Director of Quality Assurance

Banner Smoked Fish is a family-owned and operated company that started with humble beginnings in1988.  Since then, the company has grown into one of the country's largest suppliers of smoked salmon.

The company is poised for tremendous growth to meet market demand and now seeks a dynamic, knowledgeable Director of Quality Assurance with a willing attitude to lead continuous improvement and innovation.

This on-site and full-time position will oversee the production facility in Brooklyn, New York, on the historic Coney Island.  As a key hire, you will influence, develop and be a resource to the operations, sales, and distribution team.

Main tasks:

The responsibilities of this position are those normally associated with a Director of Quality Assurance and include but are not limited to the following:

• Oversee the main production facility.
• Manage the existing QA team (2 reports).
• Be responsible for improving processing and continuous development of all aspects of the food safety and quality program.
• Maintain or develop Standard Operating Procedures and Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures, as needed.
• Collaborate with company leadership to generate all technical product specification sheets and establish systems for new specification approval.
• Ensure compliance and regulatory standards to meet federal, state, and local agencies such as NYS, the FDA, and 3rd Party Audits.
• Stay current on updated food safety compliance changes on the local, state, and federal levels.
• Oversee the HAACP program, which includes but is limited to document filing, data entry, and procedure development.
• Receive, assess and manage complaints according to the risk and escalate to relevant partners.
• Coordinate company internal and 3rd party pre-shipment inspection protocols, including COAs for all products.
• Interface with key customers and QA department leads as the company needs.
• Act as point of contact for recall/withdrawal support.
• Improve upon the raw and finished goods laboratory testing protocol with special attention to Listeria Sampling.
• Work with suppliers to ensure compliance with GFSI and key customer food safety audit standards and reporting requirements.

Requirements:

• Preferably 5+ years experience in quality assurance/food safety within a food processing environment. 
• HAACP certified
• Experience in GFSI standards and BRC preferred
• Experience working with the FDA and Federal and State inspectors
• Ability to work closely with management to advise and resolve issues as needed
• Proven ability to manage priorities and work efficiently in a cross-functional environment
• Experience in the development or implementation of food safety programs is preferable.

Additional Skills or Abilities:

Computer proficiency
Bilingual in English and Spanish is a plus but not required
Non-US Citizens may apply to this position with thorough FDA knowledge 
 

To be successful in this role:

 You are team-oriented and considerate and enjoy working with others.  You are seen as supportive and pleasant to be with and are very pragmatic and target-oriented.  You are focused on reaching results and solving problems fast and effectively.  You are careful to follow procedures and respect rules and regulations.  You find it important to see jobs through to the end, pay close attention to quality issues, quickly grasp complex issues and problems, and identify the core of a problem.  You can also evaluate information thoroughly and set self-ambitious and demanding targets.  You also enjoy difficult challenges and want to get ahead and succeed.

 

What we offer:

Diverse work environment
Higher than market salary
PTO plus additional holidays
Health care allowance
Relocation assistance