What are the responsibilities and job description for the Supervisor Quality Assurance position at Fresh Del Monte Produce Company?
Benefits We Offer Include:
- Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
- 401(k) with company match
- Employer‑paid life & disability insurance
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- 7 Company Paid Holidays
- 24/7 Telemedicine & Employee Assistance Program
- Optional voluntary benefits (legal, accident, identity protection)
- Eligibility on the first of the month following your hire date
Purpose of Position:
The Quality Assurance Supervisor is responsible for providing direction, oversight, support, and coordination of quality assurance and technical activities at the facility. This role ensures full compliance with company policies and procedures, food safety modernization requirements, regulatory standards, customer requirements, and internal quality standards.
The Quality Assurance Supervisor serves as a member of the plant leadership team and is responsible for supporting food safety, quality systems, sanitation, audits, product disposition, traceability, training, and continuous improvement efforts throughout the facility.
Accountabilities:
Food Safety and Quality
- Coordinate and ensure implementation of Corporate Quality and Technical Services policies and procedures.
- Ensure product safety through development, review, and enforcement of company policies and procedures.
- Ensure compliance with local, state, federal, corporate, and customer food safety and quality requirements.
- Review and enforce company quality standards established by facility, regional, and corporate quality teams.
- Coordinate internal audits, plant quality systems, and food safety programs.
- Participate as a HACCP Team Member, Food Safety Coordinator, Quality Systems Coordinator, Food Defense Team Member, and Sanitation Program lead as applicable.
- Support finished product grading, process control verification, specification compliance, and product hold activities.
- Manage complaint tracking, root cause investigations, corrective and preventive actions, and audit response activities.
- Coordinate traceability, recall readiness, and mock recall activities.
- Track equipment calibration and ensure proper documentation of quality records.
- Assist with supplier approval processes, private label and co-pack quality requirements, and customer audits.
- Ensure annual plant quality plan objectives are met through ongoing review of performance metrics and corrective actions.
Leadership and Supervision
- Supervise, coach, train, and develop hourly and seasonal employees within the quality department.
- Coordinate employee training to ensure compliance with food safety, quality, sanitation, and GMP requirements.
- Manage employee performance and ensure job responsibilities are completed accurately and efficiently.
- Support staffing plans, scheduling, and labor utilization within the department.
- Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and employee engagement.
- Work closely with Human Resources on employee relations, discipline, and performance management activities.
- Serve as a member of the plant leadership team and promote plant quality and food safety culture.
Safety, GMP, and Compliance
- Ensure compliance with all Del Monte safety policies, GMPs, environmental requirements, and food safety standards.
- Encourage employee participation in process improvements, audit readiness, and quality initiatives.
- Ensure employees are properly trained in all applicable safety rules, procedures, and work practices.
- Enforce safe operation of powered industrial equipment and warehouse machinery.
- Ensure compliance with local, state, federal, and company regulations related to warehouse operations, food safety, and employee safety.
- Promote a culture of safety through training, coaching, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Review Quality tasks/checks
Lean Manufacturing / Del Monte Production Systems (DMPS)
- Support, facilitate, and assist with implementation of Del Monte Production Systems (DMPS) and lean manufacturing initiatives.
- Encourage employee involvement in continuous improvement activities.
- Identify opportunities to improve productivity, reduce waste, improve safety, and lower operating costs.
Minimum Required Skills:
- Bachelor’s degree in food science, Microbiology, Biology, or related field.
- 3-5 years of experience in food manufacturing quality assurance, including supervisory experience.
- Previous supervisory experience required.
- Strong knowledge of GMPs, HACCP, FSMA, GFSI, BRCGS, SQF, and food safety regulations.
- Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) certification preferred or ability to obtain.
- Strong understanding of food manufacturing quality systems, audits, traceability, sanitation, and regulatory compliance.
- Ability to lead, coach, motivate, and develop employees in a manufacturing environment.
- ]Excellent communication, organizational, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work effectively with all levels of employees, leadership, customers, vendors, and regulatory agencies.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and remain flexible in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data, identify trends, and drive corrective actions.
- Strong decision-making ability with a sense of urgency and accountability.
- Ability to train and empower employees while maintaining high performance expectations.
- Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office and quality-related systems.
- Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English effectively.
Equivalent Experience:
- Equivalent combinations of education, training, certifications, and experience that provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities will be considered.
Preferred:
- Experience leading internal audits, customer audits, and regulatory inspections.
- Experience with root cause analysis, CAPA programs, supplier quality, and product disposition processes.
- Familiarity with SAP, quality systems software, and manufacturing reporting systems.
- Experience with lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and process optimization initiatives.
- Knowledge of customer specifications, private label programs, and co-pack quality requirements.
- Ability to understand financial indicators and how quality decisions impact operational performance and cost.
***Please note: This position does not qualify for relocation expenses. ***
Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. is a global leader in the production, distribution, and marketing of fresh and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables. Our diverse product portfolio also includes prepared fruits and vegetables, juices, beverages, snacks, and desserts—available in over 80 countries worldwide. With operations spanning more than 35 countries, we’ve proudly been nourishing families for over 135 years.
We are committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Fresh Del Monte and its affiliates do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We also participate in E-Verify* where applicable, to ensure employment authorization eligibility. Driven by our core values—Excellence, Care, Passion, Trust, and Creativity—we invite you to explore our career opportunities and join our FRESH team.