Supervises the day-to-day activities of Quality Assurance Technicians to ensure smooth QA operations and compliance with GSF, customer, and regulatory agency standards for food and packaging quality and safety.

1. Identifies, investigates, and troubleshoots food processing problems and non-conformances to ensure compliance with product and packaging consistency, safety, and quality standards and to increase production efficiency. (25%)
2. Supervises the daily activities of assigned staff to ensure increase regulatory compliance, improve production efficiency, and ensure that QA policies and procedures are correctly implemented. (25%)

3. Interacts with plan personnel to provide QA and safety-related information and to keep GSF and customers apprised of quality and safety concerns, opportunities for preventive maintenance, techniques, and regulations. (25%)

4. Updates and maintains QA manuals, procedures, and techniques to ensure compliance with product and packaging consistency, safety, and quality standards and to increase production efficiency. (25%)

5. Performs other related and assigned duties as necessary.

LEADERSHIP/MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY

Supervises between up to 10 QA Technicians and Senior QA Technicians.

PERFORMANCE CATEGORIES

• Productivity/quality standards:  QA processes and procedures
• Productivity/quality standards:  accuracy, timeliness, thoroughness
• Domestic  regulatory compliance
• Budget
• Cost containment
• Teamwork within the department and across departments
• Project/assignment standards
• Customer satisfaction
• Vendor relations
• Safety standards and procedures:  food
• Safety standards and procedures:  laboratory equipment and procedures

Education and experience equivalent to:

Education/Certification:

Bachelor’s degree in food science, chemistry, microbiology, or related field of science from an accredited college or university

Experience:

3 to 6 years of relevant work experience, with an understanding of food safety and regulations and supervisory experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of (B/basic; J/journey; E/expert):

• Food safety concepts and techniques (E)
• Food testing concepts and techniques (E)
• Quality assurance concepts and techniques (E)
• HACCP programs and related food safety regulations and processes (J)
• Food chemistry (J)
• Food microbiology (J)
• Food processing equipment (J)
• Supervisory concepts and techniques (J)
• Employee relations concepts and generally accepted practices (J)
• PC word processing/spreadsheet software (J)

Skill and ability to:

• Supervise and motivate up to 10 employees in a team-based environment
• Interpret QA anomalies and irregularities and identify appropriate solutions
• Interact effectively with employees at all organizational levels
• Conduct performance evaluations of direct reports
• Communicate and coordinate effectively with internal and external customers verbally and in writing
• Read and process written information with a high degree of accuracy
• Perform a variety of food safety tests
• Work in a laboratory environment
• Work effectively in a general business environment, with a focus on high levels of quality and customer service
• Act in accordance with GSF’s Values and Creed