Quality Assurance Lead na DG Foods

Position Summary:

DG Foods is currently looking for a Food Safety Quality Assurance (FSQA) Leadperson for its Bastrop, LA facility.  This position is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the Food Safety and Quality Assurance (FSQA) team, ensuring all poultry products meet stringent safety, quality, and regulatory standards. This role will lead a team of FSQA technicians and inspectors, monitor production processes, and ensure compliance with federal and state regulations, company policies, and industry best practices. This position reports to the FSQA Supervisor.

Essential Job Functions:

Job duties are as follows, but not limited to: 

• Lead and supervise a team of FSQA technicians to ensure that all quality and food safety procedures are followed.
• Provide coaching, training, and support to FSQA and production team members to ensure they understand and adhere to company policies and industry standards.
• Monitor team performance and productivity, offering feedback and implementing corrective actions as necessary.
• Conduct regular inspections of the production process, including receiving, portioning, and packaging to ensure compliance with food safety and quality standards.
• Ensure facility adherence to HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points), GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices), SSOPs (Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures), and other regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate and conduct routine product quality checks and sensory evaluations (e.g., appearance, texture, odor, and temperature).
• Ensure traceability and proper labeling of products, including lot numbers and expiration dates.
• Ensure that all FSQA documentation and records are accurate, up to date, and compliant with USDA, FDA, and other relevant regulatory agencies.
• Assist with internal and external audits, inspections, and certifications.
• Investigate and document nonconformance or product issues and ensure implementation of corrective actions and preventive measures.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement in food safety, quality assurance, and operational efficiency.
• Collaborate with production, maintenance, and other departments to resolve issues related to product quality or safety.
• Assist with implementing new procedures and technology to enhance product quality and improve food safety protocols.
• Ensure all FSQA staff receive proper training in food safety, quality control, and company specific procedures.
• Provide ongoing support for the development of staff skills, including attending relevant industry courses or certifications as needed.
• Maintain detailed logs and reports of inspections, audits, and noncompliance incidents.
• Generate regular FSQA reports for management, highlighting trends, areas of concern, and improvements.
• Work closely with production and management teams to ensure smooth communication between departments and foster a culture of food safety and quality.
• Take appropriate steps to ensure safety awareness among employees.
• Performs all other duties as assigned by the manager/supervisor of Food Safety and Quality Assurance department.

 Job Requirements:

• At least eighteen (18) years of age.
• High school diploma or equivalent required, college degree is a plus.
• Solid understanding and experience executing HACCP and prerequisite programs such as SSOP, GMP, etc. is highly preferred. 
• HACCP Certification is a +.
• Strong leadership and management skills in a fast-paced environment.
• Exceptional communication, organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Must be legally eligible to work in accordance with federal and state law.
• Must have dependable transportation to and from DG Food facilities, no exceptions.
• Must be able to work various hours/holidays/weekends as required.
• Must have the ability to learn and process information in a timely manner.
• Must be able to work well in a team environment.
• Must be able to work in a cooler (sometimes as low as 28 degrees)
• Must have a working knowledge of the use of tablets (iPad, Kindle Fire, etc.) for paper free FSQA records keeping. 
• Familiar with Microsoft Office 365 applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint, etc.)

 Physical Requirements:

• Ability to work in a cold and wet environment for extended periods of time.
• Ability to work in an office environment.
• Ability to lift and maneuver up to 50 pounds.
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position for extended periods of time.
• Constantly operates a tablet or Computer and other related resources for extended periods of time.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• Specific Olfactory abilities required by this job include being able to detect a wide range of smells, odors, and aromas.
• Specific tactile abilities required by this job include being able to detect a wide range of characteristics by touch of an object.

 About DG Foods:

DG Foods is the south’s premier poultry custom processor and portioner with locations in Louisiana and Mississippi.  We are committed to being a service-oriented supplier of high-quality poultry products within a workplace that is safe, healthy, and injury-free. We are dedicated to safely meeting our customers’ needs and expectations as well as continually being at the forefront of product quality, processes, and customer service.

DG Foods is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

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