Quality Assurance Manager

COMPANY DESCRIPTION
At Beyond Meat, we started with simple questions. Why do you need an animal to create meat? Why can’t you build meat directly from plants? Thus, we make plant-based meats that allow families to eat more, not less, of the traditional dishes they love while feeling great about the health, sustainability, and animal welfare benefits of plant protein. Our goal is to bring exciting change to the plate—and Beyond.
OVERVIEW
The Quality Assurance Manager’s primary role is to ensure that all food products produced meet requirements of customers, regulatory authorities, and the Company.  The Quality Assurance Manager is responsible for the overall coordination and implementation of quality control programs and procedures necessary to meet internal and customer specific quality control standards

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work closely with executive management on proactively improving quality assurance program
• Maintain quality programs at the COMO or DEPA manufacturing location
• Prepare audit reports and action plans for meeting BYMT standards
• Conduct annual validations of compliance to BYMT standards
• Lead SQF certification and program maintenance
• Lead and maintain other certifications including Non-GMO Project and Kosher
• Support production at manufacturing locations in producing top quality products that meet internal specifications
• Responsible for conducting nutritional audits on current production as needed
• Lead packaging update projects (Nutrition Facts Panel, Ingredient Statement, certifications, and claims)
• Champion quality and food safety initiatives to monitor and document product, facility, and worker compliance
• Ensure plant audit corrective action plans are implemented in a timely manner
• Organize food safety training documentation and tools and monitor effectiveness of training programs for production
• Interface with all regulatory agencies, certification bodies, and customers and ensure compliance of manufacturing facilities
• Review and maintain product specifications, certificates of analysis, and all other QA documents
• Conduct relevant physical, chemical, and microbiological tests on raw materials, WIP items, and finished products per specifications
• Oversee all plants HACCP, pre-requisite quality programs, and all quality/food safety related programs to meet internal, regulatory, and/or customer requirements
• Ensure all sanitation and food safety guidelines are being met throughout the manufacturing facilities
• Review lab testing results, testing requirements, and procedures on BYMT products and processing environments
• Generate reports describing QA activities, trends, and expenditures as well as communicate findings and action plans to necessary/appropriate parties
• Help with the tasting process and cuttings to ensure that all products are meeting company standards
• Respond to food safety related concerns and complaints with corrective action reports
• Manage and provide technical support for BYMT internal quality lab.  Achieve and maintain A2LA certification and compliance with defined standards
• Assist with method development, modification, and validation of new methods for lab testing
• Attend industry educational training's, seminars, and events to understand industry best practices and provide technical support to BYMT team
• Manage quality budget including testing costs (using internal and external labs), equipment costs, and headcount of quality team (including QA Techs and Lab Techs)
• Assist accounting and supply chain with BOM development and management for BYMT products produced at COMO and co-manufacturing facilities
• Source alternative lower-cost and/or back-up suppliers for all raw materials with an emphasis on proteins, flavors, and other high-risk ingredients.  Assist with plant trials of these alternate suppliers for ultimate approval through corporate cuttings
• Prepare and maintain customer documentation and requests for information
• Lead shelf-life studies of existing products to validate instructions, microbial limits, and organoleptic properties
• Responsible for the supervision of the QA Supervisor, Document Control Specialist, Food Safety Quality Systems Supervisor, Senior Lab Tech, and Lab Techs

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelors of Science degree in Food Science or Microbiology preferred or an equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience may be considered
• Thorough knowledge of GMP, FDA/USDA and Food Safety, SOP’s, and SQF
• Leadership skills, focused on results, employee engagement, decision making, teamwork, and change management
• Strong mathematical skills
• Strong PC skills, including MS office programs
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, problem solving, and organizational skills
• The employee must have the ability to quantitatively review technical procedures and representative regulations.  In addition, must be capable of writing detailed reports and general day-to-day oversight and related correspondence
• The ability to effectively present information to groups and respond to questions from peers, supervisors, and managers is essential
• Ability to multi-task and set priorities within Quality Assurance
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a food and/or beverage manufacturing environment

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• This position requires the following break out of a typical day:  70% desk duties and 30% production floor duties.  Moderate computer use, emails, and phone calls
• Office, production, and warehouse floor environment
• Travel required
• Standard hours are 6:30 am – 6:30 pm, Monday - Friday
• Overtime as required

Beyond Meat is an equal employment opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, ancestry, veteran status, marital status, gender identify, sexual orientation, national origin, liability for military service, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. If you are interested in learning the status of your application, please note you will be contacted directly by the appropriate human resources contact person if you are selected for further consideration. Beyond Meat reserves the right to defer or close a vacancy at any time.