Quality Assurance Auditor at Simmons Prepared Foods, Inc. in Siloam Springs, Arkansas

Job Description:

Purpose of the Position

Manages and facilitates a business unit's quality systems through quality auditing.

Essential Position Responsibilities - This is a Salary Exempt position.

Guides Poultry Programs related to Quality, Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance. Guides facility management in food safety, quality and regulatory compliance and offers assistance in developing programs and policies that ensure compliance. Analyzes complex food safety and quality systems to determine trends, failures and compliance and then assists in developing compatible solutions .

Manages internal audits. Prepares plants for third party audits by subjecting them to internal, external and government guideline audits. Audits external suppliers, freezers, rail cars and co-pack facilities as required to support continuous improvement efforts and ensure compliance with corporate guidelines for food safety and/or quality requirements. Attends third party audits at Simmons' production facilities. Assists the QA Supplier Certification Auditor in conducting audits as needed. Facilitates the organization of audit materials and leads during company audits.

Creates and assists in managing all audit related programs. Develops, maintains and updates corporate level programs, policies, and quality standards to ensure compliance with industry, regulatory and customer requirements as well as mitigation of risk for the company as a whole. Develops, implements, and organizes related training for company employees. Regularly performs direct observations to ensure compliance. Demonstrates knowledge of company systems and audit requirements related to these systems including all quality, food safety and regulatory requirements related to facility programs. Stays up to date on the food safety audit procedures of 3rd party audit firms and regulatory agencies. Represents Simmons Foods during presentations to customers as well as attending industry conferences to learn latest information for food safety technology and practices as well as issues that may arise.

Maintains audit records to ensure expectations are met and reviews related records and programs to ensure compliance. Supplies audit information to customers on a case by case basis as appropriate. Performs training of necessary personnel on how to access information and obtain necessary documents for audit purposes.

Ensures open communication with necessary personnel. Assists in developing cooperative relationships between cross functional departments such as Sales, Marketing, R&D, Supply Chain, Live Production, Plant Production, Risk, Legal, and other appropriate teams. Leads and/or participates in regular meetings with Quality and production management as well as executive level presentations and meetings to ensure communication with all levels ofmanagement on food safety and quality related topics. Prepares and maintains written programs and documentation to ensure effective communication of plant policies, procedures, and programs. Develops, implements, and organizes related training for company employees, executives, and affected contractors.

Ensures open communication with customers and regulatory personnel. Maintains open communication with customers and/or regulatory personnel on quality issues, customer expectations, and regulatory requirements. Assists in meetings with appropriate customers, and/or regulatory personnel to ensure expectations are understood and maintained. Prepares and maintains written programs and documentation to ensure effective communication of customer expectations and/or regulatory requirements. Effectively communicates responses to customer comments, regulatory infractions, and other issues as necessary. Consults and correlates regulatory correspondence as a representative of Quality Assurance and Simmons Foods. Demonstrates regulatory knowledge and acts as a liaison to regulatory agencies for Simmons Foods.

Participates as a member of the Team . Participates in the ongoing development, communication and implementation of team concepts, programs and policies; coordinates work to ensure best practices with all team members. Attends appropriate team meetings. As a member of the Team, fosters strong cohesiveness regarding all major issues; e.g., direction, annual plan, budget, policy changes, etc. Accepts responsibility to quickly identify any areas that lack cohesiveness, bringing them to the attention of the team leader and working with the team in a supportive manner to resolve issues and actively look for ways, and reinforce actions needed, to achieve synergy possible within the larger organization.

Simmons Operating systems principles and objectives: Is familiar with Simmons' established operating systems (e.g. quality, security, office environment, company policies, LEAN); understands the responsibility to maintain familiarity with the systems and this position's role in support of these systems - including a consideration of the impact of individual actions on the systems and the responsibility to communicate concerns and improvement ideas.

Performs other duties as necessary in support of business objectives: This position description is intended to guide the activities of the person in this position and is not intended to limit the thinking and creativity of the person as to the work of this function nor is it intended that this describe all the work that may be required of the person in this position.

Physical Activities: Enters and locates information on a computer. Visually verifies information, often in small print. Communicates with Customers, Vendors, or Employees via telephone, in person, and/or electronic mail. May present information to small or large groups. Must be able to work in various temperatures. Move about in a manufacturing environment and surrounding property. May travel via car or plane to various work locations. Must be able to stoop, bend, and climb ladders to perform inspections. Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Hairnets, earplugs, slip resistant shoes, and any other protective equipment as needed or required.

Travel: Travels domestically and internationally to and from multiple facilities or work-sites, possibly requiring overnight stays. Expected travel is 25 to 50%.

Technical Experience: Minimum 3 years' experience in food processing with experience related to food safety and/or quality management. Auditing experience desired. Must currently possess the following certifications Internal Auditor Training, Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), Certified HACCP Auditor (CHA), Professional Animal Auditor Certification for Poultry (PAACO), Basic HACCP Training, Food Defense Training, and Food Fraud Training OR as a condition of employment, must be able to successfully obtain them, if hired/selected for this position, within the first year of employment at Simmons

Industry Experience: Preference for poultry or food processing organization.

Minimum Education : Bachelor's Degree in Food Science, Animal Science, Poultry Science, Microbiology, or related degrees with 4 years related technical experience or 4 years related work experience.

Preferred Education : MS degree in related field.