Senior Specialist, Quality Assurance

Your Opportunity as the Senior Specialist, Quality Assurance 

Location: Decatur, AL manufacturing plant

Work Arrangements: 100% on-site

• Willingness to work off shift (including nights, evenings, weekends, and holidays) and flow to the work as needed

Reports to: Assistant Manager, Quality Assurance

In this role you will:

• Lead and train the Quality Functional Leaders, Food Safety Technicians, and Sanitation Technicians as they execute their daily tasks relating to sanitation, pest control, and environmental standards
• Assign and verify the execution of sanitation, janitorial, and special project tasks among full-time, temporary, and contracted personnel
• Manage and led the execution and documentation of corrective and preventive actions relative to sanitation, pest control, and microbial data from the production environment and finished products through investigations and root cause analysis
• Direct staff to execute pre-operational & Right-to-Run inspections and the Master Sanitation Schedule
• Develop Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs) and train sanitation and operational staff on proper execution of cleaning and sanitizing standards
• Complete SSOP risk assessments to mitigate hazards during the cleaning and sanitizing process
• Supervise and oversee the positive release process of finished products following the verification of conformance to all critical criteria
• Organize activities with third-party pest control operators and third-party microbial testing labs
• Maintain an adequate supply of necessary chemicals, supplies, and equipment to perform sanitation tasks
• Plan and direct the activities of sanitation personnel within a 24/7 operation
• Oversee sanitation personnel staffing, time off, coverage, and timecard approval
• Ensure proper training of sanitation personnel to follow work policies and procedures
• Evaluate job performance of sanitation personnel and take corrective action as needed
• Ensure compliance with corporate standards and systems to monitor food safety, sanitation, environmental, and facility cleanliness
• Represent the Quality Assurance department and make recommendations to operation teams regarding sanitation and food safety improvements
• Collaborate with Health, Safety, and Environmental team to ensure environmental concerns are addressed pertaining to chemical disposal and cleaning/sanitizing techniques
• Monitor and maintain compliance to the sanitation budget
• Participate in 3rd party inspections (BRCGS) and programs at the site

The Right Place for You

We are bold, kind, strive to do the right thing, we play to win, and we believe in a strong community that thrives together. Our culture is rooted in our Basic Beliefs, and we believe in supporting every employee by meeting their physical, emotional, and financial needs.

What we are looking for:

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, food technology, meat science, microbiology, or other related science degree
• 3 years of quality assurance, food safety, and/or sanitation experience in a food manufacturing environment
• Working knowledge of sanitation chemicals – usage, applications, and potential hazards
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities – ability to teach, lead and develop others

Additional skills and experience that we think would make someone successful in this role:

• Prior people management experience
• Analytical skills – ability to conduct Root Cause Analysis (Fishbone, 5-Why, etc.) and statistical process control for sanitation and quality monitoring, improvements, and problem-solving
• PCQI and / or HACCP certi