Quality Assurance Associate Manager

About Us:

Trilliant Food & Nutrition is a leading, vertically integrated manufacturer of premium coffees and powdered beverages, proudly headquartered in Little Chute, Wisconsin. With a legacy rooted in quality, innovation, and service, Trilliant delivers branded and private label solutions across retail, foodservice, and e-commerce channels.

Horseshoe Beverage Company, based in Neenah, WI, is a leading ready-to-drink beverage manufacturer dedicated to delivering an exceptional beverage experience. By combining industry-leading talent, cutting-edge equipment, and a vertically integrated supply chain, we drive innovation and consistently deliver the highest quality products to our customers-first and fast.

Our brand portfolio includes Victor Allen's, Dutch Bros beverages and Nurri, our better-for-you protein beverage line. We are passionate about beverages - and about building a team that's just as energized. We invite you to explore opportunities at Trilliant or Horseshoe, to see if your talents and career aspirations may fit with our openings.

Our Core Values:

Diversity and Inclusion at Trilliant and Horseshoe:

We believe talented, great people are the building blocks of our success. We believe in finding the right people, with the right attitude, and providing them with opportunities to excel.

Position Overview:

The Quality Assurance Associate Manager is responsible for supporting day-to-day activities of the Trilliant Food and Nutrition facility, as well as supporting the development, implementation, and maintenance of quality assurance programs and food safety systems. This role ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) standards, customer expectations, and internal quality standards. The Quality Assurance Associate Manager will assist in collaborating cross-functionally to drive continuous improvement initiatives and promote a culture of quality and food safety within the organization.

Responsibilities:

* Monitor, analyze and communicate quality and food safety metrics, providing reports and

recommendations for continuous improvement in product quality, food safety, product performance and

process optimization.

* Assist in defining department roles and responsibilities and select, train, develop and support the

* Quality Team in support of operations quality performance against regulatory, internal and customer

quality requirements.

* Play key role in root cause analysis investigations for customer complaints, non-conformances, and

deviations, verifying completion of corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) as needed.

* Support the development and maintenance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and training

programs for quality and food safety. Collaborate with production and training teams to ensure

adherence to food safety and quality protocols.

* Monitor, maintain, and/or improve all aspects of quality function and lab processes, including

specifications, sampling, procedures, methods, deviations, equipment, supplies, ensure proper

documentation and record-keeping practices in compliance with regulatory and certification standards,

process documentation, and system data integrity.

* Assist and support developing vendor quality program to ensure compliance and minimize deviations

and defects

* Assist with the maintenance of supplier documentation via Trace Gains supplier via COA/COC review

for incoming material and non-conformant material investigations.

* Assist and support sanitation program and procedures in collaboration with operations, ensuring

validation and verification of our sanitation procedures for effectiveness and efficiency

* Lead in positive release program ensuring compliance with specifications and food safety regulations

such as preventative control review, etc.

* Lead change management initiatives to enhance quality processes and drive operational excellence.

* Conduct and monitor completion of GMP audits to ensure adherence to food safety and quality

standards. Take corrective action steps or recommend process improvements as needed to meet

expectations.

* Support food defense initiatives to protect products from intentional contamination and ensure

compliance with regulatory requirements.

* Conduct and monitor environmental monitoring program (EMP) to ensure proactive control of

environmental risks, minimizing contamination and ensuring compliance with food safety regulations.

* Assist in ensuring effective execution of quality systems and practices consistently with certification or

regulatory requirements (i.e., GMP, SQF Certification, FSMA / HACCP, FDA compliance, SPC, Organic

Certification, Kosher Certification, Food Defense, etc.)

* Responsible for following food safety/quality/regulatory policies and procedures, executing

responsibilities as identified in standard operating procedures, and reporting food

safety/quality/regulatory concerns to Food Safety and Quality Manager, Sr. Director of Quality Excellence and Food Safety, Director of Operations, and/or Corporate Compliance Manager, as needed.

* Verify, approve and ensure required documentation and record keeping of all new and revised formulas

and specifications. Assists in product commercialization process and plant trials.

* Perform all other duties, responsibilities, and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications:

* Bachelor's degree in a science based related area of study

* 2+ years of managerial experience including defining roles, hiring, employee development and day-today management of a quality team in a production environment.

* 5+ years' hands-on-plant quality assurance experience in a food industry or related manufacturing

facility.

* Certification in HACCP, SQF, PCQI, Food Defense Qualified Individual

* Understanding sanitation systems, techniques and procedures.

* Possesses understanding of change management.

* Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, projects and simultaneous user needs.

* Strong project management skills

* Attention to detail and results driven

* Strong interpersonal skills. Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

* Demonstrated ability to collaborate well cross-functionally and work well at all levels of the

organization.

* Strong analytical skills, troubleshooting and judgment skills.

* Solid computer skills including Microsoft Office tools (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) and related production

and product information systems.

* Desire to work in a fast-paced high growth environment.

* Must be willing to be a hands-on performer and spend significant time on the plant production floor and

provide coverage and support across shifts as needed.

Hours, Location and Pay:

We offer a competitive base pay rate and comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees. This role works Monday - Friday standard business hours at our Neenah, WI manufacturing facility. Off shift and weekend hours may be occasionally needed to support business needs.

Physical and Mental Demands:

* While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, hear, use hands to type data, use a personal computer and telephone. This employee may occasionally have to operate business machines and lift and/move up to 50 pounds.

* Specific vision abilities required in this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

* Mental demands include multi-tasking, decision making, problem solving, comparing, copying, computing, compiling, analyzing, coordinating, and synthesizing data.

* Potential for exposure to chemicals, heights, loud noises, mechanical equipment, wet environments, and other potential hazards exists.

Safety Statement:

At Trilliant and Horseshoe, safety is every employee's first responsibility. We expect all employees to adhere to all safety practices, have the moral courage to stop other individuals from performing unsafe acts, and immediately report unsafe conditions.

Disclosures:

* The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

* Responsible for following food safety/regulatory policies and procedures, executing responsibilities as identified in standard operating procedures, and reporting food safety/regulatory concerns to the Production or Quality Manager.

* Trilliant Food & Nutrition and Horseshoe Beverage Company are Drug Free Workplaces. All applicants are subject to a drug screen and background check as a condition of employment.

* Trilliant Food and Nutrition and Horseshoe Beverage participate in the E-Verify process.

* EEO/AA including Vets and Disabled

* If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at HR@trilliantfood.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

* Trilliant Food and Nutrition and Horseshoe Beverage are Equal Opportunity Employers.

* The principles of the OECD and UN have been taken into consideration and used as guidance in our human rights practices and procedures.