Quality Assurance Supervisor - Straus Family Creamery
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
About the Job
Job Objective: Responsible for quality assurance, control, preservation of product safety and quality that consistently meets all Company and regulatory standards. Has oversight oversight of all continuous quality improvement programs, is responsible for ensuring that the production and distribution of products meets or exceeds all quality standards, and for communicating quality results and QA knowledge to key stakeholders. Models and acts in accordance with Company's Core Values.
Scope: The QA Supervisor shall serve as the technical specialist for sanitation, product quality, food safety, and quality programs and processes to meet all Company goals while achieving the profit and growth goals.
Essential Job Functions
Food Safety
- Ensure compliance with all food safety laws, regulatory standards, and Company standards, per Organizational directives. Regulatory standards include but are not limited to: Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO), Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), and Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)
- Ensure that activities regarding HACCP, Food Safety Plan, GMPS, and QMS are performed and documented properly
- Provide support in compliance for in-house HACCP/Food Safety Plans
- Assist in internal inspections, GMP and Prerequisite Programs (PRP) audits
- Implement and manage necessary allergen control practices to comply with regulation
- Implement and manage the PEMP (Pathogen Environmental Monitoring Program)
- Comply with federal, state, and local legal regulations by studying existing and new regulations; anticipating regulations, enforcing adherence to requirements, and advising on necessary actions
Quality
- Responsible for total milk quality from the dairy to the consumer
- Manage the day-to-day operations of the product testing laboratory this includes ensuring the supplies are stocked up, equipment is available and in proper working condition and that ample amount of staff are present to support operations
- Supervise the appropriate bacteriological, sensory and utilization tests on raw materials and finished products
- Ensures that finished goods are sampled and tested against appropriate internal and eternal standards
- Investigate and correct quality issues by identifying and resolving the root cause of quality issues, in collaboration with other departments
Training and Development
- Provide leadership in coaching, education and training of management staff and plant employees on Quality Control subjects and concepts; seeks assistance as needed from other training resources
- Guide direct reports and team with excellent communication, positive disposition and high quality work ethic
- Responsible for determining QA/QC team training needs; coordinate and provide appropriate training, 1:1 coaching/mentoring, and development and continuous improvement plans
- Responsible for conducting annual performance reviews of QA/QC team
- Update job knowledge by studying trends in and developments in food quality management; participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations
Compliance
- Comply with all food and dairy industry, regulatory, and any/all other applicable standards including HACCP, FSMA, PMO, and FDA, and ensure the enforcement of these as they pertain to QA/QC team
- Submit required reports to QA Manager and Plant Management
- Consistently work in a safe manner and comply with all health, safety, security and emergency requirements that are communicated, whether established by the Company or by law, as well as ensure the enforcement of these as they pertain to the QA/QC team
- Must comply with all Company policies communicated through your Employee Manual, trainings, notice boards or other postings, or by a member of management, as well as ensure the enforcement of these as they pertain the QA/QC team
- Participate in weekly team meetings, biweekly huddles, safety meetings and other meetings as requested
- Assist with the communication of companywide sustainability goals to Quality team and manage resources to ensure that sustainability goals are met or exceeded
- Maintain excellent attendance
- Other duties as requested
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor of Science degree in Food or Dairy Science, or equivalent, preferred
- Experience in a lead or supervisory position, with technical work experience in managing and executing sanitation and QA programs and processes, required
- Dairy background including work within PMO, local, state, and federal dairy/food guidelines, preferred
- Prior experience managing HACCP programs, plant inspections/audits, organic and kosher certification, required
- Advanced training and knowledge to ensure compliance with state and federal food standards, sanitation chemical/material use and procedures, food safety procedures, plant and dairy farm inspections, 3rd party audits. food labeling, and product distribution and handling, preferred
- Proficient competency with Microsoft Office Suite, RedZone compliance module, preferred
- Flexibility to being on call, after hours/on weekends to support fluctuating business priorities, required
- Excellent organizational skills to prioritize projects and tasks to meet required timelines
- Ability to research and complete special projects related to job requirements
- Effectively perform complex data analysis
- Must have a valid CA Driver's License and decent driving record. Travel is required to dairy farm inspections, between creamery and warehouse/office, and other off-site locations, required
- Ability to travel, on occasion, for business needs <5%
- Fluent bilingual - Spanish/English, preferred
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
- This is a key position. Flexibility to work extended schedule, different shifts, on call before or after hours, and to work weekends as business needs arise, is expected for this function
- Ability to work on a computer and look at a computer screen for extended periods of time. This position requires computer use 40% of the time
- Full organoleptic (sight, smell, taste) as well as audio and vocal senses are required to evaluate and make sound decisions on product quality and production processes
- Ability to work in a manufacturing environment
- Frequent periods of sitting, turning the head and torso, bending and flexing the arms, legs, wrists, hands, and fingers - repetitive at times
- Frequent periods of standing, walking, climbing stairs, on varied, sometimes uneven terrain, dirt, pavement, floors - repetitive at times
- The ability to climb and balance is essential
- Working in cold, wet, humid environments
- Ability to work in high allergen environments
- Ability to work around farm animals
- Ability to withstand noise produced by manufacturing/warehouse machinery up to 90 decibels
- Ability to withstand temperatures ranging from -10° to 100° Fahrenheit
- Ability to lift, hold and/or carry 55 pounds, unassisted
Above description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work to be performed and not construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the position.
Straus is an equal opportunity employer. We strictly prohibit and do not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any legally protected characteristic.
You do not need to match every listed expectation to apply for this position. Here at Straus Family Creamery, we know that diverse perspectives foster the innovation we need to be successful, and we are committed to building a team that encompasses a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and skills.
Vaccine Mandate
Employees working in this position will be required to be fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. An applicant is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine. Applicants will be required to show proof of vaccination status upon receipt of a conditional offer of employment. That offer of employment will be conditioned upon, among other things, an Applicant’s ability to show proof of vaccination status. Please note the Company provides reasonable accommodations in accordance with applicable state, federal and local laws.
Founded in 1994, Straus Family Creamery is a mission-driven, family-owned-and-operated business dedicated to making premium organic dairy products, with minimal processing. The Straus Dairy Farm and Creamery, located in the small town of Marshall on the Northern California Coast, was the first certified organic dairy farm west of the Mississippi River and the first 100% certified organic creamery in the United States.
In addition to the Straus Dairy Farm, Straus Family Creamery buys certified organic, Non-GMO Project Verified milk from 11 other organic family farms in Northern California’s Marin and Sonoma Counties. The combination of rich soil, one of the nation’s most diverse grassland systems, and a mild coastal climate create the ideal setting for organic dairy farming. Land stewardship and sustainable farming are deeply rooted principles in certified organic farming practices.