Quality Assurance and Operations Specialist

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Quality Assurance & Operational Excellence role is responsible for managing processes and activities pertaining to Food Safety and Packaging Engineering. This includes the implementation, and execution of programs to ensure the safety, quality, and regulatory compliance of Hess products. This role will demonstrate strong leadership skills, be highly collaborative, consistently proactive, engaged, and persistent to find solutions and new ideas to achieve company objectives.

ABOUT US:

Passion, dedication, and perseverance have been the guiding principles of Hess Persson Estates since Donald Hess founded the winery in 1978. Lead by the next generation of Hess Family, we honor Donald’s legacy through our world-renowned Napa Valley wines. We pride ourselves in providing a space for our employees’ talents to shine, encouraging professional growth, and prioritizing a positive culture where we celebrate our company wins together.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Food Safety Quality Assurance

• Responsible for end-to-end food safety quality assurance programs across all Hess sites in addition to outside processing locations.
• Collaborate with and direct departmental managers to maintain best in class food safety practices.
• Stay informed on new regulations pertaining to food safety, with emphasis on developments in beverage alcohol.
• Meticulously evaluate and execute record keeping in compliance with HACCP & SQF regulations.
• Operate as the primary point of contact and internal subject matter expert for food safety compliance.
• Ensure training and compliance in HACCP & SQF and general SOPs across Hess organization.
• Teach others to lead improvement efforts, including training on effective tools for successful project leadership.
• Play a key role in winery safety programs, including creation, documentation, document retention, delivery of training, and sharing of pertinent developments regarding FDA and OSHA requirements.
• Participate in preventative and required on-site inspections relating to FDA and OSHA requirements.
• Be a safety leader by ensuring that appropriate safety processes are in place and being utilized.
• Update, maintain and develop HACCP, safety and SQF protocols as well as general SOPs as needed.

Packaging Engineer

• Collaborate with Supply & Procurement Manager to research and qualify new and existing vendors and materials. As well as establish and maintain QC standards for incoming packaging material review.
• Work closely with Procurement, Shipping & Bottling teams to evaluate and monitor vendor performance through incoming material inspections and any associated bottling down time.
• Work with vendors to implement package changes/refinements.
• Stay informed on developments of new technologies and or materials as they relate to wine packaging and closures.
• Establish and maintain packaging standards and support documentation/images for all brands, all items.
• As needed, will be required to schedule samples, run tests, record results, report accurate and timely analysis, and validate testing methods.
• Resolve discrepant material issues in partnership with Procurement and Vendors to.
• Be an internal subject matter expert on packing design and performance.
• Flag and drive action around strategic packaging optimization.

Product Quality Assurance

• Own the administration and tracking of DMR (discrepant material report) recording occurrences of nonconforming materials.
• Support Bottling Operations in defining and tracking product quality guidelines. Administer audits internally as well as bottling subcontractors.
• Ensure that finished product specifications are current and communicated to stakeholders.
• Develop and implement process-oriented analysis and 5S methodology.
• Provide status reporting of QA holds related to finished goods, including root cause and action plans.
• Provide monthly reporting on KPIs.

Other Compliance and Record Keeping

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Lead of HACCP/SQF Committee
• Member of Safety Committee
• Member of Crisis Management Team
• Continuous Improvement and Quality champion

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

• 5+ years of food safety or equivalent technical compliance experience in a food or beverage manufacturing environment.
• 3+ years of packaging engineering experience within a consumer package goods firm
• APICS or lean management certification and experience highly desired
• Bachelor’s degree (BS/BBA) in Business, Agribusiness Management, Engineering, Food Science, or a related discipline
• Accredited minimum 8-hour HACCP training highly desired. Minimum 8-hour Food Hygiene training as part of formal qualifications or through course.
• Solid understanding of food and beverage supply chains
• Confident in being a food safety expert which will require you to make business and quality risk-based decisions and recommendations based on scientific, regulatory, and quality evidence.
• Strong data visualization skills and understanding of how technology can be used to improve efficiency and drive out costs.
• Intermediate Excel, PowerPoint, and other core business applications
• Ability to lift a minimum of 45 lbs., push/pull objects of 10-50 pounds.
• Time allocation for this position is approximately 40% food safety/SQF, 30% package engineering and 30% product quality assurance. Supporting the pace of change and conversion to modern practices throughout the supply chain is a central focus of this role.

COMPENSATION, BENEFITS & PERKS:

• Competitive pay rate.
• Annual bonus and merit increase programs.
• Comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental and vision insurance.
• Short- and long-term disability, AD&D, and life insurance plans 100% paid by the employer.
• 401k plan with a 100% company matches up to the first 6% an employee contributes.
• Paid Time Off (starting at 3 weeks’ vacation accrual, 5 sick and 10 paid holidays).
• Wine Club Membership to Hess Persson Estates (per availability of the wines).
• Employee wine discount.
• A work environment where you can be your authentic self and be a part of a winning team!

This role’s compensation is anticipated to fit within the range of $38.50 - $43.26 per hour. These figures represent what we reasonably expect to pay for this position, but the actual compensation offered will depend upon numerous job-related factors, including but not limited to candidate skills, experience, knowledge, and education.

Hess Persson Estates is an equal opportunity employer. We consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, protected veteran status, or other protected class. For more information, see the EEOC's "Equal Employment Opportunity is The Law" poster. If you need any assistance or accommodation due to a disability, please let us know on 707-265-3487.

Want to learn more about our brands and the company? Check us out online!

Hess Persson Estates: https://www.hessperssonestates.com