QA Supervisor
Tate & Lyle · Okmulgee, Oklahoma, United States
Food and Beverage Manufacturing · 1,001-5,000 employees
About the role
The QA Supervisor manages daily laboratory operations, including physical, analytical, and functional testing, while leading a team of technicians. They are responsible for ensuring compliance with quality management systems, driving process improvements, and maintaining safety and environmental standards.
What they look for
Requirements
An Associate degree is required, with a Bachelor's or Master's degree in a scientific field strongly preferred. Candidates must have at least five years of laboratory experience, with supervisory experience being highly desirable.
Full description
Tate & Lyle is a global provider of ingredients and solutions to the food, beverage, and other industries, operating from more than 30 locations around the world. Through large scale, efficient manufacturing plants. Tate & Lyle turns raw materials into distinctive, high-quality ingredients. The ingredients and solutions add taste, texture, nutrition, and increased functionality to products that millions of people around the world use or consume every day. We are the secret ingredient to make food extraordinary in some of the world’s best loved brands.
ROLE PURPOSE:
Under the general direction of the Quality Manager, the Lab Supervisor is responsible for managing different testing areas of the Quality Control Laboratory. This position directs the activities of the technicians, plans and executes technical programs, and initiates new projects. To perform the job successfully an individual must demonstrate the capability to conduct independent studies, and to provide leadership, development and technical direction to technical personnel in the quality control area.
SAFETY ACCOUNTABILITIES – EHSQ CRITICAL ROLE LEVEL 2
Protecting our people and the environment is foundational to our business.
Each team member is expected to support the Tate & Lyle culture where Environment, Health, Food Safety and Quality, comply with all EHSQ policies, procedures, and regulations relevant to their work. Team members are expected to speak up and intervene to prevent unsafe conditions and to respect fellow workers.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:
To supervise daily laboratory operations, output & accuracy of approximately 12 direct reports working in 3 separate laboratories of: Physical testing, Analytical chemistry testing & Beverage functional testing of a 24/7/365 fermentation derived biogum hydrocolloid manufacturing plant. Conduct lot batch review & release. Identify and implement process improvements which result in higher throughput, improved efficiencies, recognizable cost savings and more consistent product quality. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the fundamental functions and responsibilities of the job as defined below:
- Must exhibit creativity in selection and modification of methods, coupled with a thorough and basic understanding of science and a broad knowledge of other disciplines to improve processes.
- Interprets information from various sources and recommends courses of action designed to address problem areas.
- Monitors, tracks, and interprets trends in quality data and provides recommendations to plant team for continuous process and product quality improvement.
- Manages laboratory practices, processes and quality / food safety management systems in accordance with current ISO 9001, IPEC (pharmaceutical excipient) and applicable GFSI standard requirements and customer expectations.
- Monitors controllable expenses such as overtime, laboratory supply expenditures, and looks for opportunities for cost reduction in these areas.
- Manages laboratory testing schedules. Provides leadership and technical direction to laboratory personnel.
- Directs and conducts the execution of a prescribed program for the periodic calibration and standardization of instruments and solutions. Reviews test methods and procedures on a periodic basis.
- Participates as requested in special assignments such as new method and technique development, cost studies, and providing expertise to other teams of the plant in trouble shooting quality problems. May assign specific portions of problems to various staff members
- Responsible for Safety and Environmental compliance and assures the Quality Management system requirements, including GMP’s, are established and maintained.
- Must stay abreast of technological advancements in an effort to improve testing efficiency and trouble shooting skills.
FOOD, ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH & SAFETY DUTY OF CARE:
Food Safety:
- Carry out responsibilities/duties according to food safety, legal and quality requirements to ensure that our products are fit for human consumption.
Environment:
- Comply with all environmental standards, procedures, and work instructions always.
- Report any environmental violation or near misses to prevent any impact upon the local environment, its inhabitants and Tate & Lyle.
Health & Safety:
- Adhere to the safety policies, procedures, and site rules.
- Fully participate in the safety program, including reporting any incidents or near misses and auditing.
SKILLS, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Associate Degree required; Bachelors or Master’s Degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, or Microbiology strongly preferred.
- Five plus years lab experience required; Laboratory supervisory experience strongly preferred.
- Some knowledge in GLP’s, (pharmaceutical & food), SAP, LIMS or similar software systems and quality systems as well as good computer skills.
- Working knowledge of safety and environmental issues.
- Previous experience leading teams is a plus.
- Excellent organizational and decision-making skills.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written).
California Consumer Privacy Act ("CCPA")
The Company is committed to complying with the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”) and all data privacy and laws in the jurisdictions in which it recruits and hires employees. We collect the following categories of personal information for the purpose of hiring the best qualified applicants and to comply with applicable employment laws: Name and contact information; Job preference and work availability; Social Security Number and/or other identification information; Education and qualifications; Employment history and experience; Military service; Reference and background check information, including relevant criminal history and credit history; Social media information; Pre-employment test results; Post-offer medical examination information and results, including drug test results; Voluntary self-disclosure information regarding minority, veteran, and disability status; and Information provided by you during the hiring process.
Tate & Lyle is an equal opportunity employer, committed to the strength of an inclusive workforce.