Description
GENERAL SUMMARY:
This is a salaried position in Manteno, Illinois; reports to the Manteno Quality Manager but with very close coordination with key COI personnel (Processing Specialist, R&D Manager, FSQA Manager, etc). Maintains customer portals, reviews supplier documents & ensures timely disposition on non-conformances & customer complaints. Maintains the Quality Manual, updates existing SOPs as needed, or suggests new standards, methods, & procedures for continuing improvement. Conducts periodic review of Safety Chain records to ensure all compliance requirements are maintained. Reviews formulas & processing procedures, coordinates with COI counterparts on discrepancies or processing issues to ensure alignment in both plant locations. Works closely with the HACO US Team to help identify, solve, & prevent problems affecting quality, food safety, customer & regulatory compliance.
SCOPE OF JOB FUNCTION
- Develop detailed mixing instructions to ensure that products are manufactured optimally & consistently to meet the product specifications.
- Ensures alignment in processing procedures for both plant locations, conduct SOP verification at least annually or if there are changes that can impact product conformance.
- Work with the mixers & helpers during the first 3 productions of new products to ensure that correct materials are used, verify recipe & mixing instructions.
- Develop re-work order for complicated products put “On Hold- MRB”; non-compliance that needs actual product application confirmatory test to validate re-work instructions
- Ensures that the checklist for new product development is completed before product launch, emphasis on batch checks, packaging specifications and label details verification.
- Creates nutrition label & ingredient statements in compliance with NLEA (Nutrition Labeling Enforcement Act); ensures compliance with nutrition label claims.
- Create, maintain, and publish Finished Goods and Packaging Specifications.
- Maintains an orderly record of documents required for supplier approval and specifications for raw materials that need to be sourced or transferred for Manteno operation.
- Conducts HACCP analysis on new raw materials as well as new finished products developed.
- Conducts risk assessment on product deviations ensures that there is no impact on food safety and regulatory compliance.
- Coordinates with customers and/or COI R&D and quality team on any new product added to Manteno operations, non-conformance issues, risk assessment results/verifications & validation initiatives.
- Develop label formats/template per customer specifications, USDA labeling and standard of identity compliance.
- Ensures that product formulations comply with regulatory and industry standards; studies the microbiological, physical and chemical properties of finished products & ingredients.
- Creates nutrition label & ingredient statements in compliance with NLEA (Nutrition Labeling Enforcement Act); ensure compliance with nutrition label claims.
- Ensures compliance with all Private Label customer specifications including web base specs up-date and SCAR closing.
- Work with Purchasing to identify and qualify alternate suppliers for cost effective sourcing of new and existing raw materials.
- Evaluates raw material substitutes for specs deviation typically due to shortage or supplier issues.
- Complete actual product application & group sensory testing to validate potential specs deviation or permanent specs change.
- Evaluates competitive products to benchmark against existing products; create cost competitive equivalent.
- Participates in &/or lead continuous improvement activities.
- Other duties as assigned
Requirements
SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE
REQUIRED:
- Degree in Technical Course (Food Science, Chemistry, Microbiology etc.) or other related field or equivalent work experience
- 5 years’ minimum experience in food manufacturing environment & or laboratory
- Skilled in statistical charts, trend data analysis, problem solving & product trouble shooting.
- Good verbal & written communication skills
- Ability to work well with other departments, suppliers & customers.
- Must be able to multi-task, manage multiple assignments, well organized & precise.
- Strong attention to details & good leadership.
- Must be able to perform in a demanding, fast-paced environment.
- High proficiency with computer systems, including MS Office, Adobe Acrobat, & web-based quality management portals (Safety Chain, Trace Gains, Safe Food 360, etc.).
- Able to work flexible hours occasionally for inspections/audit to cover 3 shift production schedules.
DESIRED:
- Experienced in Quality Manual SOP & policy review & development.
- Experienced with HACCP/Food Safety Risk Assessment, Annual audits: 3rd Party, regulatory, customer audits.
- Experienced with internal audits.