Quality Assurance Manager

Core Responsibilities

• Cascade quality strategy to the site leadership team.
• Ensure that all work activities of plant employees are performed with attention to the highest standards of quality, food safety, regulatory compliance with all Ingredion, certification body, customer, or legal requirements…doing things right the first time.
• Track & monitor plant quality performance. Ensure non-conformances/non-compliances are identified, addressed, corrected, and resolved…see something, say something.
• Ensure the Process Technical Specifications (PTS) or Minimum Mandatory Sampling Plan is properly executed and aligned with regional/global requirements.
• Foster a continuous improvement mindset with the plant quality teams. Support open dialogue to address opportunities in operational efficiencies, quality enhancements or cost reduction initiatives.
• Lead quality change management: review all new products, process changes and specification changes for the plant. Ensure the quality standards are being met prior to approving and changes.
• Ensure IPS Quality Pillar Food Safety standards are implemented and maintained across the plant operations.
• Drive the standardization and execution of quality methods/processes to ensure consistent and repeatable results (data) while maintaining TRUST in the results used for decision making.
• Act as the gate keeper for non-conforming product disposition. Prevent the release of non-conforming product to customers through the effective management of deviations and controls. Provide quality input to the disposition process for non-conforming products or materials as well as slow moving and obsolete (BRaD) raw materials and finished goods, minimizing stock write-off / write down.
• Report the quality KPI’s for the plant adhering to the Global KPI calculation policies. Ensure all relevant data is included in the roll up of plant quality results.
• Immediately report major quality and/or food safety failures to your line manager and utilize the regional/global quality resources to more quickly and effectively manage issues.
• Lead the plant quality and operations teams to fully utilize the quality modules to ensure required documentation is collected and maintained for all Ingredion, certification body, customer, or legal requirements.
• Collaborate with regional/global supplier quality to manage raw material compliance and ensure supplier conformance through the TraceGains system.
• Serve as the primary contact for external audits and lead customer, regulatory and certification audits for the plant. Respond in a timely and professional manner to audit non-conformances and any customer and/or regulatory agency inquiries. Coordinate with sales/commercial teams as needed.
• Drive reduction in customer complaints, effectively addressing root causes / systemic issues and improved response times.
• Interface with other functional teams to collaborate on problem products and resolve manufacturing quality challenges.
• Improve and develop the plant quality culture. Coordinate Quality Month activities and communication for the plant.

Qualified Candidates Will Have

• Bachelor degree in Chemical, Biology, Chemical biology, Biotechnology, Food technology and Food science or relevant.
• Minimum five (5) years in a leadership role with relevant experience is required with experience in Quality QA/QC supervisory role, manufacturing, engineering, Continuous Improvement (CI), Quality Analytics, or Supplier Management (SQA) roles a plus.
• Good in English communication.
• Proficiency in IPS / ISO 9001 / ISO 17025 / HACCP / GFSI Schemes (FSSC 22000/BRC/IFS/SQF) / Halal / Kosher / Organic / Six Sigma or Lean Manufacturing
• Knowledge in GMP’s, inspection/auditing guidelines, sanitation, food regulations, pest control, and product safety.

You will be best suited for the role if you have

• Excellent organizational and leadership abilities.
• Experience in leading strategies and implementing standards to drive improvement.
• Ability to lead by example and able to balance Ingredion quality standards with cost impacts to the plant and not jeopardize the company reputation.
• Ability to lead through influence and align multiple stakeholders behind compelling plans – reduces complex issues to simple principles to gain alignment and understanding. Strong problem-solving skills using advanced statistical techniques.
• Customer focused – balance customer and regulatory needs with business goals. Seen as a credible technical leader in customer and/or external interactions.
• Ability le to utilize data to make decisions to improve quality / customer lead times, optimize inventory and minimize complexity / reduce costs.