Now Hiring: Quality Specialist

Reports to: Senior Quality & Innovation Manager 

Location: Austin, Texas 

Position Scope:

Force of Nature (FON) is a category disrupting brand that has quickly become the fastest growing brand in meat.  Founded to accelerate the creation of a global regenerative supply network; we are revolutionizing the industry to not just improve but to create positive returns for land, for animal welfare, for communities and for consumers. As the Quality Specialist, you will play a pivotal role in commercialization activities by applying your highly-detail oriented skillset to help ensure products will meet FON quality and regulatory standards. You will be responsible for developing and maintaining product quality and food safety technical specifications for new and existing products. This role involves collaborating with co-processor Quality Assurance teams and other supplier partners to strengthen new product development,  drive regulatory and quality compliance, and ensure product consistency.  You will provide guidance and recommendations throughout product and process development. Additionally, you will partner with Product Research & Development, external laboratories, and other Quality teams to conduct regular product quality reviews, end-of-shelf-life evaluations , and on-shelf label audits, ensuring label accuracy and full compliance with FON standards and regulatory requirements. You will also support incorporation of consumer feedback into  continuous improvement initiatives, monitor quality incidents, lead CAPA (Corrective and Preventative Actions), and enhance supplier oversight. Working closely with Operations and Quality Assurance, you will help deliver a consistent, high-quality consumer product experience.  The ideal candidate is a seasoned professional with extensive knowledge of meat production, meat science, and meat processing. You must possess exceptional attention to detail, particularly in listening to, interpreting and documenting complex technical information from multiple stakeholders.

Major Responsibilities  

*Note that responsibilities may be added or adjusted over time.

Product Specifications

• Lead the development, organization and maintenance of product technical specifications with meticulous attention to detail and zero tolerance for errors for new and existing products.
• Collaborate closely with product innovation, marketing, sales, food safety and suppliers, demonstrating superior listening and interpretation skills to accurately capture and document product requirements into clear technical specifications.
• Review and validate product claims, and ensure all specifications meet or exceed regulatory requirements.

Regulatory Labeling & Nutritional Compliance

Develop and manage an organized, company-specific ingredient database for inputting formulations and generating accurate Nutrition Facts Panels on demand.

• Collaborate on the creation of internal guidance documents and processes to ensure consistent compliance with state, federal, and international regulations.
• Serve as the regulatory nutrition labeling specialist, providing nutritional guidance.
• Spearhead FSIS Label submissions and approvals including during product development stages.
• Develop and maintain an organized system of Generic and Official USDA Label approvals along with relevant supporting documentation.

Incident Management & CAPA: Testing, Tracking & Evaluation

• Support ongoing product testing programs (chemical, physical, microbiological, and nutritional) and manage third-party laboratory results.
• Collaborate on incident investigations, documentation, scorecards and CAPAs with internal and external FSQA and suppliers.
• Track, trend, and report product quality deviations, test result anomalies, vendor non-conformances, and maintain the Product Quality scorecard.
• Partner with Food Safety, Product Development, and Marketing to evaluate product acceptability and develop CAPA plans for out-of-specification results.
• Co-lead product quality evaluations and end-of-shelf-life testing sessions.
• Collaborate systems for receiving, organizing, and distributing Certificates of Analysis (COAs) with co-processors.

Project Management & Process Improvement

• Prioritize and manage projects according to Product Marketing timelines to support timely delivery of quality compliance and specifications responsibilities to the Innovation team.
• Conduct gap analyses, identify process improvements, and implement efficiency initiatives across quality systems.
• Assist with the identification, writing, implementation of internal quality system’s SOPs and best practices.

Professional Development & Monitoring

• Monitor industry and regulatory trends related to food safety and quality.
• Build scientific and technical expertise, applying knowledge to solve a wide range of food quality & safety issues.

Professional Knowledge, Education & Experience:

• Proven ability to review complex technical and regulatory inputs and organize them into efficient, practical, and user-friendly systems.
• Demonstrates comprehensive meat & poultry product knowledge, development and commercialization concepts and methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to excel in a hands-on, fast paced entrepreneurial/start up environment.

In-depth knowledge of:

• Product Quality/Food Safety for high-risk products and processing environments,
• Testing methodologies for claims validation, Quality Assurance and control processes and workflows,
• Meat & poultry product specific quality & regulatory knowledge (Dietary supplement ingredients and regulations preferred.)

Strong understanding of:

• HACCP/FSMA principles
• Program leadership skills
• Cross-functional team leadership skills
  
  
• Retail product life-cycle management 
• FDA/USDA Food labeling regulations.
• Meat & Poultry facility engineering/technologies/process design.
• Demonstrated ability to excel in a hands-on, fast paced entrepreneurial/start up environment.
• Demonstrated self-starter with an active passion for positive change including processes, skills & technology.
• Demonstrated desire to constantly expand and improve on skills and knowledge base.
• BA/BS degree in a related field (Food, Nutrition, Meat or Animal Science) plus 4-6 years of relevant experience. Extensive and directly applicable professional experience and demonstrated impact within the meat industry may be considered in lieu of the formal education requirement.

Interpersonal & Communication Skills:

• Exceptional attention to detail with a proven track record in listening, interpreting, and accurately documenting technical requirements, specifications, and stakeholder input. 
• Conveys and/or consults on issues of moderate to significant complexity.
• Highly effective communicator.
• Communicates structured information, project, or investigation information in a clear, concise, and organized fashion.
• Regularly interacts with colleagues or customers up to the technical leadership level.
• Collaborates with others to achieve objectives and ensure information flow.
• Effectively presents information and responds to questions in both one-on-one situations and group meetings.
• Operates with the highest level of integrity and is widely trusted.

Teamwork & Collaboration:

• Participates in and provides support to the team and cross-functional projects.
• Impacts the overall team effectiveness.
• May provide informal support to team members.
• Networks with key contacts outside own area of expertise.
• Builds relationships with senior level stakeholders and leaders.
• Is dedicated to exceeding the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers. 

Project Management:

• Advanced understanding of the standard project management methodologies and requirements.
• Advanced ability to plan, estimate, organize, and monitor projects.
• Ability to oversee and advise on project management issues and assist with overcoming the barriers.
• Ability to keep multiple projects on track financially, creatively, and in accordance with the stakeholder’s deadlines.

Organization & Business Knowledge:

• Understands the trends and emerging challenges of the customer, market, and industry.
• Applies business and project understanding to focus the project / team’s efforts.
• Demonstrates excellent knowledge of the FON product mix, supply base, and retail operations.
• Ability to maintain entrepreneurial/scrappy mindset in order to efficiently achieve business goals.
• Is enthusiastic about the company and has unquestioned credibility with the entire team.
• Adheres to the FON values and beliefs in every interaction with employees, partners and customers during both good and tough times.

Physical Requirements / Working Conditions:

• Must be able to read and interpret recipes, numbers on scales, perform basic math and judge color, consistency, placement of materials for quality control
• Travel including overnight trips may be required.
• Tasks in operating manufacturing facilities, and product inspection in warehouse operations, all under adverse conditions (hot, cold, wet, elevated situations, etc.).
• Must be able to occasionally lift and carry up to 60 lbs.
• Ability to physically perform general office requirements.
• Passion for an active health & wellness lifestyle 

Proficiencies:

• Expert understanding of Google and Microsoft Office applications (Gmail, Drive and Docs, Excel, Word).
• Experience working with Process Planning, Project Management. ERP and/or QA related software.
• Advanced proficiency skills with web-based specification systems.

Please email cover letter and resume to: support@forceofnaturemeats.com