Job Title: Quality Assurance Manager
Department: Quality and R&D
Reports to: Vice President

The ideal candidate will possess and live by Mercer Foods core values.

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT • ACCOUNTABILITY • INTEGRITY • PERSONAL GROWTH AND WELLNESS • TEAMWORK • WORK - LIFE BALANCE

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: The Quality Assurance Manager is responsible for leading and overseeing quality systems in the production plant designed to ensure continuous production of freeze-dried products and applications (consistent with established standards, customer specifications and production goals). Ensures all requirements for FSMA, SOP's, HACCP, FDA, SQF, Organic, and Kosher, are in place and complaint. Reviews and updates, as necessary. This position leads the customer development by combining technical product & application knowledge with business through understanding what our customers need to accomplish and providing data to enable customers to meet their needs. The successful candidate will develop, manage, and execute the organization's food, safety, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance policies and establish performance standards, procedures, and audit controls to meet business requirements. The QA Manager will develop, manage, and execute the organization's food, safety, quality assurance and regulatory compliance policies and program. The ideal candidate will have strong Project Management capabilities with an ability to manage multiple projects across multiple customers and apply efficient approaches to analytical and reporting processes. The QA Manager will participate in internal audits including second- and third-party audits. Additionally, the QA Manager documents and implements inspection criteria and procedures.

COMPETENCIES:
Living Mercer Values Demonstrates the characteristics and behaviors of an individual who is living Mercer's values. Mercer's values are accountability, continuous improvement, integrity, personal growth and wellness, teamwork, and work-life balance.
Attendance Attendance is essential in demonstrating dependability. A reliable team member is on time for all scheduled shifts and is present as scheduled. Any team member with two or more active steps of discipline for attendance does not meet expectations of position.
Performance Demonstrates the skills and abilities to perform his or her job. Any team member with two or more active steps of discipline for any combination of disciplinary actions does not meet expectations of position.
Safety Good judgement is demonstrated at all times to maintain a safe work environment. Any team member with two or more active steps of discipline for safety related incidents does not meet expectations of position.
Training Current training is an indication of job preparedness from a safety, job skills, and food safety perspective. An employee that has completed all training expectations throughout the year as it pertains to his or her job requirements demonstrates that he or she meets the expectations of his or her position. A person that has past due trainings does not meet the expectations of his or her position.
Leadership Provides strong leadership, sets a good example, skilled decision maker, motivator, encourager.
Quality Strives to eliminate errors, accurate work is a priority, seeks opportunities to improve product/services.
Problem Solving Strives to understand contributing factors, works to resolve complex situations.
Communication Communicates well (written and verbal), delivers presentations, has good listening skills.

SKILLS:

Audits Conduct and/ or assist with audits and inspections of performance and activities.
Compliance Ensure compliance with Federal and State laws and regulations, and corporate policies/processes.
Continuous Improvement Design, roadmap and continuous process/control improvement plans, leading implementation of both, including application/system change management for increased efficiency and effectiveness of processes or data.
Critical Thinking Forms good judgement when evaluating situations and reacting accordingly.
Data Based Decisions Demonstrates strong quantitative and analytical skills as they apply to reporting and information processing. Uses various methods to make data-based decisions.
Documentation Maintain proper documentation and records.
Leadership Demonstrates leadership by leading by example.
Priorities Identifying and aligning priorities with business vision, mission, and values while achieving objectives.
Proactive Problem Solving Acts in a proactive manner to communicate and solve problems.
Process and Policies Develop and document processes and policies to maintain and strengthen internal controls.
Product Inspections Participates in product inspections and is able to decipher quality product from inferior product.
Product Specifications Demonstrates knowledge in product specifications and descriptions, performs the necessary job duties in accordance with product specifications that allows efficient processing.
Project Management Demonstrates the ability to manage task flow and complete assignments on time, accurately, and with efficiency.
Quality Data Standards Ensure quality control over transactions and reporting

REQUIREMENTS: Minimum of 10 + years' experience in food manufacturing quality assurance experience. Bachelor's Degree required, master's degree preferred in microbiology, food science, or chemical engineering. Proficiency in SQF, FSMA and other food safety and quality systems is required. Must be HACCP and PCQI certified. Travel up to 20% of the time may be required.

FOOD SAFETY REQUIREMENTS:
• Place high priority on food safety, quality, and sanitation by understanding and executing Mercer Food's food safety and sanitation policies and procedures.
• Hold self and others accountable to Mercer Foods food safety & sanitation guidelines and policies by communicating any food safety incident, observation, or opportunity to your leadership team or teammates.
• In the absence of VP of QA & R&D or QC Manager, serves as back up to ensure all food safety, quality objectives and SQF system requirements are met.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands: some lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; some stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling; and frequent fine finger dexterity. Generally, the job requires the following percentages of time committed to physical activity: 40% or more sitting, 40% or more walking, and 40% or more standing. The job is performed under occasional temperature variations and in a food manufacturing office environment. Unrestricted visual and audio abilities are required for the safety of all employees. The ability to lift to 40 lbs. is required.