Quality Assurance Coordinator

Overview

Are you looking to make a difference in the world while producing a new product? Tender is revolutionizing the food industry by solving a major global challenge: how to make meat production ethical and sustainable. Going beyond the existing plant-based burgers, we are developing alternative meat whole-cuts – think steaks and chicken breasts – using innovative technologies.

About You

• Teamwork: You enjoy collaborating with multiple teams and have the ability to work independently as well as within a team environment, adapting to changing organizational and operational needs
• Analytical skills: You are a critical thinker with strong problem solving skills
• You are able to independently manage multiple projects and tasks simultaneously
• You have a good understanding of food industry standards of quality, food safety, and FDA regulations.
• You have knowledge of or an or interest in food product design, formulation, ingredient functionality and interaction, process design, product scale-up, product testing, and commercialization.
• You can travel as needed (~50% of your time)

Responsibilities

• Responsible for overseeing the implementation of the company’s food safety and quality management system to ensure food product integrity and compliance with specifications, SQF, GMPs, HACCP, FDA regulations, and customer requirements at our processing co-manufacturing facility.
• Liaise with governmental, supplier, production, plant management, co-manufacturing and commercial partners.
• Responsible for coordinating food defense and food fraud programs.
• Work closely with other departments to provide guidance on and ensure implementation of Food Safety and Quality Assurance programs that address both corrective and preventative activities.
• Manage our Environmental Monitoring Program.
• Audit, monitor, validate processing activities, new technologies, products, and packaging to ensure they meet specific product quality, food safety criteria, as well as regulatory and company requirements.
• Conduct risk assessments of the processing steps and engineering controls, and enforce food safety standards
• Play a significant role in new product development, validation, and implementation at the co-manufacturing facility.
• Establish product controls and procedures to ensure that newly developed products meet customer, company, and regulatory needs.
• Track and present key performance indicators of quality and food safety with the Quality team to meet corporate quality,  food safety goals and objectives monthly
• Support the supplier onboarding and compliance process by reviewing documentation, monitoring performance, and conducting on site audits
• Manage investigations of reported issues, ensuring concerns are resolved in an effective and timely manner and corrective/preventative actions have been implemented.
• Ensure traceability programs meet or exceed regulatory requirements and support mock withdrawals/recalls
• Initiate certification approvals involving production and product quality claims.
• Review and verify all master manufacturing records and quality control reports for validity and accuracy
• Maintain written procedures for processes related to the quality and reliability of all products
• Develop training materials for new processes and procedures, and provide support for training events.

You Have (Preferred Qualifications):

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Biological Sciences, or related field.
• 3+ years of experience with Food Safety and Quality Assurance and Quality training
• HACCP or PCQI experience
• Experience in implementing SQF Certification.
• Experience leading audits (Customer, Regulatory)
• Supervisory and Leadership skills
• Knowledge and experience in FDA regulations
• Experience in a quality assurance role within the food industry
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Certifications, Licenses, Registrations: PCQI Certification, HACCP certified, SQF Certification for Manufacturing

Why work with us?  

At Tender Food, we are deeply committed to diversity, equality, and inclusion. Our goal is to create an environment and company culture where people from all walks of life can come together in an inclusive manner and be an amazing force for good! 

• You’ll get to join us in our mission to radically transform the meat industry – one of the most polluting industries on our planet. 
• You’ll get to work with a diverse group of people that cares deeply about what we are trying to solve.    
• You’ll join an organization that values transparency and honesty.
• You’ll have ownership over what you do and how you do it.
• You’ll join a really fun, interesting, and dynamic place to work.
• You’ll join a young startup that is experiencing very rapid growth, with all the opportunities that come along with it. 

Benefits to you: 

• Competitive Salary and Incentive Compensation Plan
• Employee Incentive Stock Option Plan
• 401k Matching  
• Paid Parental, Family & Medical Leave
• Unlimited PTO
• Health & Wellness Stipend
• Generous Medical, Dental & Vision Benefits Package