Senior Manager, Quality Assurance

Job Description

Job Description

SUMMARY

The Senior Manager of Quality Assurance (QA) serves as a key contributor to the Milling and Ingredient Solutions Business Unit (MIS BU) and is responsible for assisting in the development and supporting the execution of strategic direction for the Quality Assurance area in alignment with Business Unit objectives, with shared accountability for business results and financial targets.

This role also serves as a member of the Corporate Quality Assurance (CQA) team, and in that capacity, is responsible for the overall Food Safety and Quality Assurance programs at MIS sites to deliver a finished product that meets or exceeds the requirements of Bay State Milling Company, Regulatory Authorities, Customer expectations, and Industry standards. This includes standardization of QA protocols and product specifications across sites, deepening knowledge of supplier programs and practices, consistency in establishment of testing schedules and auditing, as well as evaluation of laboratory capabilities and resource needs.

The Senior Manager QA – MIS partners with the plant managers in respective region (East or West) to provide direction, coaching, training, skill development, and input on performance evaluations for each location’s QA Manager and their teams.

A key requirement for successful execution of this role is working collaboratively within the function to stay abreast of BSM, regulatory, customer, and industry standards and working cross-functionally to understand all perspectives relative to business decisions. The Senior Manager serves as a technical expert for Wheat Flour and/or Seed and Grain products as well as supply chains to external and internal customers.

This role supports the QA Director in the establishment of performance standards and holds responsibility to implement policy across the assigned sites to ensure a consistent customer experience and to continuously improve quality assurance programs. Further, the Senior Manager QA ensures facility teams are prepared to execute against all applicable certifications including organic, kosher, Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), and Non GMO Project Verification.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned. Perform all tasks safely and efficiently.

Quality/Food Safety

• This position is responsible for monitoring and improving the overall Food Safety and Quality programs at assigned sites. This includes standardization of QA protocols, testing schedules, and product specifications across sites.

• Responsible for establishing and improving protocols at all sites in respective region to evaluate inbound raw materials and packaging materials, as well as in-process and outbound products
• Guide QA managers as needed through root cause investigation and CAPA setting in case of quality deviations
• Has the authority to make ship/no ship decisions in case of quality events.

• Stays abreast of relevant food safety and quality standards through participation in industry associations, training, and engagement with internal and external experts.
• In conjunction with the Director of QA, establishes and executes on food safety and quality policies across applicable facilities to ensure compliance with company, regulatory, customer and industry standards.
• Complete and successfully prepare for audits for compliance against BSM and industry standards..
• Collaborates with other business units in sharing of best practices, policies and procedures to ensure alignment Company wide.
• Leverages Cultivating Excellence activities to drive continuous improvement of programs. This includes actively leading or participating in Corporate QA (incl CE) projects when business needs arise.
• Provides technical direction regarding EMP development and monitoring, equipment cleaning and sanitizing, and employee practices. Provides guidance or direction as needed to plant QA teams to address any non-conformances.
• Develops, monitors, and reports on key metrics to Wheat Flour or S&G tactical leadership and Director of QA.
• Ensures plant teams receive sufficient direction, training and resources to consistently execute quality programs and successfully complete relevant certifications, including organic, kosher, gluten free, Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), and Non GMO Project Verification.

Pipeline Management

• Supports risk assessments of ingredients and vendors in alignment with Food Safety Modernization Act requirements. Provides follow up as necessary.
• Partnering with respective QA manager(s) and Supply Chain peers, evaluates supplier performance trends and makes recommendations for improvement, teaming up with suppliers as needed to address gaps.
• Serves as a key technical resource regarding Wheat Flour and/or Seed and Grain (S&G) products and supply chains to external and internal customers.

• Partners with supply chain and provides direction to QA teams at assigned sites regarding management of relevant supply chains.

Customer

• Reviews customer specifications and provides input to Sales and the Customer.
• Evaluates Cultivating Excellence Relationship Tool to identify trends in internal incidents, vendor incidents, and customer complaints. Reports on performance and leads teams to investigate and prevent future recurrences.
• Actively seeks opportunities to engage and build proactive, trust-based relationships with customers.

Plant/Business Unit

• Provides input to establish and execute business plans for both CQA and the MIS business BU.
• Serves as a key member of the CQA and potentially one of the tactical MIS Leadership teams with responsibility for tactical execution of the business, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver on identified business results and financial targets. Leads initiatives to deliver against objectives.
• Ensure Quality team has adequate ERP support through a network of Quality AX / D365 SME’s; provide input to needed enhancements to increase team effectiveness and efficiency.

Technical Service

• Develops and demonstrates an understanding of how our customers utilize BSM products.
• Serve as the first point of contact for non-routine customer inquiries and questions relating to food safety and quality of products at assigned Wheat Flour locations. Ensure technical assistance to customers as requested. Partner with Technical Services to provide troubleshooting support when necessary for plants or customers.
• Support Sales teams with technical understanding of products for customer and business development.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Directly supervises the QA Managers at the assigned locations. In this capacity, establishes annual objectives, provides coaching, supervision, performance evaluations, and develops training and skill enhancement plans for employees.
• Assesses talent needs and makes recommendations as appropriate.
• Encouraged to actively seek out and lead cost savings or, on the other hand, evaluate technical QA investment opportunities for applicable sites on a regular basis.

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 EXPERIENCE

1. Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science, Cereal Science, Biology, Chemistry, Milling Science or equivalent.
2. Minimum of 8 years of experience in Manufacturing QA required.
3. 5 or more years of previous Supervisory or Management experience required
4. Green Belt certification in Lean/Six Sigma preferred.
5. Laboratory experience preferred
6. Experience in the grain business will be taken into consideration on a case-by-case basis.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Capable of following and communicating written and verbal instructions in English. Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write in English and complete reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, customers, and top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Must have the ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals, as well as, ability to compute rates and percentages.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Delineation of Accept/Reject Decisions:

The Sr. Manager - QA has the authority to enforce all Corporate QA Standards. If an employee is in disagreement with her/his decision, the Director of QA will be consulted. If there is still a disagreement, a joint decision will be made by Sr. Director of QA and the Milling and Ingredient (MIS) General Manager. If there is still not consensus, the final decision will be made by the President & CEO of BSM.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Ability to utilize computer programs including e-mail, word processing, and spreadsheet applications such as Excel, and AX ERP system. In addition, the ability to review process and determine best approach or fix/solutions to increase efficiency in the role.

SAFETY

While performing the essential job functions, the employee is expected to work in a safe manner and follow company policies regarding safety. It is the expectation and responsibility of the employee to report any and all injuries immediately to the supervisor, and to report to supervision any safety situation that the employee feels is substandard and poses a risk for employee injury, property damage, or loss.

TEAMWORK

Must have team building skills; also, must have ability to work independently and cooperatively across functions.

DEPENDABILITY

Follows through on tasks; requires minimum supervision and follows instructions and procedures. Arrives at work on time; follows Company policies on vacations, leaves, etc. Observes Company rules; completes tasks within deadlines.

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.

Willingness to cooperate with peers to accomplish work assignments and maintain effective working relationships; demonstrate respect and consideration for others' opinions; contribute to the overall task of the team. Will follow Company policies, procedures and work rules. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; and talk or hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands to figure, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk and hear. Employee is frequently required to stand, walk, climb or balance, and must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and ability to focus.

FOOD SAFETY/SECURITY REQUIREMENTS

The company is committed to producing and delivering defect-free products. To ensure this, all employees are required to be trained on and adhere to the Good Manufacturing Policies set forth by the Company as they pertain to personnel practices, equipment, and facilities. It is also vital that all employees be aware of their work environment and prevents any accidental or intentional adulteration of products produced at this facility.