Assistant Manager, Food Safety and Quality Assurance

Position Overview:

The Assistant Manager, Food Safety and Quality Assurance is expected to play an essential part in Monogram’s mission to produce safe quality food that meets regulatory standards and is made with the best industry practices. The role is responsible for maintaining the HACCP and FDA Food Safety Plans while supporting the Quality Assurance Manager in monitoring the successful implementation and daily execution of plant policies and procedures. In addition, the role will play a key part in guiding and directing the Quality Assurance Supervisors and other support roles through the facility’s food safety and quality programs throughout the production and storage areas. The qualified individual should have previous experience working in quality assurance and should have a strong understanding of USDA regulations and HACCP systems and administration. In addition, the individual should possess the ability to establish, maintain, analyze, and improve quality management systems and procedures. Strong technical knowledge of food safety standards in food production is critical to this role.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Ensure that the company’s products meet the regulatory standards established internally and by USDA and customers.
• Develop, maintain, and improve the quality and food safety standards, processes, and procedures required to ensure a safe, quality product is made.
• Oversee departmental supervisors and staff, ensuring that team members understand and follow the company’s quality assurance programs, providing appropriate direction as required.
• Manage the non-conforming product cycle, up to and including reviewing root causes and implementing preventative measures for recurrences.
• Identify and record quality-related problems, initiating actions to prevent non-conformances and recommending solutions.
• Update departmental documentation to ensure that the best practices are in place.
• Manage the department budget, ensuring that monthly and annual spend is in line with budget.
• Assist with customer audits.
• Investigate vendor and customer complaints and collaborate with colleagues as necessary to develop and execute corrective action plans.
• Maintain a working knowledge of relevant government and industry standards.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

NOTE:  This list presents only the principal duties of the position and is not intended to be comprehensive. The duties and responsibilities listed above may be changed or supplemented at any time in accordance with business needs and conditions.

Education and Experience:

• Education: Associate degree is required. HACCP and PCQI certifications are also required.
• Preferred Education: Bachelor’s degree in a science field is preferred. Auditing and other relevant certifications are also preferred.
• Preferred Experience: Three or more years in a food manufacturing and USDA environment. Leadership and auditing experience are highly preferred.

Competencies and Skills:

Physical Demands:

• Working knowledge of relevant government and industry standards.
• Knowledge of SSOPs and GMP.
• Familiarity with a laboratory.
• Strong leadership, delegation, and coaching abilities, and the ability to develop team members. 
• Good time management and multi-tasking skills.
• Excellent verbal communication skills, and the ability to engage with people at all levels within the company.
• Good technical writing skills and the ability to write and update reports, policies, and processes.
• Strong problem-solving, deductive reasoning, and decision-making skills.
• Proficiency in using a variety of computer software, including Microsoft Excel. 
• Good attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Customer service mindset.

• Ability to sit for prolonged periods of time in front of a computer.
• Ability to move about the facility on a regular basis to perform physical activities, such as, but not limited to, lifting items of up to 40 lbs. unassisted, bending, standing, climbing or walking.
• Visual and hearing acuity.

NOTE:  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment and Personal Protective Equipment:

• Generally, work in an office environment, but may also work on the production floor.
• Will be required to wear suitable Personal Protective Equipment.
• May be exposed to loud noises on the production floor.
• May, on rare occasions, be exposed to extreme temperatures, oils, and airborne particles.
• May, on rare occasions, be required to work near moving mechanical parts.