Job Information
Simmons Pet Food Quality Engineer in Emporia, Kansas
This job was posted by https://www.kansasworks.com : For more information, please see: https://www.kansasworks.com/jobs/13091654
Leads compliance with Quality, Food Safety, and Regulatory requirements. Connects and integrates internal and external Quality Assurance procedures, related regulatory agency activity, detecting/correcting out of specification situations, and optimizing product and process implementation. Supports other departments by ensuring quality awareness and that regulatory requirements are communicated.
Essential Position Responsibilities -This is a salary exempt position
Leads quality, food safety, and regulatory programs.Oversees HACCP, GMP, SSOP, GFSI, Quality, and related programs to ensure customer expectations and regulatory requirements are met. Ensures quality is performed in a manner which meets or exceeds all company and customer guidelines. Providing risk analysis and technical expertise to drive root cause to problem areas. Demonstrates knowledge of the quality, food safety, and regulatory requirements related to these programs. Utilizes corrective action and preventive action methods to ensure sustained success.
Process Champion.Fits new customer requirements into existing processes while driving continuous improvement. Meets with customers, independent of supervisor, and with sales account manager to define scope of new projects. Assists in the evaluation of projects and monitoring efforts. Demonstrates leadership qualities with respect to process/product design capabilities with strong communication skills. Works closely with customer or supplier technical representatives and may involve test coordination based on equipment availability. Maintains competence as a scientist by attending technical meetings to identify new opportunities with respect to processes/products.
Ensures open communication with personnel.Guides and develops cooperative relationships between plant and quality personnel. Effectively communicates specifications, quality, and food safety related requirements to necessary personnel. Maintains open communication with facility personnel on quality issues and topics. Leads and/or participates in meetings with quality and/or production personnel to ensure communication with all levels of facility personnel on quality and food safety related topics. Prepares and maintains written programs and documentation to ensure effective communication of plant programs, procedures, and quality inspection requirements.
Ensures open communication with customers and regulatory personnel.Maintains open communication with customers and/or regulatory personnel on quality issues, customer expectations, and regulatory requirements. Leads and/or participates in meetings with appropriate customers and regulatory personnel to ensure expectations are understood and maintained. Prepares and maintains written programs and documentation to ensure effective communication of customer expectations and/or regulatory requirements. Effectively communicates responses to customer comments, regulatory infractions, and other issues as necessary.
Facilitates customer interaction.Ensures customer specifications are being followed and any deviations to specifications are addressed. Supports communication on all concerns customers may have. Ensures customer requested data is provided timely and accurately. Works to identify and address relevant trends.
Equipment Validation (relevant if/when area of focus is process-related).Participates in the calibration of new product lines, equipment changes, production line rate changes, or packaging changes. Screens alternate suppliers of manufacturing and product evaluation equipment, summarizes strengths and weaknesses of each option and makes recommendations accordingly. Qualifies new equipment by conducting Equipment Verification studies which include the support of Installati n Qualification (IQ) and Operational Qualification (OQ) and ownership of Product Qualification (PQ) Protocols. Participates in online equipment validation, allowing early detection of process errors and product quality issues. Conducts pilot plant tests internally or at supplier facilities to verify new process/formulation capabilities.
Manages employees.Supervises employees work activities and monitors work performance. Collaborates with Human Resources to screen, interview and hire candidates. Administers disciplinary actions and recommends performance improvement actions in collaboration with the HR Manager. Monitors work performance and recommends compensation decisions based on guidelines. Follows Simmons values to develop and maintain a favorable working relationship with all employees. Promotes a cooperative and harmonious environment to facilitate positive employee morale, productivity, and continued improvement.
Participates as a member of the Team. Participates in the ongoing development, communication and implementation of team concepts, programs and policies; coordinates work to ensure best practices with all team members. Attends appropriate team meetings. As a member of the Team, fosters strong cohesivene