Job Information
Lauridsen Group Inc. Quality Control & Systems Manager - Essentia in United States
This position serves as the Quality functional lead for the Essentia facility in Dalton, GA. As a functional leader in a new production site, this person will establish and lead execution of the quality management system for the site, select and train the quality team members, and assist with production and sanitation start-up and qualification.
Ongoing, this person will serve as an active member of the site leadership team, including collaborating with cross-functional and corporate partners to drive continuous improvement in food safety and quality operations and in support of key plant objectives; providing timely and accurate technical information as needed to internal and external customers; and management of all plant quality systems to ensure customer and internal requirements are met, appropriate processes are followed to meet our customer expectations.
JOB QUALIFICATIONS:
Education & Experience:
Bachelor’s Degree in food science or other related applied science field with three to five years of related work experience preferred. An AS degree in a science field with a minimum of seven years in a professional role may provide an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Minimum of two years of supervisory experience preferred.
Experience in food manufacturing quality strongly preferred.
USDA experience preferred but not required.
ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES:
Lead the development and implementation of food safety and quality processes and programs that will assure food safety, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance to meet customer needs.
Provide overall Quality leadership for the site, including, but not limited to: active engagement on the site management team; autonomous, risk-based, and data-driven decision making; collaboration with site and corporate team members to drive continuous improvement; and providing active and ongoing support as needed to plant operations.
Serve as the site Safe Quality Food (SQF) practitioner with responsibility and authority to:
Lead the development and implementation of food safety fundamentals, prerequisite programs, and the food safety / HACCP Plan
Oversee development, implementation and compliance, review and maintenance of the SQF system
Communicate all information to and collaborate with the relevant personnel to ensure the effective implementation and maintenance of the SQF system.
Oversee Quality SOPs, SSOPs, HACCP and Food Defense/Food Fraud Programs, including maintenance of the quality systems, overall management of the quality laboratory facilities and all applicable training needs for the site. Identify and execute improvement opportunities for the overall plant quality system.
Provide direction to and supervise all plant Quality staff, including staff scheduling, work allocation, and performance management. Act as plant liaison to key quality vendors, including pest control services, sanitation contractors, and chemical suppliers.
Along with the plant manager, act as a primary contact for the USDA inspector on site and other food regulatory agencies.
Act as technical representative for all in-house audits by customers or regulatory authorities.
Provide appropriate oversight, approval, and improvement opportunities of manufacturing batch records, CCP documentation, and other critical documentation, and lead investigation of any process deviations that have occurred.
Maintain and implement the plant environmental monitoring plan, testing and corrective actions. Develop ongoing continuous improvement program for environmental program.
Assist in the development and implementation of the plant Master Sanitation Schedule with Sanitation leadership using a data-driven, risk-based approach.
Drive Quality-related plant investigations (off-specification product, customer complaints, environmental issues, etc.) with appropriate plant functions and personnel and include effective corrective actions.
Coordinate of the disposition of off specification product.
Analyze and trend finished product data as a tool for evaluation of the current manufacturing process and the ability to meet finished product specifications. Assist in evaluation of customer and/or internal specifications.
Manage site change management program, including review and approval of any process or product specification change requested.
Effectively and professionally work with customers when required.
Assist in the resolution of customer complaints.
Provide technical support to R&D, including engagement in plant trial planning and execution, and other functions as needed.
All other duties as assigned.
JOB REQUIREMENTS:
Demonstrated ability in food safety, regulatory compliance, and related risk assessments (GFSI-benchmarked certification experience desired, but will train).
Demonstrated ability to act autonomously and make data-driven recommendations and decisions.
General knowledge of food manufacturing and quality procedures.
Ability to learn and comprehend a wide variety of processing methods to assure compliance with established processing procedures.
Familiarity and comfort with multiple forms of technology, including expertise with MS Office applications, laboratory and manufacturing equipment and software, and other communication-driven technology platforms.
Ability to effectively communicate complex information, both orally and in writing, to a wide variety of functions and personnel.
Ability to remain calm and professional at all times.
Ability to maintain confidentiality of company information when required.
Knowledge of organizational methods and ability to manage multiple tasks/projects simultaneously.
Ability to work daily, weekends, and extended hours as necessary.
Ability to assist other work-related areas, as required.
The Vice President of Quality, Regulatory, and Technical Service will serve as the back-up and SQF Practitioner and either the Quality Control Lead Technician/senior Quality Control Technician or Plant Manager will provide onsite support.
Essentia participates in E-Verify.
LGI’s foundation began in 1916 as the Lauridsen Creamery, selling butter, eggs and poultry to the local community. Although our headquarters in Ankeny, Iowa, is not far from the old creamery in Dedham, Iowa, the company is now worldwide with more than fifty manufacturing and sales locations in twenty countries and sales in more than sixty countries.
Each company under the LGI umbrella is truly independent. They have the ability and the charge to be entrepreneurial, to seek out new markets, to develop new products and applications, and – above all - to discover new ways to add value through fractionation and novel application.
What’s more, because some LGI companies have offices and presence around the world, all LGI companies benefit from their exposure to new markets, new products, new applications and new thinking.
