Quality Assurance Manager

• Jun 2023 - Present

Site Quality Manager

• Jun 2022 - Jun 2023

Director of Food Safety and Quality Assurance

• Dec 2016 - Apr 2021

Provided mentoring, support, and direction to Farm Compliance and Grower Support teams. Work with VP-QA to deliver against Food Safety and Quality strategic goals and improvement plans. Provide direction to assure that the facilities have the systems, knowledge, capabilities, and practices to comply with all internal Quality Assurance and Food Safety policies and procedures in addition to all pertinent FDA, USDA, State, and customer requirements. Developed Company’s SQF Systems Support sales and business with key customer meetings, visits/audits and ensure follow up by the plant on any required quality/food safety action items. Ensure the manufacturing sites can deliver on the expectations set forth in customer agreement, product formulations and finished good specifications. Compliance to GFSI, FSMA, SQF, Internal Quality Assurance/Food Safety Programs and Policies- Ensured Food Quality and Food Safety Plans are current, relevant and are being followed and implemented. Ensured all QP's/CCP's are appropriate and records are complete and accurate. Developed and implemented Quality Systems to maintain SQF Certification Review annually Food Safety Assessment of all supplier (serve as the supplier auditor) Develop KPI metrics for customer complaints. Monitor customer complaints and execute root cause analysis Develop HACCP Team Provide leadership during all third-party audits and plant certifications (Organic, NON-GMO, Kosher and Certified Humane) Responsible for ensuring that suppliers and co-manufacturers for Vital Farms products meet Vital Farms standards for quality, safety, consistency and regulatory compliance. Conduct a risk assessment of suppliers, co-manufacturers and 3rd Party warehouses Plan, coordinate, and conduct audits; develop risk-based schedule and prepare reports on audits and corrective actions Determine frequency, and facilitate management review, with suppliers, co-manufacturers and 3rd Party warehouses based on program goals. Show less

Area Production Manager

• Oct 2016 - Dec 2016

•Oversee and lead the implementation of the QRMP (Quality Risk Management Process) system and operational standards as outlined in the plant accountability list•Adhere to Kraft Heinz quality standards to ensure product quality and Food Safety by following Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP’s), standard operating procedures (SOP’s) and Kraft Heinz specifications•Prepare departmental costs and variances regarding productivity, short and long-range planning, labor scheduling, product scheduling, raw materials, packaging supplies, product weights, sanitation and housekeeping•Organized and facilitate production line activities to ensure conformance to establish requirements regarding quality, safety, employee- relations, productivity and cost scheduled volume outputs•Work with Product Development, Suppliers, Engineering, Quality, and Factory Employees in finding innovative ways to improve the Quality and productivity of our Products•Support Employee involvement in Safety, Analytical Problem Solving, Project Planning, Vendor and Customer Relations, fostering a Team atmosphere. Monitor and update all area practices and policies for compliance•Work with Product Supply Group in weekly scheduling of the Packaging and Processing•Manage operations to achieve daily efficiencies in keeping with established standards•Manage budget of assigned department, in accordance with annual productivity improvement targets•Suggesting new solutions to production problems and ways to improve the efficiency of an operation•Assist and partner with business leaders on implementation of process improvement (Six Sigma / Lean), including leading change initiatives, planning, and facilitation•Oversee development of high performing work teams within department through coaching, training and engaging team members through effective cascading of goals, visual performance boards and ongoing communications of factory changes and performance. Show less

Sr Quality System Supervisor

• Apr 2015 - Oct 2016

Implement and assure compliance to all Food Safety, Regulatory, and Quality policies•Lead implementation of Kraft Heinz QMS (Quality Management System) and associated policies at plant site •Ensure FDA regulations and respective plant programs are in compliance. •Maintain robust food safety program (e.g. HACCP, sanitation, pest control, GMP, traceability) •Ensure implementation of and compliance to Sanitation policies, programs, and procedures •Ensure compliance /audit readiness •Ensure plant is running to testing/MSA standards and calibrate to micro and analytical methods •Develop plant Quality KPIs and scorecard •Review quality management system metrics •Manage plant quality labs to ensure all methods•Translate consumer/customer requirements (specifications), HACCP plans, Quality Policies, and regulations into a site control plan •Ensure compliance to the control plan to deliver Food Safety, Regulatory, and Critical to QualityDrive Continuous Improvement•Identify and eliminate defects of any size or variation •Track, report, and review the Quality Performance Indicators on a regular basis •Monitor process capability against specifications and drive improvement utilizing statistical tools Resolve Consumer Complaints/Quality issues•Own customer/consumer complaint investigation and resolution •Develop, implement and communicate effective product containment program to ensure appropriate control of quality/food safety defects. •Implement a closed loop system of monitoring and control to ensure consumer/customer requirements are achieved Champion Quality at the plant•As a member of the Plant Leadership Team, influence plant leadership to ensure all quality programs and systems are implemented effectively •Coach/develop all plant leaders in regards to quality and statistical tools •Report events/status/progress to Plant Manager and BU Quality leader in a timely and effective manner •Execute Food Safety, Quality & Sanitation training at local site Show less

Quality Assurance Manager

• Sep 2012 - Apr 2015

• Manage the quality and food safety systems for the facility in accordance with corporate directives and requirements • Lead the facility HACCP team and Biosecurity programs • Manage facility regulatory, customer, kosher and third party certification compliance programs • Oversee quality related documentation and certifications • Perform internal and external audits to support the Quality Management System • Provide hands on activity and management for the performance of microbiological and chemistry related testing related to product requirements • Produce reporting for quality results and perform corrective action initiatives • Lead internal improvement and project management teams as assigned • Assist in the training of facility teams for quality related activities • Assist with mock recalls and other actions to test the systems for compliance • Manage internal databases for documentation and testing data • Disposition nonconforming product and raw materials Show less

Sanitation Team Leader

• Feb 2012 - Sep 2012

• Manage daily plant sanitation activities • Lead the facility sanitation team • Perform internal audits and assist in the training of facility teams for sanitation practices • Review sanitation practices and introduce continuous improvement tool • Provide hands on activity and management for the performance of sanitation related testing • Create and manage SSOP’s • Manage daily plant sanitation activities • Lead the facility sanitation team • Perform internal audits and assist in the training of facility teams for sanitation practices • Review sanitation practices and introduce continuous improvement tool • Provide hands on activity and management for the performance of sanitation related testing • Create and manage SSOP’s

Operations Team Leader I

• Feb 1999 - Jan 2012

• Responsible for managing day to day results of 8 Processing systems, 10 packaging systems, and 150+ employees on 3rd shift • Accountable for Line Operation Specialist development and mapping/executing department initiatives to achieve Department objectives, with heavy focus on leveraging Continuous Improvement Processes. • Drive successful Phase Progression roll out on production lines, o Increase system utilization o Reduce unplanned downtime o Reduce conversion loss • Quick Change Over Tool Owner • Developing Team Leader Job Task Analysis • Oversee plant wet sanitation programs • Drive sanitation plant goals • Reduce conversion lost from 1MM to 100K Show less