Quality Assurance Director

Description

Classification: Non-Exempt

Reports To: CEO

Job Summary

The Quality Assurance Director oversees the QA Team and works in collaboration with Company Management to ensure that all Riverence sites meet criteria required by third party certifications as well as Global Food Safety Requirements and Food & Drug Administration rules and regulations that relate to Seafoods familiar with all aspects and elements of Riverence’s quality system, as well as supporting sales and operations with legal requirements. Creates and maintains processes and programs to comply with all laws and regulations relating to the seafood industry.  

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Develops and oversees plans for quality programs that meet customers' requirements and builds new business opportunities.
• Works with Sales team to determine and comply with all government regulatory requirements.
• Develops internal processes and documents to comply with import & export regulations.
• Supervises QA department 
• Ensures successful audits, including but not limited to preparing and communicating completion of annual audit requirements.
• Demonstrated SQF (Safe Quality Food) “Practitioner” with knowledge of SQF Food Safety Code for Food Manufacturing.
• Assures quality and safety standards are met within the operation.
• Expert in Riverence Food Safety Practices and ensures maintenance of proper sanitary conditions.
• Proficient in quality assurance audits and knowledgeable and certified according to USDC, NMFS HACCP, with ability to maintain & track HACCP Plan for all facilities where it is required.
• Drinking Water Certified for South Central Public Health District.
• Write and train on Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Q.A., Technicians, Production Operations and ensure SOPs are followed.
• Track implementation of corrective actions and verify actions for effectiveness.
• Reports audit activities to management and administer audit schedules.
• Support external audits including interfacing with regulatory agencies and registrars if necessary.
• Oversees all audits requirements for SQF (Safe Quality Food) under the Global Food Safety Initiative, Chain of Custody Audits and government audits both local and national Audits (DEQ and USDC). 
• Identifies discrepancies, risks, and other problems, and determines appropriate corrective measures. 
• Oversees document control to ensure documents are being completed properly and timely.
• Coordinates and oversees mock recalls and traceability exercises
• Promotes and educates benefits of adopted control measures; encourages responsible parties to adopt changes necessary to correct problems and noncompliance.
• Lead and support projects and initiatives to achieve Quality Systems objectives and any other regulatory objectives (e.g., FDA Food Defense, Product Recalls, Food Fraud, etc.). 
• Responsible for supporting certifications that are customer driven at all locations.
• Public speaking in front of small and/or large groups.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

Requirements

• Must have expert knowledge of food manufacturing processes and the ability to influence decision making and implement appropriate changes.
• Expertise in food manufacturing in order to evaluate internal systems and compliance. 
• Demonstrated knowledge of Quality Systems Regulations, ISO requirements and guide-lines, GFSI 3rd-Party certifications and processes, and ability to quickly develop a thorough understanding of internal policies and procedures.
• Demonstrated leadership skills to manage the QA team.
• Expertise on issue resolution disciplines (e.g., problem solving/decision making, root cause analysis, etc.).
• Demonstrated ability to manage stressful situations and to handle controversial issues.
• Highly compliance oriented to firmly adhere to the principles of the regulations and standards.

Education/Experience Requirements

• A Bachelor's Degree in a food, manufacturing or international business related specialty is preferred. 
• 8-10 years of experience in a Quality or International logistics role.
• HACCP certified through USDC.
• Intermediate skills in Microsoft Office applications or equivalent required.
• Drinking Water Class I License.
• Travel
• Some travel required.

Competencies

1. Excellent documentation skills, and attention to detail.
2. Strong communication and interpersonal abilities.
3. Willingness to continually