Quality Assurance Manager (Snack Food Manufacturing) - job 1 of 2

The Quality Assurance Manager at Shearer’s is responsible for overseeing quality assurance, food safety, and sanitation programs at the Waterford facility. This includes conducting quality audits, managing food safety plans, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, and providing training to plant personnel to uphold high food quality standards.

To be considered for the Quality Assurance Manager position at Shearer’s, candidates should hold a bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, or a related science field. Additionally, a minimum of five years of experience in Quality Assurance and Food Safety management, along with certifications like SQF Practitioner and Preventive Controls Qualified Individual, are essential.

Shearer’s places a strong emphasis on food safety and quality assurance by implementing comprehensive quality management systems, conducting regular audits, and providing ongoing training to employees. The Quality Assurance Manager leads these initiatives, ensuring compliance with recognized standards such as SQF and GMP.

At Shearer’s, Quality Assurance Managers can benefit from various career growth opportunities, including moving into higher leadership roles within the organization or specializing in areas such as food safety regulation compliance or process improvement. The diverse nature of the snack manufacturing industry also opens paths for cross-functional collaboration and skill development.

The work environment for a Quality Assurance Manager at Shearer’s is collaborative and fast-paced, situated within a supportive team that prioritizes food quality and safety. You will engage with various departments while maintaining a focus on continuous improvement and ensuring the highest standards of quality in snack production.

A strong answer would detail specific strategies such as implementing comprehensive quality management systems, regularly conducting audits, developing training programs for employees, and utilizing statistical process control techniques to monitor and improve quality.

You should explain your approach to responding to customer complaints: promptly addressing the issue, investigating the root cause, and working collaboratively with relevant teams to implement corrective measures and prevent future occurrences.

Highlight your knowledge and direct experience with SQF standards, including how you've implemented them in past roles, the audits you've conducted, and the specific practices you've overseen to ensure compliance within a food manufacturing environment.

Provide a concrete example illustrating a specific food safety protocol you improved, detailing how you identified the need for change, the actions you took, and the outcomes resulting from your improvements.

Discuss your methods for staying informed, such as attending industry conferences, participating in webinars, reading professional literature, and maintaining active memberships in relevant organizations.

Talk about how you leverage data analysis to track quality metrics, identify trends, troubleshoot issues, and inform improvements in processes. Give examples of tools or software you use and how data has led to past successes.

Explain your approach to training, which may include developing customized training programs, conducting hands-on workshops, and utilizing visual aids or simulations to enhance learning and encourage compliance with quality and food safety standards.

Discuss the importance of fostering a collaborative environment, where you promote open communication, regular meetings, and joint problem-solving initiatives to align quality assurance goals with production needs.

Provide a relevant challenge you encountered, detailing your problem-solving process, the strategies you employed, and the positive results that followed your actions.

Share your motivation for wanting to work at Shearer’s, highlighting your passion for the snack food industry, appreciation for the company’s commitment to quality and safety, and desire to contribute to a well-respected organization.