FSQ Supervisor

About SunOpta

SunOpta delivers customized supply chain solutions and innovation for top brands, retailers and foodservice providers across a broad portfolio of beverages, broths and better-for-you snacks. With over 50 years of expertise, SunOpta fuels customers' growth with high-quality, sustainability-forward solutions distributed through retail, club, foodservice and e-commerce channels across North America.

Job Summary:

This position provides leadership for laboratory operations and ensures the technician team reviews incoming raw materials and packaging to meet specifications. Additionally, ensures that finished goods produced in the manufacturing processes meet specifications and in-process measures. FSQ supervisor supports the plant leadership team as appropriate.

Essential Functions of the Job:

• Provide leadership and daily operation of plant FSQ and Micro laboratories.
• Establish controls as needed to verify lab procedures and equipment calibration.
• Collaborate with Corporate FSQ to conduct and report lab proficiency testing.
• Ensure effective laboratory safety procedures and required training, tools and record keeping are managed through site leadership.
• Works with Corporate and Plant Leadership team to sustain effective organizational design; roles are correctly organized, defined and communicated to all laboratory employees.
• Daily collaboration with Quality, Operations, and Maintenance teams to achieve plant goals.
• Leverages specification system for product and packaging specifications and collaborates with Quality Engineer to generate batch sheets and process instructions.
• Create and maintain documents specific to laboratory operations (ie: SOP's, SSOP's).
• Lead incoming ingredient vendor approvals and organize supplier approval questionnaires
• Ensures COA's are generated and shared appropriately with internal and external customers.
• Responsible for coordinating with Quality team the appropriate actions for holds including communication, testing, and disposition as needed.
• Develop the best methods and drive continuous improvement for FSQ laboratory operations.
• All other duties, as assigned.

Key Accountabilities:

Quality:

• Participate on Food Safety or Food Defense team (if applicable).
• Strong working knowledge of Food Safety, i.e.: SQF code, development/maintenance of Food Safety Plans/HACCP, FSMA requirements, Food Defense, GMP's, sanitary design and controls, local/state/federal food regulations and food technology.

Safety:

• Follow all facility human and food safety policies including proper use of PPE.
• Report all near misses and accidents to the production supervisor.

Housekeeping:

• Maintain a clean and organized work area.
• Cooperates with other shifts and management team for facility housekeeping endeavors.

Communication:

• Ensure teamwork with management and operators occurs during each scheduled shift.
• Maintains effective communication with members of the cross-functional team.

Teamwork and Training:

• Promote and contribute to the development of teamwork among production team members.
• Assist in coaching and training team members.

Personal Development:

• Continuous learning of the Aseptic batching, sterilization, and filling processes.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Direct supervision of laboratory staff.
• Administrative responsibility for laboratory staff annual goal setting and performance management processes.
• Recruiting, hiring and retention of laboratory staff.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Biology, Chemistry, Food Science/Technology or related field.
• Two to five years related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in a food and beverage manufacturing environment.

• Knowledge of Continuous Improvement practices.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Ability to work effectively in a team-based environment.
• Able to manage self and tasks to meet deadlines, while handling multiple tasks concurrently.
• SQF Practitioner.
• Back up PCQI.

Additional Considerations:

• Location: This role with be at the MN Street SunOpta Plant in Alexandria, MN.
• Shift: This will be a 1st Shift Opportunity, 8am to 5 pm, Monday - Friday. Some flexibility may be needed.
• Travel: Travel (less than 10%) may be required to various SunOpta locations and for meetings or other job-related functions.
• Work Environment: Approximately 50% of the work for this role is performed in a laboratory environment and 50% involves being in a plant / manufacturing environment.

Featured benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Paid Family leave
• Paid maternity leave
• 401(k) with Match
• Voluntary Life, Accident, Critical Illness and Hospital indemnity
• Paid Holidays
• Tuition assistance
• Short-term and Long-term Disability insurance

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
EOE M/W/VET/DISABLED