Quality Assurance Manager

Description:
The Quality Manager is responsible for safeguarding
product safety and quality while meeting Company and
regulatory standards, and has oversight responsibility
for a continuous quality improvement program that
includes quality control and quality assurance. This
person is responsible for ensuring that the production
and distribution of products meets or exceeds all
quality standards. This person also has responsibility
for communicating quality results and the transfer of
quality and QA knowledge to the workforce.
* Manages the operation of the plant laboratory,
including ensuring supplies and equipment are
available.
* Ensures product safety, regulatory compliance, and
compliance with company standards as stated in the
Quality Assurance Manual, Laboratory Manual, and
Company directives.
* Drives Continuous Improvement efforts in product
quality/performance and process optimization.
* Provides leadership in coaching, education and
training of management staff and plant employees for
Quality Assurance; seeks assistance as needed from
other Dean Foods training resources.
* Develops, facilitates and maintains the Milk and
Juice HACCP program.
* Provides Customer inputs into iCiX as required, and
views/monitors Supplier iCiX postings to ensure all
SQF audit requirements are met.
* Implements and maintains all Dean Foods quality
systems (i.e. SQF 2000).
* Reviews all product labels used in the facility and
ensures adherence to regulatory and Company
standards.
* Maintains or ensures the maintenance of the Dean
Foods Nutritional Database System for the facility.
* Ensures adherence to appropriate regulations and
Company standards for raw milk quality.
* Supervises the appropriate chemical,
bacteriological, sensory and utilization tests on
raw materials and pasteurized products.
* Communicates quality metric and inspection results
to appropriate managers and others in leadership
positions including, but not limited to daily,
weekly or monthly KPI reporting to Corporate.
* Ensures that proper sanitation procedures are
utilized and that adequate sanitation tests are
performed; provides troubleshooting efforts in the
event of sanitation system failure.
* Develops and maintains documentation of all
required quality tests and activities.
* Assists the Plant Manager in managing local, state,
customer/third party, and federal audits and
inspections.
* Is responsible for expense management and control,
including labor and Cost of Quality utilizing
Continuous Improvement techniques and a Management
Operating Structure (MOS).
* Ensures adherence to all contract packaging quality
requirements.
* Cooperates in a cross-functional manner as a change
agent with all departments within the Company.
* Leads by example with the Dean Foods Code of
Ethics. This includes following Company policies,
standards and specifications.
* Engages in the typical responsibilities of a
manager requiring planning, evaluating, organizing,
integrating and delegating.
* Performs other duties as assigned.
Requirements:
* Bachelor s degree in a science-based area of study
and a minimum of 2 years of supervisory experience.
* Internal Candidates: A minimum of 5 years hands-on
plant experience in the dairy plant or food industry
operations, with a minimum of 2 years of supervisory
experience.
* Familiarity with Good Manufacturing Practices.
* Possesses a working knowledge of sanitation
systems, techniques and procedures.
* Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
* Excellent verbal/written communication skills.
* Poss