Director Quality Assurance

Company: SunOpta
Location: Eden Prairie
Posted on: May 11, 2022

Job Description:

SunOpta Overview:SunOpta Inc. is a leader in the plant-based foods and beverages, fruit-based foods and beverages, and organic ingredient sourcing industries. SunOpta is focused on sustainability and specializes in the sourcing, processing, and packaging of organic, conventional, non-GMO food products.SunOpta is looking for talented individuals that demonstrate our most valued behaviors: Passion, Dedication, Speed, Entrepreneurship, Customer-Centricity, and Problem-Solver, to help create a brighter, healthier, and sustainable future of food! Job Summary:This position is responsible for managing the quality assurance teams for our aseptic beverage and fruit snacks division of SunOpta ensuring compliance to regulatory requirements and SunOpta quality and food safety standards. Essential Functions of the Job: Ensure highly disciplined compliance with all regulatory and SunOpta defined food safety and sanitation standards, systems, procedures and practices to guarantee wholesomeness of product. Provide guidance and direction to plant teams ensuring compliance with SunOpta's food safety and quality policies and procedures. Manage the plant quality assurance team activities including travel, plant audits, setting objectives, priorities, and issue management protocols and procedures. Provide resources for plant trials and utilize data to participate in the development of product specifications with R&D and the plant Quality team. Provide support for Procurement, Operations, Marketing and Sales regarding quality inquiries and complaints. Analyzes trends in complaints and develops action plans. Assures appropriate records and samples are retained on any issues investigated upon closure. Leads plant quality teams in the development, execution and tracking of partner corrective action plans that drive improved compliance, continuous improvement, and increased performance efficiencies. Develop KPIs, set improvement targets, track and report performance with the plant leadership team, division leaders and corporate team. Ensures that program and system implementation internally, and externally allows for solid traceability of all products produced and shipped. Approve new customer/product review and complete associated set-up documents (on-site launches as necessary). Stay current with all key regulatory and certifying agency guidelines. Ensure factories maintain all certifications needed to manage customer needs, e.g. SQF, Kosher, Halal, QAI or other. Establish performance objectives and criteria for plant Quality Assurance Managers. Drives quality and process improvement initiatives through the continuous improvement program. Provides goal setting direction, training and development for site Quality Managers and assists in the development of the quality team at these sites. Develops and executes SunOpta 360 Quality and Food Safety pillar with each manufacturing team in PBFB (aseptic and extraction) operations All other duties as assigned. Supervisory Responsibilities:Directly manages employees in the Quality department at all locations in aseptic and extraction in the PBFB division. Minimum Qualifications: BS in Food Science / Microbiology / Engineering required and/or extensive quality and product specific experience with a technical degree. Experience developing quality and food safety systems needed to manage low acid aseptic processing systems and compositionally stable products. Successful candidate must have quality systems development experience and can manage quality planning and direction at multiple manufacturing sites. Preferred Qualifications: MS degree in Quality or Food Science. Bilingual in Spanish. Experience with Oracle. Knowledge and Skills: Candidate must possess a strong working knowledge of food safety, HACCP, GMP's, FSMA requirements, sanitary design and controls, food regulations, statistical process control and basic food technology. Knowledge of TQM, JIPM or lean manufacturing practices is beneficial. Outstanding verbal, written, multi-tasking and presentation skills. Ability to create momentum and foster organizational change. Must have a working knowledge of MS Word and MS PowerPoint software, and be proficient with MS Excel software. Additional Considerations: This position will be based out of the SunOpta Corporate Office in Eden Prairie, MN. Travel Expectations: Estimated at 50% - 60% during acclimation period, followed by reduced travel afterwards. Long-term travel will likely be approximately 40%. Emergency travel is sometime required with very little notice. Working Environment: Approximately 40% of work is performed in an office environment; 60% of work may involve being in an agricultural or manufacturing/production environment. Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice. AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER EOE M/W/VET/DISABLED

Keywords: SunOpta, Eden Prairie , Director Quality Assurance, Executive , Eden Prairie, Minnesota