructive feedback, coaching, counseling, and disciplining; conduct training; implement enforcing systems, policies, and procedures.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; and reviewing professional publications.
• Maintains staff by recruiting, selecting, orienting, and training employees; maintaining a safe, secure, and legal work environment; developing personal growth opportunities.
• Communicates job expectations; planning, monitoring, and assessing job results; coaching, and counseling employees; developing, coordinating, and enforcing systems, procedures, and productivity standards.
• Establishes strategic goals; identifies and evaluates trends; chooses a course of action; defines objectives; evaluates outcomes.
• Lead and support a food safety and food quality culture within the location
• Establish, document, and communicate to all relevant staff of food safety and quality objectives and performance measure
• Empower and encourage employees to act to resolve food safety and quality issues within their scope of work
• Implement, maintain, and continuously improve the food safety and quality culture within the location
• Effectively communicate all key performance indicators and objectives to employees
• Ensure staffing and adequate resources are maintained to meet objectives 
• Educate all staff to understand the importance of food safety and food quality controls and deviation consequences.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Minimum Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree (B.A. /B.S.) from a four-year college or university; 

• 5-8 years' experience in QA/Food with experience in a manufacturing environment preferred.  Experience with managing direct reports is required.
• Must have technical understanding of food safety including manufacturing, quality, HACCP, and GMP operations.  
• Must have a SQF and PCQI certification
• Knowledge of microbiology and formulation of products is preferred.
• Must have strong ability to apply basic statistical concepts to problem solving and root cause analysis, and ability to manipulate data in spreadsheets.
• Good written and verbal communication skills are a requirement. 

• Must possess sufficient analytical skills to use laboratory equipment. 

Additional Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the food/beverage industry
• Previous experience in Manufacturing or production environment.
• Professional certifications in quality (e.g., ASQ) is preferred
• Experience managing customer, USDA, FDA, Organic and SQF audits
• Experience in report writing
• Must possess excellent organization and time management skills because this is a high-paced high-issue job.
• Must be detailed oriented and have the ability to multi-task
• Proven organizational skills
• Ability to direct, coach and train others.
• Consultative, influential, strategic thinking and problem solving skills.
• Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Must be detailed oriented and have the ability to multi-task
• Proven organizational skills

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORKING CONDITIONS

This position requires sufficient physical ability to work in a typical manufacturing setting.

FREQUENT: Ability to talk and hear; ability to stand, walk, climb stairs, stoop, bend and/or crouch; push/pull; lift up to 50 pounds; use of hands and fingers to operate machinery/equipment and all manual and electronic equipment in area of responsibility. Exposure to wet and humid conditions and fluctuations in ambient temperature (seasonal).

OCCASIONAL: Squatting, kneeling, ability to reach above and at shoulder height. Ability to wear a dust mask, and perform Confined Entry using LOTO program. Exposure to toxic and corrosive chemicals.

VISION: Ability to use close and distance vision, as well as color and peripheral vision with or without correction. Must be able to visually detect obstacles and potential dangers in a fast-paced production environment involving high speed equipment and powered industrial lift equipment.

HEARING: Ability to hear in the normal audio range with or without correction. Exposure to noise levels from pumps, machinery, forklift traffic, bottle lines and exhaust fans.

This job description is not intended to contain a comprehensive list of the responsibilities that are required to successfully perform in this position.  Other duties as assigned are part of every job description.   The conditions herein 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 to perform the essential job functions.

Lassonde Pappas & Co., Inc provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.