As a company with a reputation built on being “Only the Finest” quality assurance is a priority in our manufacturing operations. The Quality Assurance Manager will promote and champion the company wide quality vision within the Abilene Manufacturing Plant.  The Quality Assurance Manager will manage and direct the activities of a team of Quality Technicians and entry-level Quality professionals to ensure quality and compliance processes and standards are being properly executed.  This position requires detail orientation, the ability to balance multiple priorities and a sense of urgency for problem solving and continuous improvement.  A successful person in this role will have a strong people orientation, an impactful leadership presence and interpersonal skills to achieve results through influence. All of these attributes must be used to develop a proactive approach to product quality while maintaining a fast paced, continuous flow, large scale production operation. 
Key responsibilities include:

• assisting in hiring and training new employees in food safety, quality assurance and quality controls activities
• administering, executing and maintaining internal audit program
• serve as the primary contact for customer and 3^rd party quality audits including management, preparation and corrective actions
• interface with visitors, contractors, raw material suppliers and regulatory agencies to ensure compliance with quality and food safety requirements
• managing the departments’ workload
• addressing employee relations issues in a timely manner
• keeping all policies, procedures, and all new information updated and communicated to the site
• providing technical support to Operations, Maintenance, Sanitation, Logistics, Procurement and Sales/Marketing
• making recommendations to leadership to support operations

TO BE CONSIDERED AN APPLICANT FOR THIS POSITION, YOU MUST SHOW HOW YOU MEET THE BASIC QUALIFICATIONS AS OUTLINED IN THE REQUIREMENTS

Basic Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years of quality and production management experience in the food industry
• Knowledge of quality assurance methods, standards and testing techniques including HACCP, FSMA, and GFSI
• Supervisory experience
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Technology, Food Science, Chemistry or other Natural Science
• 7 + years of quality assurance experience in the food industry; confectionery experience highly preferred
• Attention to detail
• Ability to work well in a fast paced environment
• Ability to balance multiple priorities
• Effective oral and written communication skills
• Advanced knowledge of quality systems and procedures

Company Description
Russell Stover Chocolates is the nation’s leading manufacturer of boxed chocolates.  The company operates 3 manufacturing facilities in Kansas and Texas. The company’s three brands – Russell Stover, Whitman’s and Pangburn’s -  are sold in the United States through company-owned retail stores and 70,000 wholesale accounts. After nearly 100 years in operation the company manufactures approximately 100 million pounds of chocolate candies each year in its proud tradition of being “Made in America” and “Handcrafted in Small Batches”.

In September 2014, Russell Stover Chocolates was acquired by Lindt and Sprungli, the world leader in premium chocolates.   This was the largest acquisition in the history of Lindt and Sprungli which has operations in over 40 countries across the globe.  Russell Stover Chocolates joins sister companies Lindt USA and Ghirardelli to form a powerful confectionery triad in North America.  

Employment by Russell Stover is contingent upon I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification, passing the urinalysis drug screen, education verification, and satisfactory reference and background checks.

Russell Stover is an EOE/MINORITY/FEMALE/VET/DISABLED  employer. Principals only please.