Senior QA Superintendent at Simmons Prepared Foods, Inc. in South West City, Missouri

Job Description:

Purpose of the Position

Assists in directing the Quality Assurance and Food Safety Programs at assigned locations. This position reports to the FSQA Manager, but also assures all food safety programs meet the necessary requirements as directed by the Simmons Corporate Food Safety team. Helps oversee Quality Assurance and Food Safety procedures, personnel, regulatory compliance, inventory control of hold products, problem detection and correction, and all other quality and food safety related programs. Supports other departments by ensuring awareness of quality, food safety and regulatory requirements. This position supports the FSQA Manager, and must be able to step into the FSQA Manager role when the FSQA Manager is absent, or when deemed necessary. Must be willing to assist other Simmons locations when directed, or deemed necessary, by FSQA leadership.

Essential Position Responsibilities - This is a Salary Exempt position.

Assists in directing quality, food safety, and regulatory programs. Assists in the development and management of HACCP, GMP, SSOP, Quality, and related programs to ensure customer expectations, food safety and regulatory requirements are met. Ensures incoming ingredients and finished products meet quality requirements and customer specifications. Ensures quality/food safety performance is performed in a manner which meets or exceeds all company guidelines for total quality and food safety programs. Demonstrates knowledge of the quality, food safety, and regulatory requirements related to these programs.

Manages Food Safety Programs. Maintains/oversees the Food Safety department, which includes updates of the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) plan, Hazard Analysis, flow charts, Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP) plan and other related programs critical to the food safety system. Oversees/completes the Daily review of records related to the HACCP, SSOP, and Good Manufacturing Procedures (GMP) programs of the facility, as well as regular review of the associated programs and records for food safety. Oversees the development, implementation, and organization of food safety related training for all facility employees. Oversees/Performs direct observations at a required frequency of food safety related actions such as HACCP monitoring, SSOP monitoring, pre-operational inspections, and other inspection processes. Demonstrates knowledge of the food safety programs and regulatory requirements related to these programs.

Ensures/Oversees accurate reporting and facilitates continuous improvement. Oversees/Maintains trend analysis reports on quality, HACCP, SSOP, and related issues for management evaluation. Establishes and oversees statistical methods/procedures for measuring and tracking process capabilities. Using available data, aids in continuous improvement and necessary changes related to food safety and quality in the areas of production, maintenance, sanitation, and quality.

Ensures open communication with necessary personnel. Maintains open communication with facility personnel on food safety quality issues and topics. Leads and/or participates in meetings with quality, food safety and/or production personnel to ensure communication with all levels of facility personnel on quality and food safety related topics. Prepares and maintains written programs and documentation to ensure effective communication of plant programs, procedures, and food safety/quality inspection requirements. Attends and participates in regular USDA meetings.

Builds strong quality assurance and food safety teams. Guides and develops cooperative relationships between plant and food safety-quality personnel. Effectively manages staffing to meet business, food safety and customer needs. Ensures accurate and effective training of necessary personnel. Effectively communicates specifications, quality, and food safety related requirements to necessary personnel.

Manage the review of raw material, in-process, and finished product analyses to ensure we are consistently in specification. Serve as the liaison with R&D and Plant Management for product and production optimization projects. Manages the raw material testing program to ensure proper sampling and analytical methods are being followed as per the Corporate Quality Assurance Program.

Facilitates/Oversees company audits and manages related programs. Leads audits via direction to facility audit personnel. Manages the internal Master Audit Plan including the weekly sanitation audits and the annual SOP audits. Develop timely corrective action and preventive action plans to resolve on-going quality/foods safety issues. Maintains audit programs and records to ensure expectations are met. Demonstrates knowledge of the audit requirements and related programs. Periodic review of related records to ensure compliance with audits. Facilitates organization of audit materials and leads during company/customer audits.

Manages the finished goods Lot Traceability/Mock Recall program. Serves as a resource to the production operation to deal with day to day occurrences. Elevates unresolved issues to the attention of the Quality Assurance Manager for further direction or support.

Manages all FS & QA employees. Directs and supervises employees' work activities and monitors work performance. Collaborates with Human Resources to screen, interview and hire candidates. Administers disciplinary actions and recommends performance improvement actions in collaboration with the HR Manager. Monitors work performance and recommends compensation decisions based on guidelines. Follows Simmons values to develop and maintain a favorable working relationship with all employees. Promotes a cooperative and harmonious environment in order to facilitate positive employee morale, productivity, and continued improvement.

Participates as a member of the Team. Participates in the ongoing development, communication and implementation of team concepts, programs and policies; coordinates work to ensure best practices with all team members. Attends appropriate team meetings. As a member of the Team, fosters strong cohesiveness regarding all major issues; e.g., direction, annual plan, budget, policy changes, etc. Accepts responsibility to quickly identify any areas that lack cohesiveness, bringing them to the attention of the team leader and working with the team in a supportive manner to resolve issues and actively look for ways, and reinforce actions needed, to achieve synergy possible within the larger organization.

Simmons Operating systems principles and objectives: Is familiar with Simmons' established operating systems (e.g. quality, food safety, security, office environment, company policies, Continuous Improvement/LEAN); understands the responsibility to maintain familiarity with the systems and this position's role in support of these systems - including a consideration of the impact of individual actions on the systems and the responsibility to communicate concerns and improvement ideas.

Performs other duties as necessary in support of business objectives: This position description is intended to guide the activities of the person in this position and is not intended to limit the thinking and creativity of the person as to the work of this function nor is it intended that this describe all the work that may be required of the person in this position.

Physical Activities: Enters and locates information on a computer. Visually verifies information, often in small print. Communicates with Customers, Vendors, or Employees via telephone, in person, and/or electronic mail. May present information to small or large groups. Must be able to work in various temperatures. Move about in a manufacturing environment and surrounding property. May travel via car or plane to various work locations. Must be able to stoop, bend, and climb ladders to perform inspections. Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Hairnets, earplugs, slip resistant shoes, and any other protective equipment as needed or required.

Travel: Minimum local travel to other work sites, or to visit customers in absence of the FSQA Manager.

Technical Experience: 5 years experience in a quality assurance-food safety supervisor / management role. Preferred experience in HACCP implementation and training. Preferred experience in a food manufacturing operation - particularly batch and continuous process based. Strong food safety, food security, sanitation, and quality systems knowledge. Experience with thermal processing, Organic and EU Certifications programs, as well as wastewater treatment would be an asset.

Industry Experience: Preference for food manufacturing organization.

Minimum Education: Bachelor's Degree in Food Science, Microbiology or Biology (or related field) or 4 years equivalent work experience.

Preferred Education: MS degree in related field.