Quality Assurance Manager

Saputo; Murray (KY); On-site; USD 88,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Development opportunities

Competitive compensation & benefits

Job summary

Saputo is seeking a Quality Manager to safeguard product safety and quality, ensuring compliance with regulatory and company standards across the plant. You will lead quality systems, manage the plant lab, and drive continuous improvement initiatives to optimize processes and product quality.

The role requires supervision of staff, strong communication, and the ability to coordinate across departments while maintaining stringent sanitation and quality controls in a dairy production environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a science-based area of study.
• Minimum 2 years supervisory experience (internal candidates: 5 years plant experience with 2 years in supervision).
• Familiarity with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
• Knowledge of sanitation systems, techniques and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Lead plant quality program to safeguard product safety and regulatory compliance.
• Oversee laboratory operations, testing, and calibration; ensure supplies and equipment availability.
• Drive continuous improvement in product quality and process optimization.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Good communication

Change management

Team leadership

Attention to detail

Organization

Multi-tasking

Education

Bachelor's degree in science-based field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

How You Will Make Contributions That Matter

The Quality Manager is responsible for safeguarding product safety and quality while meeting Company and regulatory standards, and has oversight responsibility for a continuous quality improvement program that includes quality control and quality assurance. This person is responsible for ensuring that the production and distribution of products meets or exceeds all quality standards. This person also has responsibility for communicating quality results and the transfer of quality and QA knowledge to the workforce.

• Manages the operation of the plant laboratory, including ensuring supplies and equipment are available.
• Ensures product safety, regulatory compliance, and compliance with company standards as stated in the Quality Assurance Manual, Laboratory Manual, and Company directives.
• Drives Continuous Improvement efforts in product quality/performance and process optimization.
• Provides leadership in coaching, education and training of management staff and plant employees for Quality Assurance; seeks assistance as needed from other Company training resources.
• Develops, facilitates and maintains the Hazard Analysis Risk Based Preventative Controls program.
• Provides customer complaint feedback into GITS as required, and views/monitors customer complaints for trends and escalations.
• Implements and maintains all Company quality systems (i.e. SQF 2000).
• Reviews all product labels used in the facility and ensures adherence to regulatory and Company standards.
• Ensures adherence to appropriate regulations and Company standards for raw milk quality.
• Supervises the appropriate chemical, bacteriological, sensory and utilization tests on raw materials and pasteurized products.
• Communicates quality metric and inspection results to appropriate managers and others in leadership positions including, but not limited to daily, weekly or monthly KPI reporting to Corporate.
• Ensures that proper sanitation procedures are utilized and that adequate sanitation tests are performed; provides "troubleshooting" efforts in the event of sanitation system failure.
• Develops and maintains documentation of all required quality tests and activities.
• Assists the Plant Manager in managing local, state, customer/third party, and federal audits and inspections.
• Is responsible for expense management and control, including labor and "Cost of Quality" utilizing Continuous Improvement techniques and a Management Operating Structure (MOS).
• Responsible for Non-GMO Activities
• Ensures adherence to all contract packaging quality requirements.
• Cooperates in a cross-functional manner as a change agent with all departments within the Company.
• Leads by example with the Company Code of Ethics. This includes following Company policies, standards and specifications.
• Engages in the typical responsibilities of a manager requiring planning, evaluating, organizing, integrating and delegating.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

You Are Best Suited For The Role If You Have The Following Experience, Skills, and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a science-based area of study and a minimum of 2 years of supervisory experience.
• Internal Candidates: A minimum of 5 years hands-on plant experience in the dairy plant or food industry operations, with a minimum of 2 years of supervisory experience.
• Familiarity with Good Manufacturing Practices.
• Possesses a working knowledge of sanitation systems, techniques and procedures.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Excellent verbal/written communication skills.
• Possesses understanding of the basics of change management.
• Ability to adapt to changing organizational and operational needs; ability to lead others through change.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Skill in organization and prioritization, and attention to detail.
• Strong team player and leader with the ability to work across multiple functions and disciplines.
• Ability to select, coach, develop, engage and retain a team of employees.

We Support and Care For Our Employees By Providing Them With...

• Development opportunities that enhance their career fulfillment
• Meaningful compensation & benefits that help them care for their families.
• Opportunities to contribute to your community and enhance the lives of others through Saputo products.

Compensation: $88,000 - $105,000 (qualifications / experience)

In the USA, Saputo ranks among the top three cheese producers and is one of the top producers of extended shelf-life and cultured dairy products, with a portfolio of well-loved brands such as Stella, Frigo Cheese, Montchevre , Stella, and Treasure Cave. We also boast a strong foodservice presence, partnering with reput