Quality Assurance Manager, Manufacturing

Who we are

Skjodt-Barrett is a world-class manufacturer of food solutions and custom ingredients for North America's most beloved and trusted brands. We take pride in working closely with our customers to understand their unique needs and create innovative, individualized solutions that deliver joy to their customers.

A family-founded company started over 35 years ago, we are backed by the investment company Axel Johnson Inc (AJI). With their investment and support, we are well-positioned to foster growth and explore new opportunities.

Our customers, blue-chip international brands and mid-sized producers alike, are why we exist. Our teams of innovators, communicators, and managers are the people who meet their needs, build trust, and exceed their expectations.

Who we need

Leading a team of quality assurance professionals, we have an opportunity for a Quality Assurance Manager, Manufacturing to join our plant in Indiana. Reporting to the Head of QA, you will improve and optimize the plant's quality management system while upholding the highest food safety and compliance standards. You will lead a team in carrying out their daily tasks in quality assurance. You will lead the development and implementation of quality objectives for the plant. You will be responsible for ensuring that all the products coming out of the plant are safe and meet quality specifications.

Who you are

A proven people and QA manager with food and beverage manufacturing experience. You are guided by integrity, the pursuit of perfection, and continuous improvement on the plant floor. You are motivated by the opportunity to implement change and willing to work to make it happen. You are driven by numbers and process and equally invested in spending time on the plant floor to see firsthand what’s happening and evaluate the team’s performance and process.

What you will do:

• Drive a quality culture. You will promote the belief that quality is owned by everyone. You will take accountability for the overall success of QA standards and practices while guiding the team to take ownership for their actions. You will implement and ensure adherence to all regulatory compliance, Site HACCP, GFIS, and company standards as stated in the Quality Assurance Manual, Laboratory Manual, and internal directives. You will drive continuous improvement efforts in product quality, performance and process optimization.
• Ensure product safety. You will take ownership for the day to day quality assurance in the plant. You will use logic and reasoning to solve issues and implement solutions to prevent a repeated delay in production. You will ensure the team follows strict pre-set sanitation procedures and performs adequate sanitation tests. You will oversee and support troubleshooting efforts in the event of sanitation system failure.
• Analyze and report. You will respond to customer complaints and provide Root Cause Analysis and Corrective Action Preventative Action (CAPA). You will manage local, state, customer, third party, and federal audits and inspections. You will communicate quality metrics and inspection results to appropriate managers and others in leadership positions, including, but not limited to, daily, weekly or monthly KPI reporting.
• Share knowledge. You will train management and employees on all quality assurance and food safety standards, including the Site HACCP program, QMS, and any other prerequisite programs. You will develop and maintain documentation of all required quality tests and activities.
• Oversee the operation of the plant laboratory. You will ensure all required supplies and equipment are available. You will verify that the appropriate tests - chemical, bacteriological, sensory, and utilization -have been completed on raw materials and pasteurized products.
• Meet and exceed customer expectations. You will ensure adherence to all contract packaging and other customer requirements. You will ensure on-time release of all finished goods for shipment and materials for production.
• Lead change management. You will implement change management strategies and plans that drive faster adoption of improvements and best practices that increase quality and efficiency. You will work closely with the plant manager, engineers, production manager, HRBP, controller, and planner to achieve site objectives relating to cost, quality, environmental safety, and delivery of the best possible product to our customers.

What you bring to the role:

• The education. You have a Bachelor of Science Degree in Food Science, Industrial Engineering or a related discipline. You have also completed HACCP training and have GFSI scheme training.
• The experience. You have extensive quality assurance experience in food and beverage manufacturing. You have direct experience implementing continuous improvement initiatives and leading the resulting change management to engage workers and ensure adoption. You have implemented CAPA. You have experience leading audits with customers on-site and implementing corrective actions.
• The technical knowledge. You have extensive experience overseeing and optimizing a Quality Management System (QMS) under GFSI and HACCP standards. You have experience in thermal processing techniques, including hot fill, sterilization or aseptic processing within the food and beverage manufacturing industry. You have deep knowledge of sanitation systems, techniques and procedures and pasteurization/post-pasteurization processes. You have worked with FDA requirements for acidified and acid foods.
• The project management expertise. You are driven and can take charge of a project from start to finish. You are decisive, meticulous, and proactive in responding to issues and requests for changes. You have the initiative to take action. Drawing on your industry knowledge and production experience, you can effectively guide project teams to deliver complex, cross-functional projects from end to end. You have excellent organizational skills in a demanding, changing environment.
• The leadership skills. You have managed and developed a team throughout their employment, guiding their work to achieve objectives efficiently, effectively, and safely. You can influence without authority and work in partnership with teams, managers, and executives. You are highly collaborative and genuinely interested in understanding others, resolving conflict, removing roadblocks, and encouraging high-quality results.

Why join?

We've got great taste. We care deeply about fostering a culture of transparency, responsibility, and integrity. It's what drives us to make great-tasting, convenient, and healthy ingredients and finished products that our customers depend on. With a focus on nurturing and growing our employees' careers and professional satisfaction, we believe in open communication, idea sharing, and knowledge building. Skjodt-Barrett is committed to building an inclusive culture that helps to create longevity, growth, and innovation in the food industry.

We are working towards a sustainable future. We believe that what's good for people and the planet is good for profit. It is everyone's responsibility to do their part. We recognize the growing need to prioritize sustainability in manufacturing, and we continue to take steps to evolve. We strive to accelerate the adoption of sustainable packaging and food products to be a responsible partner for our customers and for the greater good. We take our role as a supply chain partner to heart and adhere to a strict Supplier Code of Conduct to ensure that our vendors uphold the integrity and values we live by.

We believe actions speak louder than words. Every day, we come together to exceed the expectations of our customers, each other and ourselves, inspired by our values:

• We care. About family, honesty, and respect.
• We communicate. Across every level, often, effectively, and clearly.
• We Empower. With trust, integrity, and accountability.
• We Deliver. Every time, through teamwork, innovation, and results.

We support and care for our employees and their families.

Benefits and perks we offer include comprehensive health, dental, paramedical and long term disability.

With paid vacation time starting at 15 days per year, paid sick time, and more, we want to ensure our employees feel supported and appreciated.

Apply now.

At Skjodt-Barrett, we aim for diversity, equality, accessibility and inclusion in all of our operations and interactions. We welcome and appreciate candidates with a range of backgrounds and experiences. If you have 70% of the qualifications we are looking for and want to play an integral role in delivering innovative food product solutions, apply to express your interest.

What you can expect from our interview process:

1. A virtual interview with a Talent Advisor discussing your interest in the role and your experience.
2. An interview with the Hiring Manager to discuss how your experience lines up with the needs of the role and the organization.
3. An on-site plant tour and a panel interview with the Plant Manager and 1-2 QA team members. This will be a chance to see firsthand the plant setup, understand current standards and discuss future plans.

Skjodt-Barrett welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Please let us know what accommodations you require across the selection process.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.