RETORT QUALITY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
This company is America's leading Rice Company. For nearly a century, this company has been processing, marketing and distributing rice and rice products throughout the United States and around the world. Today, they are America's first family of rice brands with some of the nation's best-known names in rice.
SUMMARY
· Accountable for planning and scheduling activities of employees and managing supplies in order to meet required key performance indicators (KPI) for assigned work area and achieving stated targets for safety, quality, value and cost (S,Q,V,C).
· Initially responsible for driving Retort Pilot Plant and Product Development initiatives aimed at ensuring product vitality and innovations in production methods. Provide key support for vision and long-term business strategy of shelf stable product lines. Drive development activities for product formulations, processing methods and protocol for quality and food safety. May require extended travel to Spain to observe and learn details of existing shelf stable product lines.
· Ultimately, responsibilities of this role include the testing, verification, and monitoring of rice quality before, during and after retort processing. In addition, supervising and training a team of quality control technicians who are responsible for auditing the Retort Department’s internal policies and procedures and ensuring that State and Federal guidelines are followed on the production floor and throughout the retort operation.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Process: Manages resources, oversees and monitors execution of department objectives.
Collaborates with plant operating personnel to:
a. Ensure compliance with all internal and external procedures and regulations (HACCP, GMPs and applicable FDA/USDA regulations
b. Troubleshoots, identifies and addresses work processes and equipment issues
c. Communicate audit findings to Operations Management that accurately report results.
d. Execute capital and facility improvements, including installation and operation of pilot equipment and full scale retort processing and packaging equipment
e. Formulate recipes and processes for new product development; ensure results are properly documented and statistically sound
People: Builds alignment, educates and trains employees in S,Q,V,C principles and application in role
a. Partner with respective departments (e.g. marketing, quality, operations, engineering) to deliver on project commitments
b. Plan and schedule employee development activities that are designed to assist employees in meeting performance requirements
c. Identifies and addresses employee and HR issues; Maintains general understanding of bargaining agreement
Financial: Manages resources, controls resource costs in line with operating budget
a. Provides input to operating budget
b. Operates and adheres to budget standards regarding staffing and overtime costs and materials usage
c. Tracks work area actuals to budget and explains variances to plan; Recommends corrective action
d. Identifies and executes action plans
Strategic: Identifies and implements improvement opportunities and resolve problems
a. Analyzes processes, systems, equipment and performance trends across shifts and work areas; establish standards and system to monitor results
b. Determines actions required to make improvements; Ensures implementation
c. Champions new product development; initiates development and implementation of new formulation approached and techniques
QUALIFICATIONS:
· B.S. Food Science or Engineering field
· MUST HAVE >5 years Quality Control/Assurance Management experience within Food Manufacturing industry
- MUST HAVE >3 years Retort / Thermal Processing experience in the FOOD industry
- MUST HAVE R&D Product Development experience
· Demonstrated Retort pilot plant start-up experience in a food environment
- Experience in transferring the validated process into a production scale up and
- Experience as the lead liaison in the approval process with USDA and FDA.
· Demonstrated training experience; training material need to be developed such that production personnel can fully learn the process and legal aspects of the operation
- Documented product development experience
- Strong technical background with experience in processing of food products
- Demonstrated Technical skills to perform in area of specialty
- Demonstrated understanding and ability to troubleshoot all activity, systems and processes under supervision
- Understands business of the company
· Models Lean manufacturing principles
***This person will be asked to travel to Spain and spend extended time during the initial months of their employment. I would suggest that a minimum of 2 months, but potentially 6 months could be required.***
KNOWLEDGE / SKILL / ABILITY
- Possesses a R&D and Quality background, emphasis in Development, meaning that they have been involved in process and product development from a technical/manufacturing perspective in the food industry.
- Primary focus would be a candidate that has worked through a retort startup in a production scale. A perfect candidate would have a food science & engineering education with 5-10 years of direct hands on experience.
- This person would lead the installation, startup and validation of processes and products that will be cleared by the USDA/Process authority in the pilot process. In addition, this person would assume the responsibilities for transferring the validated process into a production scale up and serve as the lead liaison in approval process with USDA and FDA.
- This person will need to be highly literate on the regulations pertaining to equipment installation, startup, processing operations and sanitation of all processes, including but not limited to technical writing of company policy and procedures, documenting all necessary process runs and attaining all approvals with USDA/FDA.
- Throughout this process a training process will need to be developed such that production personnel can fully learn the process and legal aspects of the operation.
- Perform effective problem solving and team building
- Ability to read, write and comprehend written and spoken English
- Ability to effectively prepare and interpret written communications and reports
- Able to apply general math principles including ratios and basic statistics
- Ability to understand and use all company software applications and automated systems
- Understand and properly utilize various lab testing equipment
- Care and use of required onsite facility personal protection equipment
· Able to respond to emergency call outs
CORE COMPETENCIES
Results Orientation - Focuses on meeting or exceeding goals. Achieves superior performance by setting clear goals and expectations, tracking progress against goals, ensuring feedback, and addressing performance problems and issues promptly
Teamwork - Works cooperatively with others as a team to achieve goals. Enables other groups to work as a cohesive team
Continuous Improvement - Initiates, supports, and implements changes that lead to continual improvement of performance
Communication - Clearly conveys information, on time, to those who need it, so that the audience understands and retains it. Actively listens to ensure own understanding
Commitment to Quality - Ensures work and information are complete, accurate, and meet all specified standards
Personal Credibility - Demonstrates concern that one be perceived as responsible, reliable and trustworthy
LEADERSHIP
Initiative - Identifies what needs to be done and does it before being asked or required to
Influencing Others - Gains others’ support for ideas, implementing solutions, and achieving goals
Problem Solving - Uses a logical, systematic approach to resolve problems
Strategic Focus - Plans, makes decisions, and takes actions that support a long-range goal or vision that supports the company’s competitive position
Business Insight - Decisions and actions align with the company’s profit strategy
Salary: competitive; Benefits; Relocation; EOE; No sponsorship available with this company
