FSQ Specialist

SunOpta Overview:
SunOpta (Nasdaq: STKL) (TSX: SOY) is an innovative and sustainable manufacturer fueling the future of food. With roots tracing back over 50 years, SunOpta drives growth for today’s leading brands by serving as a trusted innovation partner and value-added manufacturer, crafting organic, plant-based beverages, fruit snacks, nutritional beverages, broths and tea products sold through retail, club, foodservice and e-commerce channels. Alongside the company’s commitment to top brands, retailers and coffee shops, SunOpta also proudly produces its own brands, including SOWN, Dream, and West Life. For more information, visit SunOpta and LinkedIn.

SunOpta is looking for talented individuals that demonstrate our most valued behaviors: Passion, Dedication, Speed, Entrepreneurship, Customer-Centricity, and Problem-Solver, to help create a brighter, healthier, and sustainable future of food!

Job Summary:
The FSQ Specialist is responsible for managing organization and maintenance of the FSQ department documentation, including related data in Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, Microsoft Excel/Word, DevEX, Intelex, and Oracle. Additionally, this position collaborates with suppliers, co-packers, and customers to ensure that the most current and accurate information is available for the FSQ Manager. The FSQ Specialist works in concert with the FSQ Manager to help in FSQ related issues such as customer complaints, internal quality issues and special projects as directed. The FSQ Specialist is responsible for ensuring all products meet quality and food safety standards. This role involves managing quality control processes, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, and driving continuous improvement initiatives.

Essential Functions of the Job:

1. Responsible for all data entry related to FSQ processes
2. Complete new product set-up documents/Specifications
3. Upload customer compliance documents to respective data portals
4. Lead the site sensory program
5. Review and approve food safety and quality documentation (includes COA data) for completeness
6. Drives improvement to streamline and implement effective data entry and information management processes within the food safety and team as well as the overall Quality team.
7. Manage all product sample shipments / R&D sample requests to customers as well as 3rd party labs for testing for internal/external requirements
8. Compile and report food safety and quality monthly KPI’s to Corporate FSQ and FSQ Manager
9. Manage HOLD Program ensure compliance to SunOpta’s Control of Non-Conforming Policy
10. Assist FSQ Manager in maintaining plant certification for SQF, organic, Kosher, peanut-free, gluten-free (GFCO standards), and non-GMO.
11. Provides oversight and compliance to Incoming Material COA requirements. Escalates and utilizes the supplier non-conforming database (Intelex) to communicate non-conformances
12. Works with FSQ Management to resolve specific food safety or product quality issues with suppliers and co-packers through product retrieval and shipping support
13. Takes on advanced roles and responsibilities including special projects as assigned.
14. Investigate customer complaints and drive root cause determination
15. Ownership of the Document Control System which includes numbering new documents for appropriate location, retiring obsolete documents, and importing revisions to maintain the version history within the SharePoint system.
16. Provide training to production staff on quality control procedures and food safety standards.
17. Provide training and support to FSQ team to ensure high performance and adherence to quality standards.
18. Partner with the FSQ Manager on internal audits of critical to food safety/quality activities, GMP audits, sanitation audits in the facility
19. Assist in managing hold and release of non-conforming products. Responsible for coordinating with Quality team the appropriate actions for holds including communication, testing and disposition needed.
20. Ability to navigate and use the company’s ERP (oracle) program (must be able to change item status, generate inventory and transaction reports, status change reports and recall reports).
21. Strong attention to detail, sense of urgency, and excellent verbal and written communication skills are required.
22. Comply with all SunOpta Quality and food safety standards, HACCP, GMPs, Organic, GFCO, SQF, Kosher certificate and customer requirements
23. Daily collaboration with Quality, Production, Warehouse and Maintenance team to achieve the plant goals.
24. All other duties, as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

1. May directly manage elements of the Quality team at the discretion of the site Quality and Plant Manager.
2. Key role is as the plant quality data collection and integration resource for the site.

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Associate degree in a scientific field and previous experience in Manufacturing.
2. Minimum of 3-5 progressive years of experience in quality assurance within the food manufacturing industry.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or a related field
2. Experience in a manufacturing environment
3. In-depth understanding of food safety regulations, quality control procedures, and HACCP principles.
4. Certifications such as Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), HACCP, or SQF Practitioner are preferred.

Knowledge and Skills:

1. Comfortable with data maintenance activities and repetitive data entry
2. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
3. Sound administrative and computer skills
4. Analytical thinking and the ability to articulate verbally and written to all levels of management are essential
5. Excellent attention to detail and analytical skills.
6. Self-directed, assertive, and results driven
7. Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
8. Outstanding verbal, written, multi-tasking and presentation skills

Additional Considerations:

1. The role will be located at the Niagara, Canada SunOpta Plant.
2. Remote working arrangements will not be considered.

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