Assistant Quality Manager

General Purpose The Assistant Quality Assurance & Compliance Manager is responsible for assisting the Quality Manager and ensuring that all Quality Assurance aspects related to the plant are met. This includes providing direction so that the facility has the proper systems, knowledge, capabilities, and practices to comply with all pertinent regulatory, certification programs, and customer requirements. Specifically, the Assistant Quality Assurance Manager ensures compliance, promotes quality, and has ongoing interaction and responsibility with personnel and processes in all departments. This position is a leadership role that is expected to inspire employees to greater levels of professionalism, quality, productivity and engagement in the DFA Team. The Assistant Quality Assurance Manager works closely with Plant Management, Plant Employees, and serves as a liaison with the DFA enterprise wide functional departments such as Quality Assurance and Compliance, Human Resources, Accounting, and New Product Development, Innovation, and EH&S. Job Duties and Responsibilities Continuously drive the facility's culture toward a higher level of safety. Challenge status quo safety behaviors, engage in safety initiatives and ensure safety related training is attended by all employees. Assist QA Manager with developing, implementing and maintaining quality systems. Coordinate preparation and corrective actions for regulatory, customer and internal audits and inspections. Coordinate process for timely issuance, distribution and compliance with plant procedures. Coordinate FDA record review process. Administer plant Good Manufacturing Practices program. Review quality trends, track root cause of quality failures, and coordinate corrective action. Coordinate the sustainability and annual review of the Safe Quality Foods Program. Identify and implement developmental plans and training for supervisors and support staff reporting directly and indirectly. Food safety and regulatory responsibilities, including meeting the requirements of the SQF Food Safety Code for Manufacturing, and reporting food safety problems to personnel with authority to initiate action. Ensure the department's activities remain in or exceed the standards and specifications established by Quality Assurance. Engage and interact with all personnel on a regular basis, assisting them with their concerns and questions. Drive key performance indicators to all levels within the organization related to Quality Assurance and participate in making recommendations for necessary changes to enhance business objectives. Initiate and drive continuous improvement activities in the department, operations and other areas of the facility as part of the team to ensure plant sustainability. Manage employee performance through establishing expectations, holding people accountable and developing a sense of urgency in addressing operational needs. Partner with other departments regarding the resolution of ongoing problems, the implementation of new procedures or processes, the injection of new products or product lines, and the development of new plans and designs. Ensure good business communication practices are engaged at all levels to ensure key stakeholders are well informed and can respond appropriately. Ensure all process changes, equipment changes or product changes are understood by all employees in a timely fashion. Ensure a decisive understanding of budgeting, uptime, problem solving techniques, motivational techniques, long‑range planning and employee & labor relations are understood and implemented during the course of business. In the absence of the QA Manager, the assistant QA Manager shall cover the QA Manager responsibilities. Other duties may be assigned as required that are within the FLSA status of this position. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Minimum Requirements Bachelor of Science in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry or a related field. 3–5 years of experience managing people and related processes in a manufacturing environment. Computer skills – Excel, Word, PowerPoint, SPC programs, SAP or ERP. Excellent communication and presentation skills for all levels of the organization. Valid driver’s license. Ability to read, write and speak English. Preferred Qualifications Master’s degree in a related field or MBA. 1–3 years of experience in a unionized environment preferred. Food, beverage or pharmaceutical manufacturing experience. CMQ, CQA, CQE not required but preferred. Safe Quality Foods practitioner certification. Better Process Control School training. PCQI certification. An equal opportunity employer including disabled veterans. #J-18808-Ljbffr Dairy Farmers of America