Quality Assurance Manager

Welcome to the unexpected delight of plant-based exploration We're the creators of a revolutionary cheese alternative that tastes, shreds, melts and stretches like traditional cheese. Today, as plant-based food grows in popularity, that spirit of innovation continues to inspire our team.

We believe in pioneering plant-based breakthroughs that delight people and planet. Our portfolio of great tasting foods provides an opportunity for everyone to gather around the table, whether you have food allergies, are flexitarian, vegan, vegetarian, or just plant-based curious

We're one big family of food-loving Daiyans, and we're always on the lookout for people who share our passion, our vision, and our ability to make each other smile.

**SUMMARY**

The Quality Assurance (QA) Manager will provide leadership and direction for the Quality Assurance program with an emphasis on quality systems documentation, product compliance to customer specifications, continuous product quality improvement, plant cleaning and sanitation, product safety and regulatory management. The QA Manager will also implement, and maintain the Quality program, drive CQI projects to ensure timely completion and develop KPIs.

**DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES**
- Develop and implement Quality Assurance Programs to ensure compliance with SQF, CFIA, USFDA Code of Federal Regulations, Kosher, GF, HACCP, GMP standards and customer specific standards.
- Report any SQF, GF and any other audit (or not) compliance violations immediately to the Director or FSQA and Regulatory Affairs.
- Responsible of meeting quality, safety and regulatory requirements of products produced at the plant.
- Ensure compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices and Food Safety Programs and manage customers and third-party audits.
- Responsible for compliance to customers and regulatory requirements.
- Study to keep herself/himself up to date with new local, state and federal food safety regulations as outlined by the CFIA/Health Canada and FDA and staying abreast of internal, external and international rules and regulations pertaining to manufacturing, for the purpose of supporting regulatory team and to ensure a company's compliance.
- Ensure to be up to date with industry specific manuals and protocols related to the equipment calibration (e.g slight deviations in calibrations of equipment or a malfunctioning pH meter can throw everything off).
- Work with Plant production Manager to ensure QA function supports efficient production process, and profitability by promoting 1st pass quality and reducing waste.
- Attend to product related customer inquiry and review, analyze and trend customer complaints and evaluate the efficiency of corrective actions.
- Develop standard operating procedures for processes and procedures in the operations.
- Develop and communicate real time quality information that accurately reflects product and process quality. Responsible for 1st pass quality score card work with relevant stakeholders for maintain the score card as close or at 100% pass rate.
- Troubleshoot and resolve product quality problems and process deviations and work with the support team and stakeholders to develop solutions/corrective actions.
- Trend and assess on daily basis any hold related incident and ensure to proactively work with relevant stakeholders on finding resolution and hold incidents reduction.
- Ensure that incoming materials (ingredients and packaging and lab tools and equipment) comply with manufacturer standards/specs and ensure that it is done in the most efficient way considering gaps in time and cost efficient inspections.
- Review on routine and prescribed frequency statistical data collected by QA/QC team and trend it to identify quality and food safety problems that needs to be corrected and/or improved. Any food safety or quality risk identify thru data analyzing is to be reported directly to FSQR Director
- Develop and monitor Continuous improvement programs for the main plant aiming to improve overall quality and reduce number of defects (NCRs) and manufacturing costs.
- Develop training materials, guide, coach and educate other teams/departments on GMP, SQF and QA processes.
- Ensure that training materials and awareness programs are implemented to ensure employees are up to date with quality systems requirements through annual training and toolbox talks as required.
- Responsible for managing the Quality Assurance Team, team members recruitments and provide to the team guidance and support needed for onboarding new hires and for supporting current staff on their day-to-day work.
- Ensure participation and support by QA staff in Daiya Innovation projects, CQI process, and Ops/QA and R&D/QA joint meetings.
- Live and demonstrate the true Daiya core values.
- Ensure that team foster good and healthy relationships within QA department equally as within overall Daiya collective.
- Promote culture of quality and run awareness, and award/recognition programs.