Quality Systems Manager, Operations

Make a Difference in YOUR Career!

Our vision is both simple and ambitious: to put our drinks on every table.  

We are the leading global independent beverage solutions provider. We serve a broad range of national and international retailers as well as Global, National and Emerging (GNE) brands. Our products are distributed worldwide from our production sites in Europe, North America, and Australia. Although our own branding may not appear on the labels of the beverages we produce, there is a good chance you are reading this while sipping one of our drinks.

Our ambition is to continually improve and it’s what keeps us at the top of our game. We are solutions-based. We are innovative.  We seek out new challenges and conquer them.  This is our company ethos, but it’s our people’s too: Refresco is at the cutting edge of a fast-moving industry because we have passionate people pushing the boundaries of what’s best.

Stop and think: how would YOU put our drinks on every table?  

Position Description

Reporting to the Manager Quality, the Quality Systems Manager, Operations will be responsible to take a leadership role in implementing, executing, verifying, and validating the local Quality Management System. In addition, they will assume direct responsibility for compliance with the Food Safety and Modernization Act and food production licensing, certifications, and registrations are current.

Essential Job Functions:

• Adhere to and ensure compliance to all health and safety policies/procedures, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and adhere to the required personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Adhere to and ensure compliance to food quality and food safety guidelines per Refresco, Customer and/or governing bodies (ex. SQF) standards.
• Responsible for complying with FDA, state/city regulations, Refresco quality policies, GMP's, HACCP, Allergen, Kosher, etc as well as other regulations required.
• Leads and directs the work of other employees and has responsibility for personnel actions including hiring, performance management, and termination.
• Provides training, direction and instruction and conducts performance evaluations.
• Provides guidance and training on work standards and expected outcomes.
• Accountable for planning and evaluating performance, staff training and development, recruitment and may contribute to pay recommendations.
• Overall plant owner for quality systems which includes document control and quality data collection applications.
• Overall plant owner for audit systems which includes internal audits and external audits.
• Will audit and verify with the local team to ensure quality systems comply per Refresco corporate guidelines.
• Plant owner for quality project to ensure proper documentation has been completed such as validation and verification protocols.
• Work with internal team to ensure proper support for local site application which includes support, design, development, test and implementation for document control and quality data collection systems.
• Work with internal customers to ensure proper new product or revised products are set up and implemented into quality data collection systems.
• Identify opportunities and implement solutions for process improvements for local quality systems.
• Drive efforts to improve quality system programs such as pest control, GMP, document control, maintenance, etc, as defined per GFSI and FDA.
• Champion governance, alignment, and communication of Best Practice for quality systems.
• Provide second level support to Quality Manager for day-to-day operations.
• Champion for local quality systems programs such as HACCP, CAPA, GFSI, FDA, Customer requirements, etc.
• Revise and update local policies as needed which includes development and upkeep of validation protocols.
• Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by manager as deemed appropriate.

Education and Experience:

• A bachelor’s degree in quality management or a related technical discipline is strongly preferred.
• A minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in Quality Assurance or Quality Control within a fast-paced manufacturing environment, preferably in the food or beverage industry.
• Demonstrated experience in the successful implementation, management, and continuous improvement of Quality System Software.
• In-depth understanding of Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) standards, such as Safe Quality Food (SQF) or FSSC 22000, with hands-on experience managing compliance and audits.
• Proven experience working with real-time data collection systems to monitor and analyze production