LEW QE - Product Review Lead VIII

Leprino Foods; Lemoore (CA); On-site; USD 69,000 - 81,000; Full time

Job summary

Leprino Foods in California seeks a Product Review Lead VIII to guide the Quality team and ensure safe, compliant production of cheese and nutrition products. You will drive food safety performance, oversee documentation, and coordinate with senior management to address incidents.

The role requires leadership experience, dairy industry familiarity, and strong MS Office/QA tooling skills. Flexibility with shifts and holidays is expected in a fast‑paced plant environment.

Qualifications

• Associates degree in Food Science preferred, or 3–5 years equivalent experience.
• 1–3 years of leadership experience required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office required.

Responsibilities

• Provide direction to Quality team and oversee food safety/QA processes.
• Generate Food Safety and Quality Incident Reports and manage holds.
• Communicate incidents to Quality Director and Senior Management.
• Lead root cause investigations and corrective actions with cross‑functional teams.
• Oversee product quality across Cheese/Nutrition and manage documentation.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Decision making

Multi-tasking

FSMA knowledge

Analytical skills

Education

Associates degree in Food Science (preferred)

Tools

CIM system

Excel

SAP

MES

MS Word

Email

Job description

QE Department

Job Title: Product Review Lead VIII

Wage: $33.02 - $38.80

Hours/shift: Varies

Days Off: Varies

General Summary

The Product Review Lead VIII is responsible for the providing direction to the Quality team. Responsible for the safe/food safety performance of the Product Review clerk responsibilities in accordance with applicable Company Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), regulatory GMPs, and food safety standard. Ensures the food safety understanding in present in the team and oversees the proper documentation and holds for any out of compliance product.

JOB DESCRIPTION

• At all times, operate in a manner consistent with safe operating procedures.
• Generate Food Safety and Quality Incident Reports, place and remove food safety holds and ensure food safety hold process is implemented when necessary and verify its execution.
• Ability to communicate food safety incidents with Denver Quality Director and Senior Management.
• Supports Production and Quality systems team in troubleshooting plant quality execution deficiencies.
• Accountability for all Product produced at the Plant (Cheese/Nutrition) and communicating problem product regularly during production meetings.
• Ability to perform trace reports, and review to the fullest detail and is prepared for any potential product recalls/withdrawals.
• Direct interaction with Managers, Quality Systems and cooperates in root cause investigations, brainstorming, and corrective action to address non-conformities.
• Coaches in areas of employee development, performance management, and organizational planning. Providing clear, honest feedback and ensures transparency of any opportunities with supervisor.
• Oversees product needs and verifies team has executed in a timely manner to and team followed policy/procedure.
• Strong knowledge of laboratory SOPs
• Manage workload and team's workload in a dynamic environment while considering conflicting priorities and tight deadlines.
• Champions assigned Quality Execution initiatives and operates as the local subject matter expert in applicable Quality Execution and Quality Assurance policies, programs, and systems and FSMA.
• Works Collaboratively with different departments to ensure that customer service goals are met, and service impacts are minimized while ensuring food safety and quality compliance.
• Able to make calculated decisions.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Supervisor.
• Adhere to all company and regulatory GMPs.
• Comply with corporate rules and regulations.
• Must be able to multi-task.
• Educates plant personnel on, and assures plant compliance with Quality Alert effectiveness and hold and release protocols.
• Assist with fiscal responsibility for decisions for area including for service requests, purchases and inventory management.

Minimum Qualifications & Experience

• Associates degree in Food Science preferred, or 3 to 5 years of equivalent work experience is required.
• 1 - 3 years of leadership experience is required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office is required.
• Experience in the Manufacturing, Quality in Food, of Quality in Dairy industries is preferred.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Computer literacy. CIM system, Microsoft Excel, SAP, MES, MS Word Applications, E-mail, and Typing Skills min. 40wpm.
• PCQI training and experience with the principles of FSMA.
• HTST Certified or the ability to obtain certification.
• Ability to carry out lower tiered product review clerks' responsibilities as described in those job descriptions.
• Knowledgeable of food safety expectations, SOPs, Cyberdocs, and MFG specifications
• Knowledge of sanitary GMPs.
• Proficient in math, analytical reasoning skills, and delegation
• Ability to carry out Risk Assessments, Quality Assurance, and Quality Control Principles
• Ability to make decisions independently in a stressful environment involving large financial impacts
• Has excellent and effective verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to multi-task and deliver on deadlines
• Ability to learn and perform multiple functions and tasks within the scope of accounting
• Has a positive attitude and strong work ethic
• Must be able to work holidays and weekends.
• Physical requirements to perform job as defined in the essential job function.

Working Relationships

• This position reports to the Hold and Release Supervisor
• This position will provide direction to various Hold and Release Tier individuals including training.
• Escalate product concerns to senior management and problem product to production management.