Quality Assurance Supervisor

Since 1750, Finlays has served as the industry’s trusted leader in the supply of tea, coffee, and botanicals extracts to the world’s beverage brand owners. Through engaged employees and a continuous improvement mindset, Finlays has grown this legacy in the North and South American regions. Finlays Americas delivers safe and consistent “fit for purpose” quality products and services, meeting regulatory requirements and customer expectations by being an integrated, customer-centric solution provider.

Role Summary

The Quality Supervisor is a member of the site Quality leadership team, reporting to the site Quality Manager. This role is responsible for the delivery of tactical activities and programmes that directly impact on plant operations. The role is accountable for assuring Food Safety and Quality and all related activities including delivery of reliable quality data as part of Quality Control, leading the Laboratory team to deliver results efficiently, liaising with internal and external customers, and engaging with other functions on site regarding quality. This position is pivotal for our 1FO program, in the support and participation of production reviews/meetings and the delivery of quality analyses for improvement projects and quality monitoring.

Key Responsibilities

Manage the quality control laboratory by:

• Ensuring adequate equipment and consumables for execution of daily quality control analytical and sensory activities.
• Assuring repeatability, reproducibility, and reliability of laboratory data aligned with the Finlays Advanced Analytical Strategy, including participation in the 1Finlays Ring testing program and Microbiology PT Scheme.
• Assuring compliance to protocols, standards, and methods, and taking corrective action to address non-compliance.
• Planning resources and tasks in the laboratory to ensure continuity in the service to plant operations.
• Driving training and competence programmes to ensure that laboratory personnel perform to the highest standard.
• Ensuring the application of GLP (Good Laboratory Practices) such as management of equipment service and repair, calibration and metrological compliance, and health and safety protocols.
• Ensuring a safe and healthy working environment as promoted through our internal safety programs, in compliance with all required local policies, procedures and programs.
• Ensure the protection of Laboratory resources through the development and adherence to an equipment maintenance strategy, ensuring maintenance, calibration programs, and the correct use of chemicals to drive long life of instruments.
• Providing support for the Quality team to ensure business continuity in the service provided to Operations.

Deliver to internal customers by:

• Generating and communicating daily, weekly, and monthly records and reports that support operations with establishing the status of site quality.
• Communicating out-of-specification results to stakeholders in a timely manner that allows risk management and mitigation. This includes accurate and timely communication on Cost of Non-Conformance using internal logs and trackers.
• Supporting, where appropriate, the resolution of the out of specification results, collaborating with Operations/Manufacturing in resolution of these.
• Developing and monitoring quality and environmental monitoring plans that identify all quality control analyses through the process, from incoming raw materials inspection through to final product. This includes the management of CTQs (Critical to Quality) and CCPs (Critical Control Points), through monitoring and providing timely feedback to operations daily.
• Providing support as a member of the HACCP team on site.
• Attending functional meetings to discuss quality and provide feedback on areas for improvement.
• Analysing quality data for trends and insights that support minimising non-compliance and maximising quality improvement opportunities.
• Providing support for the development, maintenance, execution and improvement of quality and food safety documentation (including policies, standards, procedures, and guidelines).

Liaise with external customers and suppliers by:

• Providing timely and accurate CoA’s aligned to internal standards.
• Supporting investigations into customer complaints.
• Establishing good working relationships with laboratory customers and suppliers by engaging regularly in a professional and constructive manner.
• Where required communicating and providing input and feedback in a timely manner.

Support the 1FO (WCM) program, to reduce waste and target a zero-defect culture, through active participation in:

• Process mapping, value stream mapping and other programs that identify Critical to Quality (CTQs) and Quality Control points (QCPs) in the process and developing Quality Control plans for monitoring.
• Participating in Root Cause Problem Solving (RCPS), leading laboratory RCPS and supporting production problem solving, using problem solving tools and toolkits to conduct basic and intermediate problem solving.
• Establishing corrective actions and building solutions that sustainably address non-conformances.
• Participate in Continuous Improvement projects in Quality and Production, through the provision of subject matter expertise in laboratory and analytical measurement.

Lead and manage human resources by:

• Setting objectives and deliverables in conjunction with direct reports, conducting the one on ones, Performance reviews, and PDPs as required.
• Creating a workplace climate that promotes the Company values, strong morale, and spirit.
• Lead ongoing individual development through the Quality Competency Acquisition process (CAP) for identified team members, ensuring multiskilling and personal development where appropriate.
• Provide challenging tasks and assignments for the team and hold each member accountable for delivery.
• Resolve conflicts by being vigilant, good at listening, mediating disagreement, and being willing to make tough decisions.

Qualifications

• Degree in science-related field such as Chemistry or Food Science.
• Laboratory auditing experience.
• HACCP Level 2 training.
• Experience in the Food & Beverage industry is required.

Skills and Experience

• 3-5 years Laboratory management experience.
• Must be proficient in MS Office including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
• Able to communicate in English both verbally and written.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Able to instruct personnel and conduct analytical analyses and microbiological analyses (expert level).
• Expert knowledge of laboratory health and safety practices related to toxic substances, chemical, reagents and safe working practices.
• Manage laboratory equipment maintenance and calibration, and plan for replacement and redundancy.
• Able to lead method validation and verification, including participation in Laboratory Ring Tests.
• Expert knowledge of laboratory techniques and practices (e.g., sampling, weighing, pipetting, titrating, etc.)
• Have knowledge of the requirements for ISO17025 Laboratory accreditation, preferably with experience for implementation.
• Be proficient in managing laboratory data and documentation storage and retrieval.
• Proficiency in using data analysis tools (such as Excel) to analyse data for trends and patterns.
• Have a working knowledge of basic statistics (means, median, standard deviation, range, SPC) and be able to apply this to laboratory data.
• Knowledge of quality and food safety management systems and its applicability to the quality control function.
• Knowledge of regulatory and legal requirements.
• Preferably have experience in the use of Laboratory IS systems e.g., LIMS, SAP QA, or experience in laboratory data management and retrieval.
• Be able to use problem solving tools to conduct basic and intermediate problem solving.
• Agile in responding to new situations.
• Ablility to plan and organise self and others.
• Be results oriented, prioritize targes, and be solution driven.

QUALITY STATEMENT:

Our Quality and Food Safety Management strategy is anchored by our food safety and quality culture and a two-pronged approach to “be the best” as we produce “only the best”. Every employee has a role to play in this strategy as outlined by the following:

• Follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP’s), allergen control, food defense, HACCP, SQF, and regulatory requirements so that we make consistently safe, quality products.
• Ensure the presence of visitors, contractors, and customers are documented on each visit in and out of the facility to maintain good manufacturing practices, allergen controls, food defense/food security and HACCP controls.
• Report all food safety and quality issues to management immediately.
• Partner with colleagues across all functions to share knowledge, skills, and information regarding quality and food safety.
• Adhere to all health and safety work practices.
• Exhibit an understanding of quality and food safety standards and be able to speak about the Finlays quality and food safety system and your role in it.
• Handle customer complaints in a timely and professional manner so that the customer is put first, always.
• Participate fully in Finlays programs that drive continuous improvement methodologies.

Any employee in doubt as to the role they play in the Finlays quality and food safety management system must reach out to the site Quality Manager or VP of Quality.

Finlays Americas is an equal employment opportunity employer seeking diversity in qualified applicants for employment. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, gender, gender identity, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, perceived disability, medical condition, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other protected status, as defined by applicable law. Finlays employs individuals that are 18 years of age or older.

This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship