Quality Assurance Lab Manager

Butterball, LLC, one of America’s most iconic brands, helps consumers celebrate Thanksgiving and every day in between. Located in the thriving Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina area, our goal is to provide a diverse array of career opportunities and paths which include our farms, processing facilities and support offices.We are the largest producer of turkey products in the U.S., and we make a lot more than Thanksgiving turkeys. Our company’s measurable growth is in no small part due to our team members in North Carolina, Arkansas, Illinois, and Missouri, who each have a seat at the table to contribute to our success

Job Summary

This person will perform complex, non-repetitive, technical duties relative to managing Laboratory functions within both of NC production facilities; the Mt. Olive and Raeford production facilities. Oversee all analytical testing in the laboratory including chemical, microbiological, and physical analysis on a variety of food, environmental, and live operations sample matrices. Assure all regulations & customer requirements are met. Provide leadership to plant and Lab and personnel to assure that internal and external product specifications are achieved/maintained.

 

Key Responsibilities

·        Assist with developing, implementing and maintaining laboratory programs  i.e., Microbiological programs, chemical analysis, product testing, environmental testing.

·        Develop new microbiological and chemical methods and procedures.

·        Work with vendors on pricing, equipment maintenance, repair, and diagnostics, etc.

·        Assist with research and development work on continuous improvement efforts such as antimicrobial interventions, implementing line extensions/product changes, in-plant testing of new products prior to full-scale production, etc.

·        Use company computer software to design sampling programs for PCS, environmental and processing swabs.

·        Oversee and perform Lethality and Challenge Studies

·        Utilize laboratory data to prepare reports, graphs, and charts for membes of management  and initiate applicable corrective measures.

·        Provide data analysis and trending of data to inform troubleshooting and root cause analysis on issues related but not limited to finished product, ingredient, sanitation and environmental issues.

·        Maintain laboratory proficiency testing standards and accreditation, laboratory standard procedures manual, and laboratory safety manual.

·        When QA manager is not available serve as liaison with local, area, and Federal USDA and FDA personnel.

·        Perform necessary tasks within the production environment such as troubleshooting processes, taking part in investigations, etc.

Minimum Qualifications

·        Generally, requires 5 or more years of work experience with 3 years of relative experience as a, Microbiologist, Food Chemist or similar function with a Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited college   or university

·        Advanced degree (M.S., Ph.D.) can substitute for work experience

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

·        Advanced degree (M.S., Ph.D.) can substitute for work experience.

·        Experience as a Microbiologist or similar function in the Food Manufacturing Industry.

·        In-depth knowledge of microbiology, food safety, laboratory process, production processes, sanitation, live operations, USDA and state regulations.

·        Maintain current knowledge on food safety and scientific advancements.

·        Ability to prepare standard solutions and reagents for use in chemical testing and maintain stock of necessary lab materials.

·        Ability to work both independently managing multiple projects as well as with cross functional team and provide the necessary Food Safety and microbial and chemical analysis expertise on products, processes and procedures.

·        Proficient in Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

·        Communicates Effectively-Actively listens and checks for understanding; adjusts content and style to meet the needs of diverse stakeholders; articulates messages in a way that is broadly understandable; delivers messages in a clear, compelling and concise manner; models and encourages expression of diverse ideas and opinions.

·        Decision Quality-Actively seeks input from pertinent sources to make timely and well-informed decisions; decisively makes high-quality decisions, even when based on incomplete information or in the face of uncertainty; is respected by others for displaying superior judgment; skillfully separates opinions from facts

Preferred Qualifications or KSAs

·        Previous experience in a food safety laboratory

·        Familiarity with USDA FSIS Appendices A and B and Guidelines including but not limited to Controlling Lm in Post-Lethality Exposed RTE Meat and Poultry Products

·        Experience with Culture Independent Diagnostics (Quantitative PCR) and working with vendors on new method validations

·        HACCP, PCQI, and other food safety certifications

 

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be regularly required to stand, sit, talk, hear, reach, stoop, kneel, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer, telephone, keyboard, and occasionally lift up to 10-15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, color vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

Work will be performed in a variety of conditions including climate-controlled office environment(s), laboratory environment(s) (containing various chemical reagents and microbiological organisms), manufacturing plant environment(s) with varying conditions, such as cold areas, warm areas, chemicals, and other site conditions and in a farm environment including working outdoors in season conditions with live animals and at times in dusty environments. This position requires the individual to wear and work in personal protective equipment while in manufacturing, farm, and laboratory environments. This individual may be working around sick or diseased animals where additional precautions may need to be taken. For remote work, the employee must have a dedicated workspace to safely setup and use assigned IT equipment, preferably free from distractions. The employee is responsible for ensuring adequate internet service is available when working remotely (the recommended minimum speed is 20mb download and 5mb upload).

 

The noise level of the office, farm, and laboratory environments is usually moderate; the noise level in the manufacturing environment may exceed 85 DBA. Showering in and out of farm locations may be required.

Travel Requirements

Frequent regional travel will be required; additional travel will be required up to 25% and on an as needed basis.

 

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of what is required of personnel so classified.  Furthermore, they do not imply or establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.

 

Butterball, LLC is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to the fair and impartial treatment of all employees and applicants for employment without regard to gender, age, race, religion, color, national origin, physical or mental disability, military/veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, or any other status protected by law. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.  

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of what is required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not imply or establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer. Butterball, LLC is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to the fair and impartial treatment of all employees and applicants for employment without regard to gender, age, race, religion, color, national origin, physical or mental disability, military/veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, or any other status protected by law.This position is deemed Safety Sensitive for purposes of Butterball’s Drug/Alcohol Screening & Testing Policy. Details will be provided to individuals who receive a conditional job offer, or upon request.

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