6200 Quality Systems Manager/SQF Practitioner (Day Shift) in Mt Olive, North Carolina at Mt Olive Pickle Company

Join a company that’s been pickling for a century! We’re seeking a Food Quality Systems Manager / SQF Practitioner to lead our SQF program and ensure our products meet the highest standards. 7+ years in the food industry or a Food Science degree is required. Experience managing or supporting SQF programs is also a must with a strong quality and compliance mindset.

Summary

Manages and maintains the plant Quality and Food Safety systems and programs. Serves as “Safe Quality Foods” (SQF) Practitioner, HACCP Coordinator, PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual), and plant liaison to the FDA/NCDA. Manages/investigates consumer complaints and customer responses. Manages plant pest control through a 3rd party vendor.

Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Functions

• Oversees plant SQF program as the SQF Practitioner. This includes plant Document Control Program, Internal Audit Program, Pre-requisite Program Verifications/Validations, Food Safety plans, Food Quality plans, Food Defense Program and all other aspects of a SQF program.
• Serves as the company contact and facilitator for all customer 3rd party Food Safety/Quality audits.
• Serves as the plant HACCP Coordinator/PCQI. Maintains all plant Food Safety plans. Facilitates annual plan reassessments with the HACCP Team.
• Ensures compliance to all customer specific Food Safety and Food Quality program requirements. Provides customer documentation as required (Food Safety/Quality documentation, information questionnaires, Kosher certifications, COAs, letters of guarantee, etc).
• Serves as the plant liaison to the FDA/NCDA. Ensures that all Food Safety and Quality Critical Control Points and FDA regulations are in compliance/met. Keeps a log of all process deviations and reviews them with a process authority and documents corrective actions.
• Facilitates annual employee refresher trainings on all Quality/Food Safety related topics (GMPs, SQF Awareness, HACCP Awareness, etc.)
• Manages and reviews customer complaints. Tracks and trends complaint data and initiates corrective actions when warranted. Facilitates complaint communication/follow-up with private label customers.
• Oversees the plants Organic Processing Program. Facilitates annual inspections through a 3rd party to remain in USDA compliance.
• Facilitates the plants Pest Control program through a 3rd party vendor.
• Maintains all quality control, food safety and sanitation records as required by SQF/FDA.
• Conducts review and release of finished product from the SQF production hold.
• Reviews Co-pack production records and finished product evaluations.
• Maintains the plants Kosher certification program.
• Manages the electronic Quality Specification system in conjunction with the IT department. This includes the daily quality form database as well as Presage (electronic record system).
• In the event of this employee’s absence, supervisory duties related to food safety and food quality will be assumed by the Director - Technical Services.
• Maintains areas of operation in a safe and sanitary manner. Makes effective use of and makes recommendations on physical assets. Determines that established safety rules, Company policy and good housekeeping are followed.

Other Duties

• Conducts special projects and testing as directed.
• May operate own or company vehicle in performance of some job tasks.
• Ensures proper selection, training, evaluation, and discipline of and communication with employees.
• Participates in training, employee meetings, committees, project teams, etc. as appropriate.
• Receives written and verbal instructions on the above job tasks and performs other duties as directed by Supervisor.

• Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in Food Science or related field with 7+ years of industry experience around Quality/Food Safety Systems, HACCP, SQF and GMPs
• Knowledge of laws and regulations that pertain to food safety of fresh vegetables and fermented products preferred.
• Expertise in Microsoft Office products with the ability to learn other computer based software
• Possesses ability to problem solve and make decisions in a timely manner
• Ability to research topics and develop a strong experimental design
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work with a team and has initiative to begin and finish tasks in an efficient manner
• Ability to interact with employees at all levels of the company

Supervisory Responsibilities

Be familiar with responsibilities of the QC supervisor in the event of their absence

Machines, Equipment, Tools Used

Personal computer and standard office and lab equipment , own or company vehicle.

Physical Demands

Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.

Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand or arm as in handling.

Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.

Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized. This factor is important if the amount and kind of climbing required exceeds that required for ordinary locomotion.

Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires full use of the lower extremities and back muscles.

Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.

Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking level with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make fine discriminations in sound.

The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform and activity such as: preparing and analyzing data figures: transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; visual inspection involving small defects, small parts, and/or operation of machines (including inspection); using measurement devices; and/or assembly or fabrication of parts at distances close to the eyes.

Light work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is related for light work.

Work Environment

Office, lab and manufacturing working conditions as well as frequent and lengthy exposure to outside conditions. Some exposure to hazardous chemicals. Ear plugs, gloves, apron and safety glasses required for some job tasks. Head cover and beard cover required in some work areas. Requires extended workdays and workweeks during peak cucumber intake season. Access to confidential information including product formulation, research and development projects/programs, standard costs and wages.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of the position. All employees may have other duties assigned at any time.