The Quality Specialist leads the Quality department by coordinating and managing the quality functions in the operations process to support Puratos Chocolate USA product goals, customer satisfaction, product safety, and compliance to local authorities and group policies..
Primary Responsibilities
Proactively enhance and create programs and processes to boost efficiency and effectiveness; update SOP's and documentation as needed
Collaborate with Quality Manager for items related to quality and food safety
Manage RCA program and deviations; ensure site employees are trained on basic and more advanced details of Root Cause Analysis purpose and requirements
Conduct weekly meetings to assign tasks, set deadlines, ensure timely completion, update records, and monitor effectiveness of preventive actions
Process customer and vendor documents for finished (sold) product and raw materials including COA's, complaints, returns, paper audits, in-house raw material compliance paperwork, and in house tracking
Maintain required Quality Assurance record keeping systems
Assist Quality Manager in third party and customer audits including SQF (or other agency), Kosher, FDA, State, etc.
Responsible for Food Safety in collaboration with Food Safety Team
Consistently monitor incoming raw materials and manufacturing products for adherence to quality policies; oversee daily quality processes to ensure compliance with HACCP/FSMA, GMPs, SOPs, sanitation, and safety standards
Manage verification and validation program with Technicians as well as completing required verifications and validations as assigned
Manage CAPA (Corrective and Preventive Action) program - lead monthly meetings; assign, close out, monitor effectiveness of Preventative Actions
Trend complaints, environmental swabbing, and deviations to determine top issues or repeated issues to prevent reoccurrence
Manage site Quality training, including Alchemy and SOPs; create PowerPoint trainings and/or OPLs, delegate tasks, update training matrix, complete trainings according to required frequencies
Manage internal audit program - monthly quality audits, SQF audits, and quarterly quality leadership audits; delegate, review/verify, and ensure CA's and PA's are completed and documented
Verify production paperwork within 7 days; changeovers, Critical Control Poin checks, packaging docs, etc.
Audit Quality Technicians for adherence to processes and procedures; train as necessary
Collaborate with R&D to manage shelf-life extensions and documentation
Assist Quality Manager with SQF review and required updates/changes to system and/or facility SQF Practitioner
FOOD SAFETY RESPONSABILITIES
Ensure quality is part of daily work of all employees; conduct trainings as needed
Ensure Total Quality Management (TQM) is maintained/developed in compliance to documented SQF bases quality system
Ensure PCU produces and deliver Safe Quality Products that comply with legal and applicable customer requirements, food safety, ethical and environmental standards
Crisis Management Plan Member (Food Defense, Crisis management and Recall); Food Safety Team member (backup)
Ensure GMPs are implemented and followed by auditing internal practices and training employees on GMPs, food defense, allergen awareness, sanitation rules, and other production/quality procedures.
Ensure that allergen control is followed through all the plant; ensure environmental program is maintained
Ensure that Production paperwork is properly documented; evaluate and release finished goods/ raw materials
Ensure that Preventive Controls are properly monitored; maintain SOP's
Coordinate activities for the Quality department
Evaluate/follow-up on PCU customer complaints
Requirements:
Bachelor's Degree - Science field preferred
5+ years' experience in food industry with minimum of 3 years in Lead role
Experience conducting internal and GMP audits to known standards
Experience leading, mentoring and coaching teams; strong communication skills both verbal and written
Experience conducting root cause analysis, CAPA, nonconformance investigations
SQF, PCQI, and HACCP certifications required
Technical writing experience; writing procedures, work instructions, SOP's, creating programs, etc.
Proficient in MS Office; Word, Excel, PowerPoint
Ability to work in various production and dynamic multitasking environments
Task and detail-oriented with strong organizational, investigative and problem-solving analytical abilities
The following common allergens are processed in our facilities: wheat, eggs, dairy, and soy.
Looking for a Career for Good?
Puratos is a global purpose-driven company focused on bringing people together through food innovation for good. We offer a full range of innovative food ingredients and services for the bakery, patisserie, and chocolate sectors, serving artisans, retailers, industrial and food service companies in over 100 countries around the world. Our passion for innovation, pioneering spirit, and core values continue to propel our global ambitions. This coupled with our commitment to our communities is what makes working at Puratos so magical.
We offer a competitive compensation and benefit package, designed to promote a Happier, Healthier You. This includes:
Insurance coverage beginning the first of the month-no extra waiting period to get started
Immediate 401(k) eligibility including a fully vested matching contribution
Receive over 5 weeks total of paid time off within your first year of service
Free life coaches, convenient onsite health exams, 24/7 access to Registered Nurses
Puratos-paid insurance coverage to protect you and your family including Life and Disability insurance
If you are a solution oriented and analytical thinker with a passion for leading and inspiring people, we invite you to experience the magic of being yourself and join us for "a career for good."