You know our brands, The Laughing Cow, Babybel, Boursin, Kaukauna, Merkts and Price's, which elicit smiles across America. They are daring, responsible and deliver dairy goodness. As you imagine, this mindset is contagious! Bel Brands USA is part of an international family company, which has led an ambitious growth strategy for 150 years and is today the world's third largest branded cheese company. If like our 12,000 employees globally, you want to have an impact in an entrepreneurial and demanding company, and share smiles around the world, dare to live the Bel experience!

Be you. Be ambitious. Be Bel.

Bel Brands USA has been named Chicago's "101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For" for 10 years in a row. The company is headquartered in Chicago and operates three manufacturing plants in Little Chute, WI, Leitchfield, KY, and Brookings, SD.

Job Description Summary

The Quality Assurance (QA) Manager will report to the Factory Director and be responsible for all lab and quality operations including coordinating lab testing requirements related to specifications, testing results and analysis, appropriate process data collection, lab equipment and materials needed. The QA Manager will be responsible for establishing and updating lab procedures, work instructions, and forms as needed and work with the Regional Quality & Regulatory Manager on the review and approval of ISO documents. The QA Manager will maintain and improve quality systems, documentation, software and certifications (policies and process must be FSSC22000 compliant). The QA Manager will have reporting responsibility for the Quality Services Supervisor, Plant Admin, Packaging Engineer and all Lab & Quality Technicians at the Little Chute location.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Manages the FSSC 22000 certification and supports ISO 45001 and 14001.
• Coordinates the analytical and microbiological testing of raw materials for finished product release. Responsible for updating test requirements per the raw materials testing guidelines established per FSSC22000, regulatory, and customer requirements.
• Reviews and releases laboratory data for analytical, microbiological, and pathogen results to meet the 4 day hold and release and any expedited requirements.
• Validates current lab processes, procedures, and test methods. Works closely with the Quality Services Supervisor in updating test parameters of finished product to ensure that existing and newly developed finished products are produced under conditions which follow Good Manufacturing Practices and Food Safety requirements.
• Manages in coordination with the Groupe, local crises, and contacts with administrations.
• Integrated Management System Team Leader.
• Oversees the COA review and approval process.
• Works closely with the Quality Services Supervisor in coordinating finished product and environmental sampling.
• Coordinates staffing support to Research & Development and Quality for projects, as assigned.
• Provides retention sample testing and technical support to the Quality Services Supervisor in resolving customer and consumer complaint responses in a timely manner.
• Provides technical support and input to the Food Safety Team on Corrective and Preventive Actions, Supplier Corrective Actions, Management of Change Requests, Equipment Design/Inspections, and any other quality or regulatory documentation.
• Provides staffing support to the Quality Services Supervisor and supervision of the calibration and record maintenance of quality related measurement devices for the plant and laboratory ISO certifications as needed.
• Communicates testing non-conformances (out of specification results) to production, quality, and shipping in a timely manner to support quality objectives, customer satisfaction, rework, and batch rejections.
• All other duties as assigned.

Safety, Environmental and Quality

• Follows all safety rules and procedures by working safely and ensuring safety of others.
• Follows all environmental protocols as applicable to the job.
• Follows all Good Manufacturing Practices as stated within the policy.
• Follow all food safety procedures.
• Maintains a sanitary and safe work area; performs housekeeping duties as necessary and/or required.
• Detects potentially hazardous conditions and problems and takes appropriate action to report and/or correct.

Knowledge and Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biology or related field required.
• Minimum 5 years of experience preferably in the food or dairy industry.
• Knowledge of audit methods and quality improvement tools (Statistics)
• Ability to work in a project team and communicate all across the group organization.
• Ability to work independently and drive strategic projects at the plant.
• HACCP Training/experience.
• International experience preferred.

• Audit methods and quality improvement tools (Statistics).

• Language skills: proficient in written and spoken English required; Spanish and French are helpful.
• Travel required up to 20%.

Competencies and Abilities

• Ability to communicate and develop good working relationships with team members.
• Strong management skills with the ability to clearly communicate expectations and motivate peers, direct reports and other interested parties.
• Excellent communication skills; understands audience and adjusts communication to drive desired results.
• Must be able to accurately and efficiently perform all job duties with a sense of urgency.
• Exhibit Bel’s core values of:
• CARE
  • Inspire and grow self and others by developing yourself and others through challenge and support with honest constructive feedback
  • Act with people and planet front of mind in all decisions and actions.
• DARE
  • Think bold, act fast by being ambitious with ideas and initiatives. Make decisions and deliver quickly.
  • Simply and focus by prioritizing what delivers the most value. Promote simplicity and remove complications.
• COMMIT
  • Play to win as a team by taking accountability to deliver on results and maximize impact by actively collaborating.
  • Make customers smile by improving internal and external customer satisfaction in everything we do.
  
  

Performance Expectations: Quality, accuracy, timeliness, reliability, and thoroughness of work performed; ability to gain the trust and respect of management, coworkers, customers, and brokers; maintain the integrity of confidential business and product information; ability to communicate effectively and develop good working relationships with other employees is essential to accomplish goals and objectives of the department.

Working Conditions: Work is performed largely in an office environment. Hours of work will generally be during regular business hours with at least 40 hours a week. At times there will be some variation in work hours due to special projects, deadlines and other concerns.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

Acknowledgement: This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed by employee assigned to this position. It does not state or imply that these are the only duties and responsibilities assigned to the job. The employee may be required to perform other job-related duties as requested by management. All requirements are subject to change over time and to possible modifications to reasonably accommodate individuals with a disability.

Bel Brands is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, disability status or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Bel Brands also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. It is also Bel Brand’s policy to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws respecting consideration of unemployment status in making hiring decisions.

Bel Brands is committed to recruiting, hiring and promoting people with disabilities and veterans. If you need an accommodation or assistance in using the website, please call 312-462-1500.

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