Responsible for the Quality, Food Safety, Leadership and Focused Improvement results of a team of hourly Laboratory Technicians and Quality Coordinators
Works with all site teams to address quality concerns and leads or assists in resolution

• Role models our Basic Beliefs, Our Commitment to Each Other, and Emotional Intelligence to build resonance
• Ensures the department meets safety, quality and sanitation standards
• Responsible for team development, including skill building, performance management, staffing strategy and developing a “flow to the work” culture
• Partner with Quality Manager in developing and delivering Quality Pillar Master Plan
• Ensures that essential business information and general expectations are clearly communicated and understood by all members of the team
• Develop and coach technical and leadership skills of Quality team members to enhance peak performance through Smucker Quality Management Systems (SQMS) and High-Performance Organization (HPO) design principles
• Assist in developing and executing key technical and organizational projects while increasing Smucker Quality Management System capability within the organization
• Responsible for driving department issues to root cause and developing a zero-loss and continuous improvement culture
• Champions department Daily Direction Setting (DDS) to ensure that department is setting a daily plan and following through on open items needed by the team.
• Participates in the Plant Daily Direction Setting (DDS) meetings
• Accountable for the core principles results and team performance (Safety, Quality, Reliability, Cost, Org. Capability)
• Responsible to collaborate across all pillars and leadership
• Acts as the technical resource for the Quality teams
• Ensure compliance to all aspects of the JMS Quality Systems including cGMP/BRC/AIB as well as compliance to Food Safety and Sanitation
• Maintain historical key quality records as required by regulator agencies.
• Process/System audits (on-line and in reports) must be conducted to ensure that the individual unit operations are in conformance with the site quality procedures.
• Maintain open communication with the production team to ensure integrity of raw materials and finished product.
• Investigate and report customer and vendor complaints.
• Finished product holds must be evaluated on a timely basis. Samples must be collected and presented for the decision making process.
• Consult with production management on out of standard ingredients, processes and materials to minimize the impact of finished product quality.
• Review documentation of process critical control points to ensure that Corporate and legal standards are being met and that substandard product is contained.
• Support the technical services group by communication of ingredient substitution, process modification and in-plant test observation and evaluation.
• Responsible for partnering with his/her manager in the establishment of an annual "development plan". Professional development requires the commitment of employees, managers and the resources available from the Company. The manager and employee share joint ownership in the successful execution of the plan objectives.
• Lead the laboratory technicians as they execute their daily task in evaluating ingredient, intermediate and finished product food-safety and quality characteristics.
• Participate in the development and training of factory programs which affect quality
• Manage hold inventories and their reconciliation among various inventory systems
• Conduct applicable internal audits
• Lead personnel responsible supplier compliance, quality systems software, and lab equipment maintenance and calibrations
• Develop and train direct reports to improve individual technical and supervisory capabilities and performance
• Represent the department with interdisciplinary factory groups to assist with recommendations for quality improvement
• Assist in the Quality training of factory employees

REPORTS TO: Manager, Quality Assurance

EDUCATION
Bachelor’s degree is required (Technical, Science, Engineering or a related degree preferred)

EXPERIENCE
3 years of quality experience is required
Prior experience in successfully managing people and / or teams in a high-performance work environment is preferred
Demonstrated experience in developing people essential
Must have a basic understanding of chemistry and microbiology
Prior food processing and/or manufacturing experience is preferred

SKILLS & ABILITIES
Excellent organizational skills specific to people, projects or data is a must
Excellent trouble-shooting and problem-solving skills also a must
Demonstrated ability to lead and influence cross functional teams necessary
Experience working in an environment that values peer-to-peer collaboration and managing upward through the organization
Demonstrate ability to work effectively across organization boundaries and with diverse teams
Strong written, verbal and presentation communication skills
Strong commitment to Quality and Safety
Demonstrate ability to be decisive, proactive and strategic in decision making while role modeling balance for others
Willingness to work a flexible schedule across shifts as needed to most effectively support the organization; willing to report to work to address key and/or critical issues whenever necessary