For a Fresh-Pack Tomato Canning Operation, the QA Supervisor role should emphasize seasonal production, raw tomato grading, thermal processing, can seam integrity, and food safety controls specific to fresh tomatoes.
Quality Assurance Supervisor
Fresh-Pack Tomato Canning Manufacturing
Position Summary
The Quality Assurance Supervisor is responsible for leading food safety and quality assurance programs in a fresh-pack tomato canning facility. This role oversees quality control activities from raw tomato receiving through processing, filling, thermal processing, packaging, and distribution. The QA Supervisor ensures compliance with HACCP, GMPs, regulatory requirements, customer specifications, and company quality standards while supporting efficient seasonal production operations.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities Raw Material Quality Management
· Supervise inspection and grading of incoming fresh tomatoes.
· Verify compliance with raw material specifications, including maturity, color, defects, foreign material, decay, and overall quality.
· Coordinate sampling, evaluation, and disposition of incoming tomato loads.
· Work closely with growers and procurement personnel regarding raw material quality concerns.
Production Quality Assurance
· Monitor quality throughout washing, sorting, peeling, cutting, filling, seaming, retorting, cooling, labeling, and palletizing operations.
· Verify compliance with product specifications for:
o Whole tomatoes
o Diced tomatoes
o Crushed tomatoes
o Tomato sauce
o Tomato puree
· Monitor critical quality parameters including:
o Net weight and fill weight
o Vacuum levels
o pH
o Brix
o Acidity
o Product color
o Texture and consistency
o Seal and seam integrity
Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance
· Maintain and enforce HACCP, GMP, SSOP, and Preventive Controls programs.
· Verify monitoring and documentation of Critical Control Points (CCPs), including thermal processing requirements.
· Ensure compliance with FDA Low-Acid Canned Food (LACF) regulations and scheduled process requirements.
· Support facility compliance with customer, regulatory, and third-party audit standards.
Thermal Processing & Container Integrity
· Verify production operations are conducted according to approved scheduled processes.
· Review thermal processing records and CCP documentation.
· Monitor can seam inspections and container integrity evaluations.
· Coordinate corrective actions for processing deviations and non-conforming products.
Laboratory Operations
· Oversee testing of raw materials, in-process products, and finished goods.
· Review microbiological and analytical testing results.
· Ensure laboratory equipment calibration and maintenance.
· Investigate quality trends and recommend corrective actions.
Team Leadership
· Supervise QA Technicians, Line Inspectors, and Laboratory Personnel.
· Train employees in food safety, quality standards, GMPs, and inspection procedures.
· Conduct performance evaluations and develop employee training plans.
· Schedule QA coverage to support multiple production shifts during harvest season.
Audits, Documentation, and Reporting
· Maintain accurate quality and food safety documentation.
· Prepare audit records and regulatory reports.
· Lead internal audits and support customer and regulatory inspections.
· Track key quality metrics and report performance to management.
Continuous Improvement
· Lead root cause investigations and corrective action programs.
· Reduce product defects, waste, consumer complaints, and quality incidents.
· Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on product quality, food safety, and operational efficiency.
· Participate in harvest readiness and seasonal startup activities.
QualificationsEducation
· Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Food Engineering, or related discipline preferred.
Experience
· 3-5 years of quality assurance experience in food manufacturing.
· 2+ years of supervisory experience preferred.
· Experience with tomato processing, canning operations, thermal processing, or fruit and vegetable manufacturing strongly preferred.
Knowledge and Skills
· Strong knowledge of:
o HACCP
o FSMA Preventive Controls
o GMPs
o SSOPs
o FDA Low-Acid Canned Food regulations
o Thermal processing principles
· Experience with can seam evaluation and container integrity programs.
· Familiarity with tomato quality grading standards and analytical testing.
· Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
· Proficiency with Microsoft Office and quality management systems.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
· Finished product compliance rate
· Incoming tomato acceptance/rejection accuracy
· Customer complaint rate
· Thermal processing compliance
· Can seam defect rate
· Internal and external audit scores
· Food safety incident rate
· CAPA completion effectiveness
· Product hold and release performance
· First-pass quality yield
Seasonal Considerations
· Ability to work extended hours, weekends, and rotating shifts during peak tomato harvest season.
· Support production operations during fresh-pack campaigns.
· Manage increased QA staffing and inspection requirements during harvest peak periods.
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
