QA MANAGER

Summary
A Quality Assurance (QA) Manager helps develop and safeguard quality standards in a production company. Before any product reaches consumers, the Quality Assurance Manager – along with their team of specialists – will assess the item in depth and confirm it meets all company requirements, compliance standards, and that it has no defects. In essence, Quality Assurance Managers ensure products are safe to use, operate properly, are uniform, and follow all specifications. In addition to that, this position identifies new products and processes to be developed, but also those to be improved, via careful analysis. They coordinate, identify and process various projects, establishing their feasibility in terms of investment and financing opportunities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible for food safety as SQF practitioner and PCQI.
• Inspect products to determine whether they meet quality standards.
• Attend meetings with management to report on and discuss quality control issues.
• Analyze the data to find the areas for improvement.
• Accountable for the Quality Manual.
• Manage QA Department and supervise all the employees working in the departments to meet organizational quality goals.
• Organizing team roles and evaluating employee performance.
• Perform root cause analysis of errors and discrepancies and implement corrective measures and processes.
• Track goals and progress, reporting to management and stakeholders.
• Oversee the development of food standards and verify the production specifications to food safety standards including but not limited to Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), Food Defense Program, and Food Safety Modernization Acts (FSMA), Safe Quality Food (SQF).
• Evaluate food ingredient content and packaging materials according to food safety standard including food safety certificate, material list, allergen, microbiological standard and/or classification (Non-GMO, Vegan, Kosher and Organic)
• Evaluate and monitor the procedures to process, package, preserve, store and distribute the finished product.
• Evaluate the result of table tests, lab tests, production tests, quality tests required for new product development with SQF team members.
• Oversee Food Regulation research: CFR, state regulations and/or other food regulations related to production or specifications required for food labels.
• Supervise routine internal facility and food safety audits and/or inspection and preparation of samples for third party laboratory testing conducted by QA and/or QC.
• Supervise the finished products and/or work in process meet all related standards and customer requirements to shipment and/or to proceed with next production process.
• Conduct routine manufacturing process and facility inspections, report results and perform follow up inspections of any necessary corrective actions
• Organize and supervise annual training (and related documentation) of employees in GMPs, SQF, Food Defense, Allergen Control, HACCP, and other programs as required
• Establish and maintain food safety protocols, policies and procedures to achieve stated manufacturing objectives, monitor progress and take action to achieve them; document and develop written departmental procedures
• Review food safety programs to ensure compliance with regulatory agencies and maintain, review and control QA documentations and assist with preparation and management of the third party and customer audits; ensure departmental files are current and available for inspection at all times.
• Conduct an investigation to resolve any QA-related problems and report to the president immediately when a decision needs to be made by the company.
• Investigate customer complaints.

Supportive Duties and Responsibilities

• Support the R&D team in developing new products and maintaining existing ones.
• Lead quality and condition examinations of final finished products prior to shipment
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements/Qualifications

• 5 years + of experience in a quality assurance environment, including experience in a leadership role
• Excellent attention to detail and communication skills
• Ability to manage a busy work schedule with a variety of tasks and deadlines.
• English: Business level or above
• Leadership skills, to manage cross-functional projects and teams
• Math skills
• Analytical skills, which include communication, creativity, critical thinking, data analysis and research
• Team player
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Strong computer skills.
• Japanese: Business or above (optional)