Summary : Assist in planning, managing, and directing quality control programs and the quality team to ensure continuous production of products consistent with established standards by performing the following duties personally or through direct reports (QA Technicians).
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Assist in managing the Quality Assurance Programs to make sure they are being followed according to the written programs and/or prerequisite programs.
• Assist in overseeing and performing daily reviews of the Quality Assurance Technicians' documentation for each production line. Including, but not limited to, the following; Hourly pickups, temperature calibrations, hourly metal detection checks, box weight checks, product specification checks, organoleptic analysis
• Participate in and help play a leadership role for weekly QA meetings with staff to discuss concerns, customer issues, QA issues, etc.
• Assist in managing QA Technician's inspection of incoming raw and other material at receiving and auditing all documentation.
• Help manage, maintain, and keep up to date the cooked product specifications, including maintenance of control copies throughout the company. Working collaboratively with the FSQA Manager, QA Supervisor, Operations Manager, the VP of Culinary Development and the VP of Food Safety and Quality.
• Work collaboratively with the FSQA Manager, QA Supervisor, and the HAACP/Food Safety Coordinator on monitoring GMPs throughout the plant.
• Assist in keeping current with all applicable USDA regulations as they pertain to Stampede Meat operations.
• Manage relationship with all USDA Inspection personnel to maintain a positive, professional and effective, cooperative relationship.
• Perform pre-operational inspection and/or operational inspection as needed.
• Responsible for the Quality Incident Reports (an in-house form), assist in conducting root cause analysis for complaints and issues, preparing responses on complaints and/or issues related to plant products and reviewing them with the QA Technicians and maintaining them on file.
• Responsible for assisting with managing the metal detectors in production; making sure they are functioning properly, adjusting them when needed and maintaining a log of the setting for each metal detector.
• Help supervise the training of all new QA Technicians and back-ups, while maintaining the documentation of their training.
• Assist the FSQA Manager, QA Supervisor in providing input to the reviews of all QA Technicians performance and identify areas to improve at a minimum of twice annually.
• Help pull product to conduct shelf life test for cooked items as Stampede Management determines necessary.
• Work with the FSQA Manager, QA Supervisor (At NM) and the VP of Food Safety and Quality Assurance to help investigate and gather responses for customer related inquiries including but not limited to complaints and other product related deficiencies.
• Assist in roll out of new product during first several production runs.
• Assist in maintaining and preparing QA documentation needed for third party audits.
• Review finished products on an ongoing basis.
• Resolve any and all QA issues in a satisfactory and timely manner, with communication to QA Supervisors or FSQA Manager.
• With the support of the FSQA Manager and QA Supervisor, maintain raw supplier audit information on an ongoing basis.
• Monitor, track, and follow up regarding any raw suppliers on quality issues.
• Serve as a backup for the QA Supervisor and help the FSQA Manager and HACCP/Food Safety Coordinator as needed.
• Maintain bar coding/check weigh scales and assist with implementation of new processes and automation.
• Help with conducting GMP and Safety training and audits.
• Assist to manage and oversee product-on-hold processes.
• Maintain and enhance current product specifications to include digital pictures and video of trimming and other process methods for employee training purposes.
• Implement SPC, 6 Sigma and other total quality tools.
• Perform marinade formula checks.
• Assist with maintaining the Bio-terrorism/security program for the facility.
• Enhance overall employee morale by modeling the Stampede Values.
• Other duties, as necessary to meet the facilities Quality Goals while supporting overall production.

Supervisory Responsibilities
Assist in directly supervising QA Technicians at the facility in accordance with company policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include training employees; appraising performance; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
Qualifications To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Regular attendance is required.
Education and/or Experience
Bachelor's degree (B. S.) from four-year College or university is preferred; At least 2 years related experience preferred and preferably in Quality Assurance and/or Manufacturing, food safety and food handling practices. Previous supervisory experience may be required depending upon other related work experience or education.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
HAACP certification is preferred and will be required of the QA Assistant Supervisor after hire.