Job Description

ABOUT US:

ILLA Canna is a growing movement in the Cannabis industry, and we need motivated and dedicated team members to start building our brand. We are building a state of the art beverage manufacturing facility in Los Angeles, DeltaBev. We will be manufacturing our own cannabis infused beverages in addition to co packing beverages for customers. The facility will also support flower, edibles and concentrates manufacturing.

The right candidate will build the Quality department from the ground up with the support of the entire leadership team. This individual will work side by side with the Operations team to lead the department in setting and maintaining the highest quality standards in the industry. Every day will present different challenges and you will be looked at consistently to provide the best service to our customers.

ABOUT THE JOB:

The Quality Assurance Manager will be responsible for ensuring ILLA’s processes and end products meet the established requirements of the organization and our customers, as well as guaranteeing the processes comply with local, and state regulatory agencies. The Quality Assurance Manager will champion continuous improvement efforts; initiate and implement quality assurance activities as appropriate to raise the performance of the company’s products. The Quality Assurance Manager provides direction to the department in support of company-wide strategic business objectives. Directs, administers, manages, and ensures quality compliance to contracts, including policies and procedures throughout the company

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Follow all safety procedures and always work as safe as possible.

• Build food safety programs.

• Finalize the QA lab build.

• Establish a procedural documentation (quality management system) and its compliance with HACCP, GFSI, and other external certifications.

• Identify and implement Quality Department goals and objectives in support of company-wide strategic business plans.

• Serve as the primary interface with co-pack customer Quality Assurance representative to encourage effective communication and good customer relations.

• Support the management of budgets and staffing forecasts to facilitate successful execution of the department goals and support of all projects.

• Serve as primary Quality interface and coordinator for engineering and program management issues and manufacturing activities, including production control, procurement, planning, assembly, test, and ship.

• Manage the required training, process improvement activities, and the development and implementation of new systems affecting the Quality Department.

• Maintain Quality metrics, and a management dashboard of those metrics, and assesses performance against project and enterprise goals.

• Implement and optimize the use of tools in support of the quality processes and procedures.

• Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws.

• Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; motivating, rewarding, and disciplining employees; addressing complaints; and resolving problems.

• Responsibility to act as the primary liaison with regulatory agencies.

• Ensure all documentation meet required regulatory standards.

• Develop, implement, and maintain the quality assurance plan for internal activities

• Provide quality input and advice on the creation, implementation, and revision of SOPs

• Serve as the primary quality control resource for problem identification, resolution, loss reporting and continuous improvement.

• Support concurrent engineering efforts by participating in design development projects representing quality assurance and the customer.

• Establish and implement metrics (process capability, control charts, measurement quality) for monitoring system effectiveness and to enable managers to make sound product quality decisions.

• Establish collection and analysis systems of statistical data to predict trends that will affect improvement of product quality.

• Analyze customers’ product specifications to establish efficient, cost-effective requirements for ease of manufacture and reproducibility.

• Develop quality planning methods for all product lines.

• Develop process certification standards and assist in process certification.

• Monitor vendor performance and establish criteria and rating system for critical vendors.

• Review customer purchase orders, contracts and change requests and ensure that the necessary criteria and provisions are included in quality and process plans.

• Interact with customers to identify opportunities to improve quality and establish feedback with manufacturing and development personnel.

• Oversee calibration and testing programs.

• Report to management on quality issues, trends, and losses.

• Participate in internal and external quality audits

• Interface with supplier and customer quality representatives concerning problems with quality control and assure that effective corrective action is implemented.

• General:

• Maintain a positive work atmosphere and interaction with customers, co-workers, and management.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.
• Regular and punctual attendance.
• To perform this job successfully, must be able to perform each fundamental task listed above satisfactorily.

COMPETENCIES:

• A track record of successful interaction among regulatory agencies.
• The ability to build and lead the regulatory and quality functions in a fast paced, high growth, entrepreneurial environment.
• Experience in designing and implementing quality systems.
• Diverse knowledge of inspection and control methods, techniques, and documentation.
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal).
• Must have strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Have a strong work ethic and be able to work independently as well as work in a team.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Thorough understanding of general safety requirements.
• Able to work well with all levels of employees and managers.
• Competent in use of Microsoft Office and Google Suite.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in food sciences or related field
• Minimum 4 years experience in Quality Assurance management, preferably in the beverage or food industries.
• Experience in a regulated manufacturing environment (FDA, ISO, or GFSI), preferred.
• Experience with production equipment required.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Yes

Language Skills: English, Spanish a plus.

Physical Demands: Physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. Employee frequently is required to sit, stand, walk, use hands and fingers to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, or crouch. Employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception, the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts. The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; extreme cold and extreme heat. Noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but the employee may occasionally be exposed to high level noises including but not limited to manufacturing equipment.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by those assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required of personnel so classified.

Job Type: Full-time