Summary Description: Leads quality activities and identifies and resolves execution deficiencies. Identifies root cause and eliminate recurring quality problems. Manages the Quality department to ensure the production of consistently wholesome, high-quality products that meet or exceed Customer and Regulatory requirements. Manages quality specifications (food safety, product quality), financial efficiencies, and department safety targets. Provides leadership to employees and develops a highly skilled and engaged workgroup. This position is responsible for training new team members in food safety, personal safety, GMPs, SQF requirements, CCPs, and sanitation requirements. This position is responsible for ensuring that incoming materials intended for internal consumptions are reviewed and released in compliance with company policy/process. . # Accountability Category Essential Functions/Key Responsibilities 1 Leadership + Plans and schedules daily staffing needs to maximize labor efficiency and ensure production needs are met. + Supervises the daily Quality shift operations to ensure production standards and quality parameters are set. + Leads and coaches team employees in Quality department by implementing programs in technical training, safety, quality, communications, performance recognition, and internal employee development to drive peak employee engagement and productivity. + Builds and fosters strong working relationships, collaboration within their team and a positive work environment. + Reinforces company and plant policies fairly and consistently. + Ensures team employees have completed all required training. + Responds to employee questions and concerns. 2 Quality + Executes the sanitation program effectiveness to ensure food safety standards are met in the department. + Coordinates with plant personnel to follow up on customer issues (complaints, audit responses, customer queries, etc.). + Evaluates information to complete root cause analysis. + Establishes and maintains effective working relationships. 25% 3 Production + Ensures the plant effectively executes policies, procedures and systems established by the Corporate Quality organization in the areas of Quality and Food Safety, Customer Interface (including approvals, specifications audits, product evaluation and conformance protocols, and customer complaints and follow up) analytical and performance testing methodologies, and purchase quality control. 25% 4 Safety + Executes the sanitation program effectiveness to ensure food safety standards are met in the department. + Coordinates with plant personnel to follow up on customer issues (complaints, audit responses, customer queries, etc.) 10% 5 Financial + Monitors team operations and makes recommendations for labor and manufacturing efficiency, cost savings and quality improvements. + Manages against the Quality Departments financial performance goals. 5% Location Specific Detail: Include any unique location specific details for this position that are not covered in the above job duties. Minimum Qualifications & Experience: + Bachelors degree in food technology, food science, dairy science, microbiology, or chemistry or related field, or similar work experience in related industry + 3+ years of quality experience in food manufacturing environment, additional education may substitute experience where applicable + 1+ year of experience leading, mentoring, and/or delegating work to others Preferred Qualifications & Experience: + Production management experience in the food industry, preferably in Dairy, with intimate knowledge of and passion for quality methods and techniques, including HACCP concept for food safety, quality assurance standards, food laboratory testing methods and operations, and statistical process control techniques. + Dairy/Cheese manufacturing experience + Previous supervisory experience in manufacturing environment Knowledge, Skills & Abilities/Competencies: + Technical knowledge of cheese making process and equipment + Technical knowledge of microbiology and sanitation practices + Knowledge of safety and sanitary design principles + Strong project and organizational management skills + High level of people management skills + Exceptional interpersonal skills + Ability to develop and influence others + Strong planning/time management skills and balancing of resources + Strong written and verbal communication skills Working Relationships: + This position reports to the Quality Department Manager. + Non-exempt (hourly) Quality Department employees report to the Supervisor, Quality. + This position will regularly interact with other production and support group supervisors. Salary Range- Min $84,713 Mid- $101,656 Leprino Foods Company utilizes the services of Psychemedics to perform our Hair Follicle Drug Testing. Additional information about this process can be obtained atwww.psychemedics.com Leprino Foods Company supports a drug-free workplace and is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer M/F/Disability/Veteran