Quality Assurance Manager

Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Downers Grove, IL we are a world-class contract manufacturer producing wholesome baked goods, snacks and packaged foods for many of the world's leading food companies. As one of the largest and fastest growing food co-manufacturing companies in the US, we are the proud owner and operator of over 35 facilities globally. Our nearly 10,000 employee-strong organization is leading the way and setting new standards for quality, safety, flexibility and efficiency while feeding families around the globe.
Hearthside's exceptional growth stems from its ability to address real-world problems for customers of all shapes and sizes, and by our resolute commitment to our belief that there are no great companies without great culture. Our culture of personal empowerment enables growth, learning, and continuous improvement every day!
We are steadfast in our ambition to be the indispensable and most trusted partner to our customers and need your help to do it! Join Hearthside and enjoy a competitive package, outstanding benefits and a diverse work environment.
The Quality Assurance Manager will be working at one of our larger bakeries in the US located North Sioux City, SD. The plant is 350k sq. ft. and operates 8 highly automated production lines. At this plant, we produce cookies for multiple customers; including the Girl Scouts, Kroger, Walmart and many others. This facility has two unions, the BCTGM and Teamsters. Nestled between the curves of the Missouri River and the banks of McCook Lake, North Sioux City is at the intersection of commerce, recreation, and small town living with big city attractions.
Relocation is available for this opportunity.
Job Summary:
Responsible for leading, maintaining, and executing all aspects of Quality Assurance and Food Safety for the plant. Coach, teach, mentor, and manage the Quality and Food Safety teams onsite. Utilize lean tools and root cause analysis to continuously improve the existing quality system. Ensure all requirements from customers, regulatory, and 3rd party certifications are met and in compliance.
Core responsibilities:

• Duties may include, but are not limited to the following
• Manage all Quality and Food Safety programs including HACCP, Food Safety Plans, Food Quality Plans, Identity Preserved Certifications, IA Vulnerability, and Food Defense
• Execute a robust internal audit program to ensure site it always audit ready all the time
• Participate in Hearthside Production System requirements such as Drumbeat (Daily Directional Setting), Weekly KPI, Lean Steering Committee, and Tiered Auditing
• Lead Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and Corrective Actions/Preventative Action (CAPA) investigations
• Coach, teach, and mentor the QA and Food Safety teams to build bench strength and career paths for employees
• Collaborate with all plant leadership to drive quality culture improvements and consumer complaint reductions
• Coordinate multidisciplinary activities among various team members assuring timely, efficient, and cost-effective finality
• Administrate all product specifications and associated floor instructions assuring compliance with regulatory label requirements.
• Ensure food standard compliance with FDA, USDA, GMP, and company policy.
• Assess Environmental Monitoring Programs to ensure continued seek and destroy approach to pathogens
• Oversee the Hold and Release program, ensuring proper hold verifications and disposition processes
• Lead Trace and Mock Recall exercises
• Measure and monitor various company KPIs and drive for improvements in key performance areas
• Lead customer QA discussions related to quality or food safety incidents in the plant
• Advise commercialization and production teams on process specifications, process capabilities, and customer requirements to include recipe and sensory attributes
• Support commercialization teams in integrating customer and compliance requirements into internal specifications and critical quality parameters
• SQF Practitioner or other GFSI scheme by plant and PCQI duties
• Trend and analyze data as need to drive improvements in the plant (EMP, Pest Control, Consumer Complaints, etc.)
• Support all aspects of sanitation, including allergen matrix and control programs, chemical control programs, pest control programs, cleaning validations including all sanitation systems as assigned.
• May perform other functions as needed.

Required Competencies & Knowledge:
Knowledge of:

• Intentional Adulteration Vulnerability Assessments
• Preventative control validations
• SMART goal setting and team coaching
• Basic RCA and CAPA tools
• Sanitation Programs
• Environmental Monitoring Programs
• Robust Hold and Release Program Requirements
• Skilled in:
• Personnel development
• Team building
• Internal auditing
• Procedure and Standard Work generation
• Risk Assessments
• Demonstrated proficiency in advanced quality statistics, measurement systems analysis
• and continuous improvement required.
• Strong understanding of plant GFSI scheme and its implementation is required. BRC or SQF Practitioner certification is a plus.
• PCQI/ Food Safety Plans / HACCP Plan development and maintenance

Ability to:

• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Manage multiple projects at a time
• Direct various program activities within the plant
• Influence Quality Culture behaviors
• Recognize food safety & quality gaps and provide a plan to address
• Work collaboratively with all departments
• Ensure collaborative relationships with industry, trade, other associations, regulatory agencies and Hearthside staff.

Proficiency in: MS Office Suite, SAP a Plus
Work Environment:

• Frequent production environment exposure which includes noise, dust, heat, cold, moving machinery, fork lifts, and slippery floors
• 50% of work in an office setting
• Handle daily employee issues.
• Travel up to +10%

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to use hands and fingers.
• Ability to see, hear and talk.
• Employee frequently required to sit
• Employee daily required to walk, climb and/or balance.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 25 lbs.
• Walk up to 400 yards to necessary Production areas
• Stand, walk and climb stairs on an infrequent basis.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in business/science-related field is preferred; Post-graduate degree a plus. Equivalent work experience as appropriate and approved by Platform Quality Director.
• 5 or more years of related work experience, including experience managing and 3 or more years leading a Quality and food safety / sanitation staff in a related food manufacturing environment (i.e. baked bar, granola manufacture, bread, cold form bar, cookies, crackers, sandwich assembly, kit assembly, etc.).
• PCQI Certification and/or HACCP Certification
• Must be detailed-oriented, have strong self-confidence and leadership skills and have excellent oral and written communication skills.
• SPC and Microsoft Suite computer experience

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Hearthside is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Other details

• Job Family Manager
• Pay Type Salary

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