FSQ Supervisor (Days)

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 the 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
• Ensures 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: SOPs, SSOPs)
• Ensures COAs are generated and shared appropriately with internal and external customers
• Prepares and distributes Extended Hold Communications.
• Responsible for coordinating with FSQ team the appropriate actions for holds including communication, testing, and disposition as needed
• Develop 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

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education/ Experience:

• Bachelors degree in Biology, Chemistry, Food Science/Technology or related field
• Two to five years related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Experience in a food and beverage manufacturing environment preferred
• Knowledge of Continuous Improvement practices beneficial

Knowledge and Skills:

• Ability to work effectively in a team-based environment.
• Ability to manage self and tasks to meet deadlines.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks concurrently.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• SQF Practitioner
• Back up PCQI

Other Skills and Abilities

• Strong interpersonal skills.

Additional Considerations:

• Location: This role with be at the 3rd Avenue SunOpta Plant in Alexandria, MN.
• Shift: This will be a 1st Shift Opportunity, 8 am to 5 pm, Monday - Friday. Some flexibility may be needed.
• On Call Duties: This role includes on-call responsibilities during day shifts, including weekends, as 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