Quality Control Laboratory Supervisor
Job Title: Production Supervisor
Company: Foremost Farms USA
Location: Appleton, WI
Description:
Position Overview:
The Quality Control Laboratory Supervisor oversees the day-to-day laboratory operations, including ensuring the accurate and timely testing of raw materials, in-process, and finished products to meet customer and company quality standards. The Quality Control Laboratory Supervisor ensures compliance with good laboratory practices (GLPs), safety and regulatory requirements while lab activities are performed.
Key Accountabilities:
Organizes and directs the laboratory's workflow ensuring the completion of all records, accuracy in tests, and training in new testing equipment and laboratory methods.
• Oversees test result collection, analysis and reporting of data to appropriate stakeholders.
• Ensures that all testing is performed in a timely manner and with accuracy to support the product's release.
• Purchase, organize, and maintain laboratory supplies as needed.
• Maintain documented lab methods for all testing methods used internally and ensures alignment with corporate lab methods.
• Coordinates any necessary outside lab testing, reviews internal and third-party lab testing results, analyzes and trends lab data.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency, compliance, and service levels.
• Promote safe laboratory practices and regulatory compliance.
• Oversee and coordinate activities of the environmental monitoring programs.
• Acts as a technical resource to address and resolve inquiries and issues regarding production or quality and assists with root cause analysis.
• Oversee daily laboratory operations and ensures technical competence, valid results, and full compliance with the lab management system.
• Manages the laboratory equipment calibration program, ensuring all instruments are calibrated at required intervals, traceable to national or international standards, and documented with calibration certificates and record.
Provides supervision under the direction of the Food Safety and Quality Assurance Manager to laboratory technicians.
• Ensure operational continuity through effective staffing, scheduling, and backup testing capabilities.
• Lead, coach, and develop laboratory personnel
• Establish training programs, competency assessment, performance evaluations and succession planning
• Provides performance feedback to lab technicians regularly including annual performance evaluations and encourages the growth and development of staff via individual development plans.
• Collaborates with Quality Control Supervisor to ensure adherence to Environmental Monitoring Program, including but not limited to performing sponging and ATP swabbing as well as leading the investigation and root cause analysis exercises for out of spec results.
• Participates in regulatory, customer, and laboratory audits as needed.
Serve as primary back-up support to the Quality Control Supervisor.
• Evaluates processes and methods and recommends measures to improve quality, equipment performance, utilization of people, and quality of product.
• Ensures timely and accurate monitoring and/or verifying of control points and that required documentation is completed. This includes Critical Control Points (CCPs), Preventive Controls (PCs), Critical Quality Points (CQPs), Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP), and Food Safety Plans.
• Performs pre-shipment reviews and release of finished product.
• Provides support to sanitation and/or production staff to ensure adherence to the master sanitation program(s) (MSS).
• Performs final review of FSMA and regulatory documents as the Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI).
• Performs internal food safety and quality audits in accordance with the SQF program to ensure compliance with company standards.
Job Setting: Plant Laboratory
Experience, Skills and Abilities:
Minimum Qualifications:
• 2-5 years' experience in laboratory in a food manufacturing environment with a strong understanding of GLPs and laboratory safety practices.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to work accurately and efficiently.
• Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to successfully interact and communicate with internal cross-functional teams, and all organizational levels.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Associate degree in Biology, Microbiology, Chemistry, Food Science or related field of study, or equivalent experience.
• Experience with both microbiological and analytical test methods.
• General knowledge of GMPs and quality systems associated with food manufacturing, dairy preferred.
• Demonstrates good judgement in decision-making.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
Hours/Employment Type: Full Time
Salary/Wages: Based on experience
How to Apply: Visit our online posting
Questions? Please contact Katey Bittner at Katey.Bittner@foremostfarms.com, (608) 355-8795