QUALITY ASSURANCE MANAGER jobs in Bakersfield, CA

Valley Natural Beverage is a state-of-the-art Extended Shelf Life (ESL) and Aseptic Ultra High Temperature (UHT) dairy bottling facility located in Bakersfield, California, producing high-quality beverage products in Tetra Pak packaging formats. A division of California Dairies, Inc., the leading dairy cooperative in California. Valley Natural Beverages is co-owned by more than 300 dairy families located in the heart of the Golden State.

We offer a generous total rewards package that includes:

• Salary Range - $94,253 - $138, 237
• Family medical/dental/vision
• Generous company contributions to 401k
• Relocation Assistance
• 10 Paid holidays
• Paid vacation
• Tuition reimbursement

Job Summary

The Quality Assurance Manager VNB is a key member of the plant leadership team and is responsible for building and leading a “Best in Class” quality team that is focused on total plant operational excellence. As such, the Quality Assurance Manager VNB will be responsible to create an environment that promotes individual team member success, effective collaboration between departments and establishes a culture that always believes in getting better. The Quality Assurance Manager VNB is the primary owner to ensure “Best in Class” compliance to all food safety and food quality programs including: GMP, regulatory, process authority, GFSI, 3rd party auditor, customer required, and company specific.

Essential Functions

• The development of the quality assurance staff; including identifying skill needs and training opportunities to ensure “Best in Class” performance.
• Ensure effective planning, scheduling, and execution of all quality activities to allow for highest possible product quality, customer satisfaction, and plant performance.
• Lead efforts to ensure food safety regulatory compliance in conjunction with departmental peers to all federal, state, and local requirements pertaining to UHT, ESL, low acid aseptic fluid milk bottling plant.
• Work with plant departmental peers to ensure compliance to customer, GFSI, and 3rd party product specifications and GMP requirements.
• Oversee development, implementation, training, and long-term adherence to meet plant quality assurance team owned KPI’s in the following areas:
  • Team member safety
  • Team member job satisfaction and team member development
  • Job specific standardized work and associated training
  • Daily team direction setting meetings
  • In conjunction with department peers – first pass quality, customer complaints, product holds, plant environmental testing, etc.
  • Timely in-run product testing
  • Timely testing for product releases
  • Root cause analysis and corrective action
  • Labor and overtime budgets
  • Quality operations budget
  • Quality team waste control
  • Cost savings identification and cost savings justification
• Actively support and promote a plant culture that believes in always getting better.
• Ensure effective collaboration and positive teamwork between all departments.
• Lead by example with integrity and a commitment to always do it right.
• Must always look forward to identify and prevent potential failure modes.
• Identify and share new technologies, new equipment, and new processes that will continue to maintain VNB’s place as the industry leader.
• Identify when your support is needed by members of your team or other plant teams (at all hours) and be present to give support when needed.
• Always represent VNB in a positive manner to vendors, contractors, team members, visitors, etc.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education and/or Experience

• Minimum of 10 years combined experience working in supervisory and or managerial roles in a low acid ESL and/or aseptic bottling operation or similar. Grade A milk experience preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in food science, chemistry or microbiology preferred. May substitute with equivalent work experience/education.
• PQCI and better process control school certifications.

Qualifications

• Excellent understanding of PMO, CFR, and GFSI standards.
• Excellent understanding of FDA low acid product filing requirements.
• Excellent understanding and demonstrated ability to develop and implement quality processes, quality testing programs, and quality testing specifications to support low acid ESL and aseptic production.
• Excellent understanding and demonstrated ability to comply with OSHA requirements.
• Excellent understanding and demonstrated ability to utilize lab equipment to support ESL and aseptic low acid milk bottling.
• History of developing new processes, implementing new processes, and training team members on new processes.
• Ability to effectively problem solve.
• Able to communicate effectively with all levels inside and outside of the organization.
• Excellent leadership skills and a desire to serve others.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The company will make reasonable accommodations that do not cause and undue hardship to the company if such accommodation enables individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

• Sitting/Standing/Walking: Sits frequently to answer calls, complete schedules/reports, fill out paperwork, answer emails, etc.
• Lifting/Carrying: Must be able to lift 65 pounds on an occasional basis.
• Pushing/Pulling: Some pushing or pulling is required on an occasional basis.
• Bending/Stooping: Bends and stoops on an occasional basis.
• Squatting/Kneeling/Crawling: May squat or kneel on an occasional basis.
• Twisting/Turning: Assumes any combination of these positions on an occasional basis.
• Climbing/Balancing: May go up and down stairs and/or ladder on an occasional basis.
• Reaching: Reaches at or above shoulder level on an occasional basis.
• Grasping/Manipulating: Grasping and manipulating of papers, objects, and equipment will be required. Ability to use calculator and keyboard for data input will be required on an ongoing basis.
• Traveling: Extended working hours and some domestic traveling

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The work is performed in an office environment.

ADA/FEHA: The Company will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act.

EEO: The Company is an equal employment opportunity employer.

This job description will be updated if duties and responsibilities change significantly. Job functions are subject to modification based on business necessity.