Job Details

John Soules Foods is a thriving family-owned food company that has been making a positive difference for its customers and consumers for nearly 50 years. We are driven by our purpose-and promise-of Great Food, Made Simple®. Based in Tyler, Texas, the company is a leading national producer of ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook chicken and beef products and is the number one producer of chicken and beef fajitas in the USA. We are proud to serve a broad portfolio of great tasting, high quality products that are sold throughout the US via retail, food service distributors, and restaurants. Included in our wide array of national customers are prominent organizations such as Walmart, Costco, Sam's Club, Sysco, and HEB. The company was established in 1975 by John Soules Sr. and the business is now in the second generation of family leadership. The organization has expanded dramatically over the past decade, and with its continued growth now has annual sales of approximately $1 Billion. The company employs over 2,000 individuals and has three manufacturing facilities in Gainesville, Georgia; Valley, Alabama; and at its headquarters in Tyler, Texas.

The Sr. Corporate FSQA Manager position at John Soules Foods leads a variety of corporate FSQA functions including FSQA systems, customer and consumer feedback, and process improvement initiatives. The ideal candidate for this position is a strong leader and cross-functional partner with the ability to optimize plant level and corporate FSQA processes through technology, interface directly with key customers, and collaborate with the plant operations and FSQA management teams to lead continuous improvement projects. This individual will also have the opportunity to lead key corporate initiatives. This position reports directly to the Head of FSQA.

Responsibilities:

• Direct FSQA continuous improvement activities based on in-plant data and risk assessments.
• Identify and lead foreign material improvement projects.
• Assist in developing and reporting food safety and quality related KPI's.
• Interface with cross-functional leaders to assess, implement, and maintain FSQA related technologies.
• Serve as the project lead and subject matter expert for new electronic QMS implementation including, but not limited to, full gap assessment of existing system and paper-based records, design and implementation of new system, and the training of FSQA and cross functional departments.
• Track and trend overall systems utilization and compliance for eQMS and inventory management.
• Develop and verify standard FSQA processes for the systematic traceability and control of inventory.
• Manage customer communications for the completion of FSQA documentation requests including third party audit certifications, quality programs reviews, and specification submissions.
• Interface directly with key customers to present complaint response, overall trending, and communicate corporate FSQA improvement initiatives.
• Lead the complaint process from receipt to response content.
• Review and track complaint trends, preventative measures, and work directly with the plant food safety teams on targeted process improvement projects based on complaint data.
• Analyze data to identify trends and areas of improvement.
• Audit processes to ensure consistency across sites.
• Collaborate and partner with IT, Operations, R&D, and Supply Chain leadership.
• Lead and develop corporate FSQA managers.
• Supervise corporate FSQA clerical resources.
• Manage the development and integration of utilization of electronic QMS system for supplier scorecards.
• Create and manage budget, planning, and execution of activities.
• Authorized to hold non-confirming product and determine product disposition.
• Participate in key corporate FSQA initiatives and projects.

• Bachelor of Science degree required in Food Science, Meat/Animal Science, or related discipline such as chemistry, biology, or microbiology.
• Minimum 5-7 years' experience in food processing and quality management, meat industry FDA and USDA-regulated products preferred.
• Technical knowledge of food quality/safety procedures and programs, regulatory requirements, microbial hazards, HACCP/HARPC programs, microbiological laboratory procedures, sanitation procedures, and plant operations.
• Direct plant level experience in FSQA leadership.
• Experience utilizing and/or implementing electronic QMS systems.
• Experience auditing against corporate, regulatory, and third-party audit criteria.
• Strong interpersonal skills, written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to effectively communicate throughout all levels of the organization.
• Ability to analyze data and information and to make effective and timely decisions.
• Capacity to work with others to identify opportunities.
• Strong leadership and managerial skills and the ability to coach and develop employees.
• Solid project management, multi-tasking, and prioritization skills.
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, and Word proficiency.
• Ability to travel offsite up to 50%.