Quality Assurance Director jobs in Santa Cruz, CA

Job Summary

The Director of Quality Assurance is designated to be the Safe Quality Foods (SQF) Practitioner, responsible for the development, implementation and maintenance of all S. Martinelli & Company Quality and Food Safety Policies, Practices and Guidelines. The individual in this position plays a key role in the company’s commitment to the production of the highest quality juices ensuring all processes and products meet or exceed standards set by S. Martinelli & Company, our customers, and regulatory authorities. Provide support and guidance as technical resource supporting new product and process innovation (R&D) efforts. The nature of this position requires a strong sense of urgency, attention to detail and effective leadership. The Director of Quality Assurance must be able to interact cross-functionally in a professional, proactive manner, exemplifying a collaborative spirit. 

Job Functions 

• Plan, manage, and organize all functions related to Quality Assurance leading the organization in identifying and prevention of issues of quality non-compliance using the Corrective Action Preventative Action (CAPA) approach. 
• Ensure the quality and safety of all finished products, including microbial status.
• Lead the quality function and facilitate cross-functional support in managing Quality Systems and ensure organization and program compliance with HACCP, SSOP(s), SOP(s), GMP(s), Supplier Approval, Labeling Requirements, Food Security and Allergen Control.
• Strong experience with FDA and State Food and Drug Agencies.
• Lead the organization in maintaining its GFSI, Organic, Kosher, and regulatory certification of compliance.
• Ensure that all non-compliance conditions are reported immediately.
• Enforce Good Manufacturing and Good Hygiene Practices (GMPs & GHPs).
• Conduct internal and external audit programs to meet certification compliance and implement corrective actions as necessary.
• Proactively identify potential emerging food safety issues or regulatory changes and develop strategies to investigate and lead the organization to effectively respond.
• Provide technical support ensuring company’s labels concerning ingredient, nutritional and associated claims or statements are fully compliant with state, federal and the requirements of international customers regulatory agencies. 
• Provide technical support for the Company’s R&D initiatives by working collaboratively with marketing, sales, and operations leadership to advance product and process innovation.   
• Lead, coach, mentor and support the Quality Assurance Supervisor and department staff members in fulfilling food safety, quality, and budgetary performance goals in support of operations.
• Lead the Quality Team in identifying gaps and opportunities to improve first pass quality.
• Customer Complaint Resolution – manage customer complaints, conduct root cause analysis, and provide corrective actions to further eliminate issues. Must be able to prepare written corrective actions to the customers and/or the sales team.
• Work with Plant Management, Engineering, and Vendors in supporting and driving CPI (Continuous Process Improvement) initiatives.
• Enhance the overall technical capability of the QA organization, empowering the business to successfully deliver market-leading product.
• Manage Statistical Process Control (SPC) programs and Corrective Action & Preventative Action (CAPA) programs to improve overall quality and plant performance.
• Manage Food Defense and Food Fraud programs.
• Ensure accurate and complete documentation (including electronic documentation in spreadsheets and any other database) for all assigned tasks.
• Establish quality and reliability standards by studying product and consumer requirements with other members of management, production operators, engineering and maintenance staff, procurement team and vendors of fruit, ingredients, and packaging materials.
• Establish in-process product inspection standards by leading cross functional teams to study food safety manufacturing methods, devising testing methods and procedures.
• Establish product quality documentation system by overseeing the writing, updating and control of quality assurance procedures.
• Maintain product quality by enforcing quality assurance policies and procedures and government requirements; collaborating with other members of management to develop new product, package, facility, machinery engineering designs and manufacturing training methods.  Serve as Preventive Control Qualified Individual (PCQI).
• Oversee, review, and prepare product and process quality reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing information and trends.
• Complete quality assurance operational requirements by scheduling and assigning employees; following up on work results.
• Maintain quality assurance staff by selecting, training, and developing employees.
• Maintain quality assurance staff job results by coaching, counseling, and disciplining employees. 
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies.
• Oversee Pest Prevention and Control Program to ensure facility compliance.
• Achieve financial objectives by preparing the quality assurance budget; scheduling expenditures; analyzing variances; initiating corrective actions.
• Generally, assist in ensuring safety and compliance with all other company rules and policies by way of example and by encouraging and monitoring the behavior of others.
• Ensure all documentation must be error-free, properly identified and archived in compliance with Safe Quality Foods (SQF) standards and regulatory expectations.

Job Qualifications 

• 7 years of Food Industry and Quality Assurance experience.
• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in major Food Science, Biology, or related discipline.
• Must be qualified as Safe Quality Foods (SQF) Practitioner by training or demonstrable experience.
• Previous team leadership expertise required. 
• Must be knowledgeable with FSMA Compliance, HACCP Principles, FDA Juice, and pasteurization requirements within a food manufacturing environment.
• Must have strong written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work closely with sales and effectively interact with customers and suppliers on all aspects of S. Martinelli & Company’s Quality Systems.
• Knowledgeable in CFR/FDA regulatory requirements.
• Knowledgeable in Labeling and nutritional calculations and requirements.
• Internal auditing and external monitoring.
• CAPA analysis and execution.
• FDA food safety and traceability requirements.
• Knowledgeable in GFSI standards.
• Continuous process improvement strategies and tools, SPC (Statistical Process Control).
• HTST pasteurization, carbonation, acidic controls.
• Microbiology (food/beverage related lab procedures). 

Preferred Skills (Not Required)

• Bilingual in English and Spanish

Company Standard Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships with Company staff and others contacted in the course of work.
• Ability to assume responsibility and exercise good judgment in making decisions within the scope of authority of the position.
• Ability to readily adapt to changing priorities and take direction from more than one staff member.
• Ability to think and work effectively under pressure and accurately complete tasks within established times. 
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, to prioritize tasks, meet multiple deadlines and ensure that work is accomplished in the time frames required.
• Ability to be highly organized and provide careful attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to exercise individual initiative and discretion in confidential matters and to respect confidential matters.

Physical Demands and Working Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Ability to pass a background check, physical, and drug screen.
• Work is performed in a standard office environment and warehouse food processing environment.

All Employees Are Expected To 

• Comply with all Company safety requirements.
• Adhere to all Company policies and procedures.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

S. Martinelli & Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, marital status, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected status.

Pay range: $148,000/yr. to $185,000/yr.