Quality Manager

poet; Lake Crystal (MN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive bonus opportunities

Paid time off and holidays

Health, dental, vision insurance with

401K with company match

Paid parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

Relocation assistance

Wellness program

Family-first culture

Onsite fitness centers

Job summary

POET in Lake Crystal, MN, is seeking a Quality Manager to lead laboratory operations, oversee fermentation performance, and manage all quality/certification programs to ensure compliance and continuous improvement. The role directs day-to-day lab activities and supports production quality and safety across the plant.

Responsibilities include recruiting and developing staff, ensuring safety and quality, maintaining SOPs, and optimizing data-driven fermentation processes for maximum efficiency and

Responsibilities

• Lead the team by recruiting, selecting, orienting and training members.
• Foster a culture of safe behavior and environmental compliance.
• Maintain and advance food safety and quality of POET's products and processes.
• Manage all quality control and safety in the laboratory.
• Ensure site SOPs are up to date and followed.
• Optimize fermentation outcomes by reviewing and analyzing data.
• Coordinate fermentation trials and third-party evaluations.
• Monitor fermentation performance and provide reports to management.

Job description

ABOUT POET

At POET, it is our mission to be good stewards of the Earth by converting renewable resources to energy and other valuable goods as effectively as humanly possible. For over thirty years our drive and passion to change the world has enabled us to become the largest producer and marketer of bioethanol and a leader in sustainable products in the world.

BENEFITS & PERKS

• Eligible Team Members may receive


• $$ Competitive BONUS opportunities - up to SIX bonuses per year (Quarterly Profit Sharing & Value Share)


• Paid time off and paid holidays - 40 hours of PTO available on Day 1, on top of a biweekly PTO accrual program!


• Comprehensive benefits package; Individual and family plans for health, dental, & vision insurance, including a generous employer Health Savings Account contribution


• Competitive pay, including shift premium pay for qualifying positions


• 401K with company match


• Paid Parental Leave


• Tuition reimbursement


• Attractive Relocation Assistance and Bonus Programs for qualifying positions and/or locations


• Safety and cold weather gear reimbursements


• Discounted home and auto insurance


• All POET Team Members enjoy


• A multifaceted wellness program encompassing the whole person - mentally, physically, and spiritually


• 'Family-first' culture


• Onsite fitness centers or fitness reimbursements

JOB SUMMARY & RESPONSIBILITIES

The Quality Manager is responsible for leading laboratory operations, overseeing fermentation performance and production quality, and managing all quality/food/feed certification and accreditation programs at the facility to ensure compliance and to facilitate continuous improvement. This role directs the day-to-day activities of the laboratory, including coordinating the transfer of all internal and third-party laboratories data. The position supports plant operations and final product quality through laboratory data, with the goal of maximizing production efficiency and final product quality while following procedures relating to production and safety of the plant. The Quality Manager plays a key role in monitoring, troubleshooting, and optimizing the fermentation process.

This is an on-site role located in Lake Crystal, MN . Responsibilities include:

• Effectively lead the team by recruiting, selecting, orienting and training team members. Leadership responsibilities also include delegating, coaching, managing performance and career development to effectively execute departmental strategies and support company objectives.


• Foster a culture of safe behavior and environmental compliance at all times.


• Maintain and advance the food safety and quality of POET's products and processes to deliver a best-in-class culture of quality.


• Manage all aspects of quality control and safety in the laboratory.


• Accountable for laboratory procedures being executed by trained team members who are proficient with instruments and methods to ensure accurate and timely data generation.


• Ensure team members are trained in all aspects of existing laboratory procedures, quality programming, and product quality compliance.


• Manage quality control on all final products and communicate to the appropriate management team when necessary.


• Ensure all site quality Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) are up to date and followed.


• Optimize ingredient usage and yield and maximize the efficiency of the fermentation process by reviewing and analyzing data.


• Monitor fermentation and provide data/reports to the management team to help troubleshoot and optimize the fermentation process.


• Work with operations and management on fermentation trials, special testing, and research requests.


• Manage all facility laboratory testing programs, which may include: general plant processes, CO2 systems, water management, environmental testing, final product testing, and third party evaluations.


• Assist in optimizing plant runtime as well as downtime by ensuring a quality end-product through support of laboratory operations and sample analyses.


• Ensure quality assurance elements are executed per POET expectations. These include, but are not limited to, training platforms, support of customer complaints and claims, document management, deviation and risk management, and laboratory equipment calibration requirements.


• Ensure all city, county, state, and federal regulations are met as they apply to POET's Quality Systems.


• Participate in internal and external audits with compliance partners, and both state and federal agencies.


• Monitor cost control for the laboratory department and support chemical management and logistics.


• Present capital request justifications to management.


• Communicate production and laboratory performance results to the plant team and POET Bioprocessing Leadership.


• Ensure ongoing compliance to the POET's Bioethanol Quality Program.


• Ensure participation in all Laboratory Proficiency Testing Programs.


• Ensure ongoing certification to relevant food safety schemes, such as Safe Feed/Safe Food (SF/SF), Safe Qualit