Quality Assurance Manager

Del Monte Fresh Produce Company NA Inc; Illinois; On-site; USD 80,000 - 88,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

Life & disability insurance

FSA

PTO

Holidays

Telemedicine & EAP

Voluntary benefits

Hire-date eligibility

Job summary

Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. in Kankakee, IL seeks a Quality Assurance Manager to lead the QA department, develop and monitor food safety, security and quality programs, and ensure regulatory compliance.

The role requires a 4-year degree in Agriculture or Food Science, 3–5 years of related experience, HACCP certification and a GFSI auditor credential; MS Office proficiency and crisis management skills are essential.

Qualifications

• 4-year college degree in Agriculture, Food Science or related field.
• 3–5 years of relevant QA leadership experience.
• HACCP trained/certified with hands-on microbiology.
• Certified Auditor in GFSI standards (FSSC2000, SQF, BRC, etc).
• MS Office proficiency; strong multi-tasking and crisis management.

Responsibilities

• Oversee QA department policies for Food Safety, Security and QA programs.
• Lead safety programs including HACCP, GMPs and sanitation.
• Ensure compliance with certification standards and audits.
• Manage QA KPIs and drive continuous improvement.
• Coordinate internal/regulatory audits and corrective actions.

Skills

HACCP trained

GFSI Auditor

MS Office

Crisis management

Multi-tasking

Education

BS in Agriculture/Food Sci

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Quality Assurance Manager

US NA QA Full Time Kankakee FC, Kankakee, IL, US

Salary Range: $80,000.00 To $88,000.00 Annually

Benefits We Offer Include:

• 401(k) with company match
• Employer‑paid life & disability insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• 7 Company Paid Holidays
• 24/7 Telemedicine & Employee Assistance Program
• Optional voluntary benefits (legal, accident, identity protection)
• Eligibility on the first of the month following your hire date

Purpose of Position:

This position will oversee the management of the Quality Assurance department and staff, and will develop, implement and monitor company policies and procedures as related to Food Safety, Food Security, and Quality Assurance programs.

Accountabilities:

• Continuously evaluate quality systems and submit change recommendations to Corporate Research & Development (R & D).
• Oversee and implement safety programs (i.e. food safety, sanitation programs, HACCP, GMPs and other programs).
• Ensure the application and updates of the Food Safety & Food Security Certification standards and procedures.
• Maintain compliance of the sanitation program including daily sanitation of processing room and equipment, pre-op sanitation checks and operational sanitation programs.
• Ensure proper staffing, scheduling, training, delegation of duties, disciplinary actions and annual reviews of the Quality Assurance and Sanitation Departments.
• Ensure proper training of the Employees on the required courses/ materials (Internally & Externally) evaluating their development through theoretical & practical training monitoring their progress through applicability in their line of work.
• Claims status updates, which includes each and every consignment which the company has claimed and what is the status as to whether we received a credit note from the supplier, auctioned, destroyed and/or re-exported.
• Conduct Shelf-Life studies on finished goods whenever there is a change in the product to include change of packaging, ingredients, etc.
• Facilitate all internal, second, third and regulatory agency auditing and facility inspections.
• Complete and submit corrective actions to auditing entity and also corporate R & D.
• Maintain compliance with company and customer finished product specs, special handling procedures, and production monitoring programs.
• Review & analyze QA & KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) studying closely key trends and devise a plan for improvement by benchmarking the figures.
• Investigate customer complaints and find out discrepancies, analyze quality complaints & adopt CAPA (Corrective and Preventive Action) by proper investigation procedure.
• Implement site specific protocols and procedures, referencing the Corporate Quality Systems Manual.
• Interact with customers on product development and problem-solving projects.
• Manage internal laboratory complying with corporate policies, Environmental Protection Agency, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Good Laboratory Practices (GLP).
• Manage the Finished Product Retain Evaluation Program, as well as the microbiological finished product testing, and environmental monitoring programs.
• Prepare periodic reports for Corporate R & D Department.
• Maintain open communication with all Managers and Corporate QA, to ensure that finished product quality processes are maintained at all times.
• Interface with the General Manager/Operations/Maintenance Managers for Quality Assurance issues, and establish Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's), Standard Sanitation Operations (SSOP's) and Preventive Maintenance programs.
• Liaison between internal operations, sales and customers related to any food safety, quality and food security inquires.
• Coordinate and manage the Pest Control program, verification of services, maps, applicator license, and chemical usage among others.
• Special Projects as assigned.
• 4-year College Degree in Agriculture, Food Science or related subject or equivalent work experience.
• 3-5 years previous work experience in similar position.
• HACCP trained and/or certified training, and hands on skills in microbiology.
• Certified Auditor in GFSI standards such as FSSC2000, SQF, BRC, etc.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office programs (i.e. Word, Excel and Outlook).
• Ability to multi-task.
• Crisis Management Experience.

Please note: This position does not qualify for relocation expenses.

Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. is a global leader in the production, distribution, and marketing of fresh and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables. Our diverse product portfolio also includes prepared fruits and vegetables, juices, beverages, snacks, and desserts—available in over 80 countries worldwide. With operations spanning more than 35 countries, we’ve proudly been nourishing families for over 135 years.

We are committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Fresh Del Monte and its affiliates do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We also participate in E-Verify* where applicable, to ensure employment authorization eligibility. Driven by our core values—Excellence, Care, Passion, Trust, and Creativity—we invite you to explore our career opportunities and join our FRESH team.