Director of Quality Assurance and Food Safety Just like our farm-fresh milk and super premium ice cream, a career at Oberweis is simply the best! Join our amazing team of friendly faces to work in a fun, goal-oriented work environment. With competitive salaries, benefits and perks, you'll soon find that the sweetest careers begin at Oberweis! SUMMARY POSITION DESCRIPTION The Director Quality Assurance and Food Safety position will prove to be exciting as well as challenging. We are looking for the right person to lead our quality initiatives while building a successful and long-term career. This position will be in the forefront of maintaining, building, and executing the highest quality standards for the world's best milk and ice cream. This position will report to the President. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The duties and responsibilities of the Director of Quality Assurance and Food Safety will be, but not limited, too:
- Leading the Quality Control and Sanitation Teams
- Manage Quality Assurance and Control programs
- Direct the daily laboratory workloads and activities which include, but are not limited to:
- Performing antibiotic and bacteriological tests in addition to measuring the butterfat of raw and pasteurized milk and milk products;
- Measuring, quantitatively, the quality of products as they are produced; recording weights, volumes, densities, lot numbers, inclusion usage, etc.;
- Performing plant wide environmental bacteriological swabbing's to comply with our Environmental Pathogen Monitoring Program;
- Calibrating measuring devices such as but not limited to thermometers, pipettors, balances, etc.;
- Reviewing temperature charts for accuracy and, if/when needed, perform corrective actions;
- Monitoring processes and employee compliance to ensure quality is being maintained; proper labels are being used; presentation of final product is as expected; a trace back program to document lot numbers and certificates of analysis of all packaging and ingredients is being implemented and executed accordingly; ensuring all good manufacturing practices, food safety trainings, and allergen awareness are being implemented and executed accordingly;
- Attending to the overall Laboratory cleanliness, house-keeping, and organization
- Focus on continuous improvement for the Quality Department by constantly thinking about and evaluating the existing Quality Programs - provide recommendations to streamline existing programs when necessary and possible, and recommend new programs to meet new challenges as those opportunities present themselves
- Oversee and provide training to new and existing employees as needed
- Maintain organized records for the Quality Department
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local standards and legislation
- Ensure compliance with company, and regulatory, product quality standards, sanitation standards, food safety standards, employee safety standards, and environmental standards
- Ensures that proper GMP & housekeeping procedures are followed plant-wide
- Compile reports regarding inspections, sanitation violations, and steps taken to resolve deficiencies
- Ensuring plant readiness for inspections. These inspections include, but are not limited to; IDPH, FDA, MOSA, USDA, vendors, internal, and external 3rd party audits
- Collaborate with the Marketing team to bring new and fun products to market (R&D)
- Facilitate the implementation of responses to address sanitation and regulatory issues and trends
- Work with chemical suppliers on chemical system and sanitation improvements
- Work with the Executive Leadership Team to take quality assurance enterprise wide
- Participate in developing and maintaining plant safety awareness
- Manage Vendor Approval Program and help establish standards
- Maintain master sanitation schedule to ensure compliance
- Special projects as assigned
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED To perform this job successfully, an individual must possess:
- 5 years dairy experience is preferred
- A positive attitude with the ability to excel in a team environment
- Higher level education (BS/MS) in Microbiology, Biology, Chemistry, or related field
- Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Power Point).
- Certified SQF Practitioner and HACCP training preferred
- 5 to 10 years of Quality Supervisory experience
- The ability to write routine reports and correspondence
- Strong analytical and communication skills
- An unrelenting desire to learn, support, analyze, and drive results for the Manufacturing Department
About Oberweis, part of the Hoffmann Family of Companies: Oberweis Dairy is still a family-owned business that has been serving smiles for nearly 100 years! We proudly provide our customers with superior-tasting products and exceptional customer service. Since 1927, Oberweis has expanded from premium milk and ice cream to our family of restaurant brands Oberweis Ice Cream & Dairy Store, That Burger Joint, Wood Grain Pizzeria, Oberweis Home Delivery Service, and at a grocery store near you. In June of 2024, the Hoffman Family of Companies acquired Oberweis, pledging to uphold the brand's tradition of quality and passion for delivering exceptional dairy products. When you walk through the doors of an Oberweis Ice Cream & Dairy Store, you'll instantly feel as if you've gone back in time to the good old days of sitting down at the counter of your local soda fountain for a tasty ice cream treat. Satisfy your craving for high-quality, classic American comfort food at That Burger Joint where you can order hand-cut fries smothered in cheese and bacon, juicy double patty burgers, and of course, a hand-dipped Oberweis shake! Visit us at WoodGrain Pizzeria for hand-crafted, fast-fired pizzas and premium quality salads. All of our made-to-order menu items are fresh and made completely from scratch. Add convenience to your already busy schedule with Oberweis' easy and convenient Home Delivery Service! Every week customers choose from over 300 hand-selected, quality dairy and grocery items that are delivered right to their front door. Service is offered throughout the Midwest in Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, Indiana and Michigan. Find your favorite Oberweis products in your local grocery store. Oberweis milk, drinks, and ice cream products are available in over 850 grocery stores throughout the United states. It's a promise from our family to yours that what you're about to enjoy has been sincerely cared for in every possible way. Whether it's a scoop of super premium ice cream or farm-fresh products delivered right to your door, Oberweis pledges every single day to make life a little easier and a lot more delicious!