Quality Assurance Manager: Foster's Wine Estates Americas

Primary Purpose of Role

• Building and assessing team capability around Quality, both within the lab and cross-functionally, through effective Performance Management and by supporting the Continuous Improvement Culture.
• Effectively supporting all internal and external stakeholders’ (i.e. NBC Production, Quality, etc.)
• Effectively manage the QA Lab department budget
• Effectively drive CI initiatives to develop improved and sustainable QA processes.
• Ensure that the lab process adheres to quality systems requirements (HACCP, BRC)
• Develop metrics to assess the quality of NBC production
• Improve QA processes in the laboratory including conducting gap analysis.

Key Relationships

Internal

· NBC QA team

· NBC Packaging Winemaker

· NBC Maintenance Team

· NBC work area leaders

· NBC employees

· VP-Packaging Operations

· Quality

· Senior Operations Manager

· Procurement team

· Human Resources

External

· Suppliers

· External consultants

· Regulatory bodies

· Professional associations

Key Decision Making in this Role:

Take a continuous improvement approach to all QA activities on the site and ensure quality standards are achieved. Work to ensure that production levels and efficiencies are maintained and improved according to planned KPO’s while continuing to implement new initiatives which add value to the business. Provide effective leadership and communication. Develop and maintain a strategic framework and plans to guide work area and people development.

Key Responsibilities/ Accountabilities:

Lead and manage the Quality Assurance team at NBC and mobile bottling operations:

· Maintain and train staff necessary to support all Packaging Operations.

· Assist the facility in maintaining the agreed quality standards as set by the Quality Department.

· Bring visibility to and reporting on quality issues identified during production to the broader business through weekly reporting on quality to the Director of Quality.

· Provide daily feedback (coach) to QA Team on continuous improvements opportunities.

· Maintain the procedures for the Quality Assurance Laboratory including but not limited to packaging inspection, wine analysis, bottling line control and microbiological testing.

· Manage quality systems (FSQM, HACCP, and BRC) at NBC in coordination with the Regional QA Systems Manager.

· Plan and develop departmental budget including staffing and departmental goal setting.

· Monitor, prioritize and direct workflow through the QA Laboratory.

· Represent the quality function on the internal CI team.

· Build and develop the relationship between Production, Maintenance, QA, Procurement and our suppliers.

· In coordination with the Senior Manager of Vendor Management, address packaging suppliers on specifications and problems including off specification packaging.

· Organize direction and provide oversight of packaging reselection projects to ensure quality is maintained.

· Interface with production management to resolve problems.

· Assist with testing on new packaging materials/material trials.

· In conjunction with the Quality Department, assist with customer complaints identified for investigation.

Work closely with the NBC Packaging Winemaker to:

· Provide input into decisions related to processing and release of wine at bottling sites

· Drive resolution of issues and provide feedback

· Manage coverage of 24 hour packaging operations and adherence to bottling schedule

· Manage Bottling Approval Forms (BAF)

· Ensure feedback on adherence to technical and quality standards to all sending wineries

Experience:

· Minimum of five years quality assurance management experience.

· Winemaking or associated discipline experience, particularly in a bottling winemaker or bottling operation

· Have understanding of Lean principles, and CI activities.

· Demonstrated ability to successfully lead, motivate and supervise others.