AUSTIN EASTCIDERS Quality Assurance Manager Salary in the United States

Description

Be Our Secret Ingredient! Based in Austin, TX, Austin Eastciders is an award-winning mission driven Hard Cider Company. Positioned as the fastest growing brand in the Cider category. We are a high growth company with a dedicated and devoted following across 15+ States. We are eager to find hardworking, motivated people from a diverse range of backgrounds who want to join our team. We believe in keeping things fresh and interesting, taking a team approach to everything we do and having as much fun as humanly possible.

QA Manager

The Quality Assurance Manager will be responsible for maintaining a high level of customer and consumer satisfaction by assuring consistent quality of all Austin Eastciders products by defining, documenting, and maintaining all operations that impact product quality. The Quality Assurance Manager will develop, implement, and sustain new operational programs and protocols for improving product quality and consistency. The Quality Assurance Manager will oversee and sustain the quality management program with the ultimate goal to create an environment where everyone owns product quality. The Quality Assurance Manager will develop, document, train, and sustain a Food Safety Program and ensure compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) to allow Austin Eastciders to explore co-packing possibilities with potential food and beverage partners.

• Responsible for overseeing and evaluating all operations that impact product quality. 
• Ensure team member compliance with Austin Eastciders Quality Assurance programs, policies, and procedures. 
• Ensure all quality holds at Austin Eastciders, and in the market are maintained, tracked, and handled properly. Ensure root cause analysis is performed for all quality incidents, and actions are taken to mitigate and prevent the incident from re-occurring through new controls.
• Ensure effective communication between QA Assistant Manager and other departmental managers. 
• Improve programs around existing metrics, and develop, implement, and enforce programs for new metrics.
• Continued research and education to ensure continuous improvements are being made to the quality program.
• Responsible for developing, driving, and managing new and existing projects that improve the quality program at Austin Eastciders.
• Develop a continuous, repeatable system of people, plant, and process. Create a ‘Quality Environment’ which will require every team member’s efforts. This can be achieved through standard measurements, SOPs, dilution charts, lab notebook usage, checklists, etc. Record keeping is the foundation of everything.
• Own the Cidery Master Sanitation Plan and continuously improve standards, resources, and methods to ensure that we are “Tour Ready” at all times and set the example for others to follow in care of equipment and facilities.
• Support and improve current sanitation and housekeeping to ensure they are being carried out safety and correctly.
• Create a 5S environment, and ensure we are up to FDA standards.
• Ensure laboratory organization and cleanliness is maintained. 
• Ensure lab equipment calibrations, maintenance, and troubleshooting are performed on a regular basis.
• Ensure lab supplies are ordered regularly to maintain a stock of all necessary supplies.
• Provide production equipment support for quality tools and machines, maintaining back up parts.
• Support and maintain third party quality programs as the primary point of contact. This includes but is not limited to; pest control, chemical supply services, and kosher certification program
• Collect and analyze data to formulate trends and track the quality of each batch
•  Ensure all ingredients meet the required high-quality specs
• Develop, install, train, and coach-to-compliance a Food Safety Program that meets the highest standards of compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Serve as the Preventive Controls Qualified Individual for Austin Eastciders

Requirements

Required Education and Experience:

• 4-year Science degree in Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, or related field
• Intimate knowledge of the development, installation, and sustainment of Food Safety Plans
• An understanding of quality assurance (QA) methods and techniques, laboratory operations, and basic knowledge of chemistry and biology
• Previous experience working in a lab, knowledge of good lab practices, and good documentation practices including but not limited to design of experiments (DOE), keeping a lab notebook, and writing reports
• Knowledge of brewing and fermentation 
• Computer literate with an understanding of Microsoft Office/spreadsheet programs
• Flexibility in terms of hours and a willingness to work night shifts, weekends, and overtime
• Capable of working on, and around potentially hazardous machinery, equipment, chemicals and systems safely
• Ability to grasp scientific concepts quickly, and apply their knowledge to be able to solve problems in a timely manner
• Ability to work constructively, and multi-task in a fast pace work environment
• Ability to thrive in a team-oriented environment 
• Excellent communication and planning skills
• Strong organizational habits, a self-motivated work ethic, and good critical thinking/problem solving skills
• Change agent

Preferred Education and Experience

• Previous experience working in Quality Assurance (2+ years)
• Prior experience in production, packaging, laboratory equipment operations, and general maintenance
• Previous Quality Assurance managerial experience
• Master’s Science degree in Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, or related field

Benefits Offered

• Paid Time Off / 10days for first year
• Paid Holidays / 11days each year
• 401(k) Plan with Company Match
• Excellent Health, Dental, Vision Insurance
• HSA
• FSA
• Company Paid Life Insurance
• Company Paid Long Term Disability
• Voluntary Short Term Disability
• Excellent Employee Assistance Program
• Team Lunch on Thursdays