Utz Quality Foods is seeking a Director of Quality Assurance, Manufacturing. The Director of Quality Assurance, Manufacturing is responsible to organize, direct, control and evaluate the operations of the Quality Assurance and Food Safety (QAFS) systems across internal manufacturing facilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Coaches, develops, and supports the QAFS leaders at each manufacturing location; is the direct supervisor to these positions
  • Develops cascading goals aligned with company objectives and delivers annual performance reviews
• Collaborates closely with Utz Corporate QAFS team members to develop, execute, monitor, and improve Utz Quality Foods' (UQF) QAFS programs
• Ensures adherence at each manufacturing location to all Utz QAFS programs, including but not limited to:
  • GFSI programs and policies (SQF)
  • Local, state, and federal regulations
  • Quality assurance testing procedures and Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs)
  • New product commercialization
  • New line/equipment qualification
  • Continuous improvement, root cause problem solving, and preventative actions
• Works closely with Customer Care on consumer complaint reporting, investigations, trending, and action plans. Responsible for meeting quality targets and driving cross-functional projects to address negative consumer complaints trends
• Engage with and provide leadership to cross-functional teams at all levels (site-specific and enterprise-wide)
• Partner with peers across departments - supply chain, procurement, engineering, value creation, etc. - to plan, execute, monitor, and verify project implementation
• Visit internal manufacturing sites regularly for the purpose of collaboration, culture building, auditing, and verification of program adherence.
• Respond and escalate quality and food safety events as needed; direct facility teams on crisis management and reaction
• Coordinates multiple projects at a time; able to delegate tasks as needed
• Advising the Senior Director of Quality and other Management member of any quality or food safety issues and provides potential solutions
• Responsible for reporting QAFS KPIs including but not limited to
  • KPI development and education
  • Action plans based on KPI results
  • Verification of KPI accuracy
• Routinely reviews QAFS program outputs to ensure compliance and effectiveness including in-process and finished good attribute testing, consumer complaint data, site-level KPIs, and audit results
• Acts as back-up to the site QAFS leaders when needed
• Ability to analyze QA data to make suggestions on process improvements
• Assists in the inspection of food processing areas to ensure compliance with government and UQF regulations and standards.
• Works with facility leadership team and fellow associates to ensure QAFS programs are followed and associates are held accountable
• Responsible for quality and food safety tasks for their position.
• Responsible for ensuring food safety in all actions and responsibilities.
• Follows food safety practices and all applicable requirements of the SQF System

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in food science or other science related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Knowledge of food manufacturing procedures and equipment and skills in analytical procedures acquired through 7 - 10 years of experience.
• Knowledge of Federal and State food manufacturing with emphasis on the Food Safety Modernization Act and GFSI Standards
• Deep experience in preparing and leading audits (internal, third-party0, and regulatory
• Functional understanding of continuous improvement mindset including root cause investigations, value stream mapping, SPC data analysis, and other value creation tools
• 3 -5 years of multi-site leadership in QAFS
• Experience leading direct reports remotely strongly preferred
• Skills
• Organizational skills to plan, record, submit and file necessary documents.
• Able to balance priorities and manage multiple projects on an on-going basis.
• Able to effectively listen, communicate and interface across all organizational levels.
• Proven leadership and development of teams; ability to clearly communicate expectations
• Skilled in the use of Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Outlook, databases and business enterprise software.
• Demonstrated ability to make decisions based on available information using risk-based principles
• Able to work well in a team environment or independently.

Spreading Joy Through Food!

Here at Utz, we have a passion for food that our associates enjoy creating, our customers value selling, and our consumers love eating. Our renowned family of brands includes Utz, Zapp's, Boulder Canyon, and On the Border. We provide a supportive, caring and inclusive environment that offers opportunities for career growth and advancement. We believe it is important to help take care of our associates by providing benefits, resources, and programs that ensure they live their healthiest lives. Our benefit package includes medical, dental, and vision plans, an employer match 401k, profit sharing plan, employee stock purchase plan; and access to free medical care through the Utz Health & Wellness Center and our very own Fitness Center. Join OneUtzTeam and help us spread joy through food for generations to come!

An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

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