Lead, Quality Assurance

Quality Assurance LeadThe Quality Assurance Lead is a key member of the plant Quality team and serves as a frontline leader in protecting product quality, food safety, regulatory compliance, and customer satisfaction.This position provides day-to-day leadership and technical support for Quality Technicians while ensuring that water processing, microbiological testing, finished-product inspection, sanitation, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), and quality-system requirements are consistently executed across the facility.The Quality Assurance Lead has the authority and responsibility to identify potential food safety or quality concerns, place questionable product on hold, escalate nonconformances, and partner with Operations and plant leadership to ensure issues are appropriately investigated and resolved before affected product is released.The ideal candidate is highly visible on the production floor, technically strong, detail-oriented, comfortable challenging unacceptable conditions, and committed to building a culture where quality and food safety are everyone's responsibility.Key ResponsibilitiesServe as the frontline Quality resource for assigned production operations and shifts.Provide leadership, direction, coaching, and technical support to Quality Technicians.Ensure products meet established company, customer, regulatory, and product specifications from startup through completion of the production run.Monitor water processing systems, tanks, treatment areas, laboratories, production lines, and finished-product quality.Verify that required quality checks are completed accurately, consistently, and at the required frequency.Identify and escalate food safety, product quality, regulatory, or GMP concerns immediately.Initiate product holds when conditions warrant and assist with disposition and release activities in accordance with established procedures.Partner with Production, Maintenance, Warehouse, and Sanitation teams to resolve quality concerns.Promote a proactive quality culture by identifying risks before they become customer or product issues.Required QualificationsHigh school diploma or GED required.Minimum of two years of Quality Assurance, Quality Control, food/beverage manufacturing, laboratory, or closely related experience preferred.Experience working in a manufacturing environment strongly preferred.Demonstrated ability to follow technical procedures and accurately document results.Strong reading, writing, mathematical, and problem-solving skills.Basic proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and computerized recordkeeping systems.Ability to work independently with limited supervision while effectively supporting a team.Ability to communicate professionally with hourly employees, supervisors, managers, auditors, and other stakeholders.Ability and willingness to work a flexible schedule, including off-shifts, overtime, weekends, or holidays when business needs require.Physical RequirementsThe physical demands described are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.The employee may be required to:Sit approximately 35% of the workday.Stand approximately 40% of the workday.Walk approximately 25% of the workday.Occasionally bend, stoop, crouch, push, pull, reach, and climb.Frequently lift and/or carry materials weighing up to 50 pounds.Frequently communicate verbally and in writing.Frequently hear normal conversation, equipment alarms, and operational sounds.Frequently use near visual acuity, depth perception, and attention to detail when conducting inspections, reading instruments, and reviewing documentation.Work in manufacturing environments that may include temperature changes, wet areas, noise, moving equipment, and other conditions typical of food and beverage production.In the absence of the Quality Assurance Lead, the Quality Assurance Manager or appropriately trained designee will assume assigned food safety and quality responsibilities. Premium Waters