Quality Assurance Manager - Sparks, United States - RIBUS Inc

Description

Who We Are::

Founded in 1992 as a functional ingredient manufacturing company, RIBUS, Inc. supplies natural and organic rice ingredients to food, beverage, dietary supplement and pet companies around the world. The foundation of our business is to provide clean label alternatives that can help solve production issues and bring innovation to your products.

RIBUS produces rice-based ingredients, which provide solutions for conventional, natural and certified organic foods. By utilizing the entire grain (the hull and bran), we are helping to sustain the earth. Through patented processes, RIBUS adds natural protease enzymes to rice bran to stabilize the lipase enzymes, creating a natural, gluten-free, hypo-allergenic food ingredient that binds oil and water. Rice hulls are a natural source of silica, one of the most effective anti-caking agents in use today. Through our patent-pending processes, RIBUS grinds the hulls so the silica particle size is optimized for use in food formulation as a flow aid or flavor carrier. All RIBUS products are Made in the USA.

Who You Are::

Responsible for refining and managing the RIBUS quality systems that assure food safety and quality, in turn protecting the customer and RIBUS business.

This position entails providing strategic leadership and guidance to RIBUS Quality team, while ensuring compliance to regulatory and certifying body requirements and RIBUS quality and food safety standards.

Additionally, the Quality Manager is responsible for refining and managing food safety standards for the new RIBUS Sparks manufacturing location, as well as two other off-site production facilities, directly managing the plant

quality and food safety systems and meeting and maintaining GFSI certifications.

This role is also responsible for implementing continuous improvements to enhance policies, while adhering to compliance with regulatory agencies, providing critical guidance in defining policies and requirements into new markets and products. Outstanding service must be delivered to both internal and external customers.

The Quality Manager is responsible for managing a highly effective team of employees and developing each employee to their highest potential through coaching and leadership.

What You'll Do::

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The following reflects the essential functions for this job but does not limit additional tasks that may be assigned.

Refine and maintain a Quality Systems Program for the RIBUS Sparks manufacturing operation, including obtaining GFSI certification (July Note, this is an existing product that was made at 3rd party contract manufacturer that RIBUS is now bringing into our new facility, so the product is not new, but the production site is. Many processes will need to be refined and maintained in partnership with Plant Manager.

Record, maintain, conduct trend analysis, and develop action plans for the following existing programs:

o Customer Complaint System

o Non-Compliance System

o CAPA program

o Mock Trace Exercises

Refine and maintain quality systems and necessary certifications for all RIBUS products.

Work alongside the RIBUS Sparks Plant Manager to refine and maintain quality-related processes, identify issues, support process improvements and manufacturing projects.

Implement continuous improvement enhancements in the Quality Department by setting goals and identifying key performance indicators.

Identify and manage third-party testing laboratories, confirm methods, and ensure compliance and/or retesting as needed.

Write Foreign Supplier Verification Programs for any foreign suppliers and ensure compliance.

Review and evaluate retain samples for Certificate of Analysis extension requests. If/when requested, evaluate retains to confirm that specifications are still upheld and approve extension.

Function as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for all Food Safety-related trends, regulations, and legislation, while maintaining a high level of expertise on related subjects, to ensure full compliance with all regulatory requirements.

Develop and maintain relationships with appropriate regulatory agencies, serving in the role of liaison as related to all Food Safety matters.

Stay current with all key regulatory and certifying agency domestic and international guidelines, e.g., Organic, Kosher, Halal, Non-GMO, Gluten Free, and others.

Oversee the maintenance of RIBUS certifications, including but not limited to Organic, Kosher, Halal, Non-GMO, Gluten Free, as well as pertinent regulatory agency compliance protocols.

Work cross-functionally to provide guidance on, and ensure implementation of, Food Safety programs and

hygienic design of facilities and equipment.

Oversee process to assure appropriate records and samples are retained according to regulatory standards.

Ensure all contract manufacturer and warehouse facilities effectively maintain and comply to RIBUS and regulatory Food Safety standards.

Manage investigations, and reporting of quality issues, market withdrawals and recalls, and implementation of internal audit control processes; provide support for quality inquiries and complaints.

Ensures that program and system implementation internally and externally allow for solid traceability of all products manufactured and shipped.

Develop new procedures with internal departments and external partners to ensure production of quality products, as well as cost effective reductions.

Manage, develop, evaluate, and coach team of two (2) Document Specialists.

Potential to attend industry conferences, trainings, expositions to obtain pertinent information necessary for the continual development of the quality department.

Other duties as assigned by Manager.

Competencies

To perform the job successfully, the employee should demonstrate the following competencies:

Outstanding verbal, written and problem-solving skills.

Excellent knowledge of organizational methods and ability to manage multiple tasks/projects simultaneously.

Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office (i.e., Excel, Word, Outlook, Teams, etc.).

Excellent quantitative, analytical, and technical communication.

Investigative and curious by nature; willingness to take the lead and accountability to solving problems.

Must be able to work cross functionally, as well as independently, to lead and influence others, to uphold

RIBUS quality standards and specifications.

Demonstrated ability to effectively manage, lead, engage and motivate teams.

High level relationship, communication, and meeting-conduct skills for successful interactions with all levels of management, employees, and customers.

Knowledge of chemistry and microbiology testing methodologies and their role in assuring product quality and safety.

Desire to stay abreast of new testing methods especially in-line testing and faster more cost-efficient

methodology/technology.

Ability to meet deadlines while maintaining professional profile of calmness during periods of peak activities.

Extensive and current knowledge of food regulations, safety, and methods of assuring compliance to meet standards, including GFSI requirements.

Wide knowledge of food and ingredient manufacturing processes from the Quality Assurance and Production perspective.

Extensive knowledge of FDA, USDA, and EPA regulations as they relate to food and food ingredients.

Expertise to forecast annual budgets and to operate the department within budget.

Must be able to travel as needed (limited).

What You Bring::

Qualifications, Education, and/or Experience

Bachelors degree in Food Science or equivalent science-related education

SQF Practitioner (currently certified or in progress)

HACCP certification

FSVP certification

PCQI certification (desired but not required)

10+ years in Food Manufacturing

5+ years experience in Food Safety and Quality systems development and ability to manage quality planning and direction at multiple food manufacturing sites required.

Proven ability to recruit, mentor, develop, motivate and lead team members desired.

What We Offer::

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is frequently required to perform the following:

On-Floor during Production:

• Frequently utilize visual acuity to operate equipment, read technical information, and/or use a keyboard.
• Regularly complete detailed forms, procedures, and reports with accuracy.
• Regularly use hands to finger, grab, handle, or feel; talk or hear and taste or smell.
• Stand for several hours on the Production floor, during active production runs.
• Often work side-by-side with employees providing help on the Production floor.
• Always wear proper PPE, including hearing and eye protection and potentially masks, when working on the Production floor.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this Job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is:

Frequently exposed to an office environment with adequate lighting that is quiet and air conditioned.

Frequently exposed to dry, warm, hot, or cold conditions on the Production floor.

Frequently exposed to machinery and moving mechanical parts on the Production floor.

Frequently exposed to noise levels in the Production work environment that are usually moderate and sometimes above 85 db.

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