Provide food safety leadership to ensure compliance with federal, state, Kroger food safety, and quality requirements as they relate to the manufacturing, storage, and distribution of food and non-food products. Ensure a clean, safe manufacturing facility and necessary training, development and proactive solutions for lab techs, sanitation crew, facility management and hourly associates on food safety and sanitation programs andprocesses. Develop procedures, inspect, and coordinate all facility and grounds cleaning and sanitation functions. Support plant safety and environmental sustainability initiatives, as well capital projects and Total Productive Maintenance activities. Demonstrate the company's core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion, and safety.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Provide strategic leadership in areas of food safety, sanitation,product quality standards and related regulations and oversee management of these areas at all times
Serve as liaison for governmental inspections, participate in corporate compliance inspections/audits, & lead effort to maintain audit readiness
Maintain plant sanitationthrough environmental/product testing & physical inspections
Ensure Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) are followed & pest control program compliance byleadingroutine walkthroughs & supporting food safety/quality initiatives
Ensure Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point, Hazard Analysis & Risk-based Preventive Controls, Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures, allergen programs, formulations, & finished product consistently meet specification
Train & resource Quality Assurance staff
Ensure effective annual training of Safe Quality Foods (SQF), GMPs, Food Safety Modernization Act,& Food Safety Programs
Prepare/update plant work instructions and verify record keeping is timely and accurate/meets necessary regulations
Ensure all records are completed/approved for preventive controls, laboratory, sanitation, production, & verification checks
Ensure receiving procedures for incoming/outgoing ingredients adhere toquality/safety standards
Investigate consumer comments & support resulting action plans
Assist Corporate Food Technology with product development/audits & calculation of raw materials
Provide production with continuous improvement support
Lead investigations of non-conforming events driving to root cause(s) & effective resolution
Manage change control & hold programs to enable risk assessment & decisions
Participate in the annual budgeting process & identify key capital projects
Perform data analysis to identify trends or find leading indicators to enable proactive decisions
Coordinate factory & external lab testing of samples; generate Certificate of Analysis
Manage all site analytical & micro activities, ensuring Good Laboratory Practices are followed
Provide feedback to suppliers to improve relationships & resolve quality issues
Assist management in all Safe Quality Food policies & requirements
Support the development, implementation, maintenance, & ongoing improvement of the SQF Systems
Accountable to the Kroger Manufacturing Food Safety & Quality Principles
Supervise & coach direct reports in the performance of their duties; complete performance reviews/provide feedback
Ability to work cooperatively in high paced and sometimes stressful environment
Ability to manage conflict in a reasonable, nonconfrontational and cooperative manner
Ability to act with honesty and integrity regarding customer and business information
Ability to follow directions and seek assistance when necessary to resolve customer and business issues
Provide support and assistance through direct interaction with minors, individuals with special needs, and/or older adults
Must be able to perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation.
QUALIFICATIONS Minimum
Bachelors degree in food science, microbiology, or related field
Preventative Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) certification
GFIS related program certification;SQF practitioner certified preferred
5+ years of food/beverage quality assurance or relatedlab experience
Ability to read, analyze, & interpret scientific/technical journals, financial reports, & legal documents
Ability to apply statistical process control concepts.
Strong analytical & critical thinking skills (Root Cause Analysis)
Desired
Thorough knowledge of food safety & microbiological concepts
Plant QA Assistant Manager or QA Supervisory experience