Woodland Foods is a leading manufacturer of food products and manufactures and packages a wide range of products for both public and private label food and beverage companies in a variety of containers and sizes. Woodland Foods is looking for a qualified candidate who has demonstrated a proficiency in Quality Systems, Food Safety and Technical Services within a GMP-based food and beverage environment. Candidate must also apply a continuous improvement mindset to the business of manufacturing products in the safest, most preserving, most economical and most efficient means possible. This position will manage and direct two professionals while reporting to the VP of Quality and Food Safety.

Scope of the Position

This position will lead the Quality and Food Safety audit & continuous improvement program for Woodland Foods. The position utilizes personal experience and expertise in the areas of food safety, food quality and good manufacturing and sanitation practices to provide strategic leadership and tactical support for all internal manufacturing operations. The position routinely communicates with and advises senior management and works closely with Operations, Quality & Sanitation in maintaining relationships and ensuring Systems are in place and are effective through audit verification and validation of systems, and will initiate and lead the CAPA initiatives when gaps are seen to ensure closure of Corrective and Preventative actions are in place and effective. This position will also review SOP’s, working with the Quality and Food Safety team to ensure controlled documents are complete and compliant to FDA and Regulatory Standards.

Responsibilities:

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Proactively identify potential and emerging food safety issues and develop strategies to effectively investigate and respond
• Manage the Quality Assurance Supervisor and Sanitation Supervisor, and their respective teams.
• Oversee the auditing of all food safety, food quality and sanitation documentation and assurance of compliance to all related policies, procedures and specifications
• Ensure follow up on Food Safety, Quality and Process Control issues, ensuring successful resolution, including effective use of Root Cause Analyses and Corrective and Preventative Action tools (CAPA)
• Serve as principle investigator and lead troubleshooting / root cause efforts related to customer complaints; design preventative solutions
• Audit the execution of all raw material, in-process, finished product and environmental testing plans
• Transform data into meaningful information by developing new metrics and define activities that will drive improvement.
• Work with Quality and Food Safety team to fully implement internal Quality strategy for Quality, Food Safety, consumer affairs and Technical Services which includes the development of others
• Assist with the execution of effective auditing programs to ensure full compliance with Woodland Foods, FDA, Regulatory, and external customer foods policy and procedures as related to food safety and quality assurance
• Ensure compliance to all federal, state and local regulatory requirements
• Ensure that systems are in place and effectively managed to ensure preventive controls for food safety, supply chain, environmental monitoring programs, allergen controls and effective sanitation
• Ensure the appropriate maintenance and retention of all Food Safety & Quality Management System records and forms
• As needed, assist the Senior Manager of Quality and Foods Safety and Sanitation Manager with the audit oversight of all sanitation cleaning programs, verification, and CAPAs
• Ensure follow up on Food Safety, Quality and Process Control issues, ensuring successful resolution including effective use of Root Cause Analyses and Corrective and Preventative Action tools- CAPA
• Participate in all external third-party audits and regulatory inspections
• Promote positive change (continuous improvement) in facilities
• Develop Weekly Report Routine and KPI Scorecard to demonstrate improvements in Plant Food Safety Systems

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science, Chemistry or Biology is required
• Master’s Degree in related field is preferred

Experience:

• 8 years of experience in a food manufacturing environment
• Experience with Foods, Processing, Packaging and Hygienic Design preferred
• Experience managing to FDA and FSMA regulations
• GFSI certified preferred
• PCQI certification preferred and will be required to complete within 6 months in role
• Leadership experience & ability to work both independently and as part of a team environment
• Good collaboration and oral and written communication skills
• Strong technical skills and attention to detail
• Proficient with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Ability to work a flexible schedule- can work on night shifts or come in on the weekend as needed to audit Operations, Sanitation, Maintenance, and Quality is meeting SOPs, and others
• Extensive experience in a food/beverage manufacturing and laboratory environment, with HACCP certification preferred
• Ability to perform complex data analysis and summarize results to drive actions to improve systems
• This position is a roll-up-the-sleeves role that is on the floor auditing systems and then rolling up sleeves to implement improvements as needed

Qualifications:

• This is a full time in plant role and cannot work at home or remotely
• Must be eligible to work in the United States
• Demonstrate strong skills in problem solving
• Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Powerpoint, Teams)
• Ability to provide perspective with candor and able to take actions implementing improvements when systems are not meeting expected results
• Hands-on experience with Quality Systems
• Exceptional communication skills and ability to interact with peers and outside regulatory
• Critical thinking with exceptional problem-solving skills; able to work independently and in team environments
• Proactive, resourceful & highly motivated with good communication skills and ability to work in high output environment. Does not hesitate to provide guidance, expertise and candor in difficult situations.

• Ability to balance multiple projects
• Other duties as assigned

Working Conditions/Physical Requirements

The incumbent must have the ability to sit, stand and walk for extended periods of time, climb stairs, and lift or carry up to 25 pounds. They must be able to work in a manufacturing factory.