Quality Assurance Manager
BlueTriton Brands
- Kingfield, ME
- Permanent
- Full-time
- Serve as the lead within the plant for Company Quality initiatives including the implementation of the BlueTriton Brands Quality Management System.
- Serves as Food Safety Management System (FSMS) Team Leader.
- Partner cross functionally with the Planning, Production, Maintenance, and Warehouse teams to maximize results.
- Prepare for all Company Quality Audits, FSSC (Food Safety System Certification), IBWA, FDA, Dept of Agriculture, Military, and Kosher.
- Oversee fully functioning micro lab and ensure compliance testing and reporting requirements are met for state and FDA regulations.
- Ensure compliance and record keeping for all mandated quality checks, testing, sampling and sanitation activities are maintained according to company requirements.
- Track, analyze, and lead initiatives for all quality and customer complaint issues within the plant.
- Serve as primary plant liaison with the Customer Service Center, Consumer Affairs regarding quality and complaint issues.
- Prepare and maintain permitting and licensing for the plant.
- Manage budgeting, purchasing and inventory of plant operating supplies such as filters, chemicals and lab supplies.
- Coordinate activities and develop good relationships with key vendors.
- Monitor the performance and competencies of plant QA staff and provide leadership, coaching and development as needed.
- Lead the execution of cultural changes and activities needed to support continuous improvement initiatives.
- Develop initiatives to improve plant performance against BlueTriton quality measures and ensure plant compliance with company and regulatory standards.
- Provide day-to-day leadership to QA Department and act as the primary liaison to Corporate QA, Corporate and outside laboratories, and to external regulatory agencies (FDA, IBWA, EPA, etc.).
- May serve as plant representative for regional quality forums and initiatives.
- Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, microbiology or related field.
- Five or more years of QA experience, with three or more years of QA leadership experience within consumer products, specifically beverage, food or other clean manufacturing
- Prior microbiology laboratory management and manufacturing line inspection experience
- Knowledge of ISO an FSSC requirements and audits
- Knowledge of Statistical Process Control, HACCP, sanitation, and hygienic design
- Strong project management and computer skills, including Word, Excel, Access, & PowerPoint;
- ERP system and Quality system experience needed, SAP and Infinity preferred
- Proven leadership skills, coaching and developing leaders & employees
- Demonstrated ability to drive continuous improvement and manage to/achieve metrics
- Strong communication skills with the ability to interact effectively with frontline employees, peers, and executives
- Ability to drive positive change in both processes and systems and culture
- Strong internal and external customer focus with great follow-up
- Ability to provide afterhours support to a 24 X 7 operation for critical issues
- Self-directed with high integrity and the maturity commensurate with being an effective manager