Position Title:  QA Manager

Supervisor: Operations Manager

FLSA Status: Exempt
Wage Grade: Salary

Supervisory: QA-Lab Tech

About Us

Our Purpose: Creating joy in the universe. Ecliptic Brewing is a venture from John Harris, an Oregon craft brewing icon. The name Ecliptic Brewing unites John’s two passions: brewing and astronomy. The ecliptic is earth’s yearly path around the sun, and we celebrate this journey through the seasons with the food and beer we make. 

Our core values help make this possible: Collaborative, Good Ambassador, Innovative, Quality, Does the Right Thing. We are a Cosmic group of people, interconnected by our passion for knowledge, our jobs, and the industry. We care about Ecliptic Brewing and believe mindful experiences, respectful and free-flowing communication, and creative problem solving are the cornerstones for our company goals.  We work together, pushing the boundaries of beer and food to lead the industry, while providing the best products and services possible. We take pride in our work, we conduct ourselves with integrity, and are accountable to ourselves, the company and the community.                                

Position Description:

The QA Manager will play a critical role in maintaining and enhancing the overall product and customer experience by ensuring the integrity of our product. This position is responsible for leading our quality assurance labs (e.g., Microbiology, Analytical Chemistry, Sensory and Material Quality). This position will develop, implement, execute, and improve world-class methods to conduct day-to-day product and process analysis to provide information and to make informed product and process quality decisions.  The ideal candidate will be an experienced self-starter who can help us continue to develop our QA/QC program.  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

(Leadership and Staff Development)

Ecliptic runs on the Entrepreneurial Operating System or EOS. This is a unique way of operating a business that stresses Accountability and Ownership of one's Responsibilities. More will be explained upon assuming the responsibilities of this position.

• LMA-Lead, Manage and hold Accountable all direct reports

• Embrace our core values, and set a positive example in all aspects of the business

• Maintain a positive and professional approach with coworkers and customers

• Collaborate with the Operations Manager in decisions on employee hiring, termination, advancement, wage increases’ promotion or any other change of status of other employees.

• Ensure that hiring standards are followed, resulting in the most highly skilled and culture compatible staff

• Coordinate and complete all employee training including: orientation of department policies and procedures, safe operation of all Lab equipment, lifting, carrying and handling of materials

• Build a strong team through ability to listen, learn, and coach. Enable team to achieve personal and professional goals by always driving toward improvement; Actively engage in performance management. 

• Rectify arising problems or complaints

• Complete Quarterly Conversations with direct reports

• Update and audit employee files to ensure proper documentation

• Provide leadership and direct supervision to Lab Technicians

• Establish daily testing protocols. 

• Ensure completion of daily testing and analytical procedures

• Technical guidance and leadership on decisions concerning product quality, corrective actions and product disposition; Maintain a culture of quality 

• Determining system improvements, collaborating with staff and management to develop new and improved manufacturing and training methods 

• Attend meetings and brewery functions as required

(Lab Operations)

• QA/QC Development

• Analyze all lab data collected

• Build, update, and maintain SOPs for all lab procedures, tests and quality checkpoints; Develop and implements innovative, advanced methods for assigned areas including all supporting mechanisms 

• Analyze current procedures and make recommendations on additional equipment and testing procedures; Working within the budget, implement new tools and methods to track and analyze the data being gathered

• Provides longer-term strategic direction and shorter-term detailed plans for Quality department

• Participate in industry collaborative and external comparisons to validate test methods

• Sensory

• Maintain a validated tasting panel to produce quantifiable sensory data on produced beer

• Provide educational and open tastings within Ecliptic departments on attribute and off-flavor recognition

• Organize, Lead, and Participate in Sensory Analysis. Includes, triangle testing,Duo Trio, and other methods tasting samples from each new product, stability analysis and shelf life recommendations. 

•  Accurate data documentation including the QA database.

• Field all quality incident reports and perform necessary testing on available samples. Communicate results to Operations and Marketing for process and/or customer follow up.

• Maintain and improve quality by investigating customer complaints, completing product, company, system, and compliance audits.

• Collect, maintain, compile and present quality related data including departmental proficiency information.

• Maintain data input and analysis to track brand maintenance.

• Work with Head Brewer to evaluate beers out of the Pilot System.

• Provide documentation to establish product specifications and quality attributes

• Prepare reports by collecting, analyzing and summarizing information and trends from stability studies, corrective actions, failed processes, and re-validations

• Data entry of the Quality portion of Orchestrated Beer. 

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve control charts and Out-of-Control (OOC) action plans to validate results for all assigned measurements.

• Provide support for analysis and root cause corrective action for OOC conditions on assigned measurements.

• Lab Management

• Maintain a clean and orderly laboratory environment

• Perform instrument operation, preventative maintenance, and calibration of such equipment as: GC, pH Meter, Spectrophotometer, PCR Machine

• Order lab supplies as needed

• Maintain an organized beer archive; Maintain packaged beer archive for sensory panels; Perform shelf-life studies and define our current acceptable shelf-life of each brand with regards to flavor and physical stability

• All other duties as assigned

Desired Skills and Experience

• At least 3 years supervisory experience in QA/QC Department or Lab

• Degree in Biology, Chemistry, Fermentation/Food Science or related field preferred

• Previous experience in the brewing industry is highly preferred 

• Formal brewing education a plus 

• Demonstrated knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices. (GMP)

• High level of data and analytical skills

• Advanced mathematical and reasoning skills

• Great attention to detail

• Strong work ethic and self-starting attitude

• Good interpersonal skills and team spirit

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Organized with excellent time management skills

• The desire to work in a fast-paced, growing company 

• Ability to think outside the box and propose new ideas

• Genuine enthusiasm for craft beer; Is knowledgeable about beer and the brewing process

• Must be able to make independent, executive decisions regarding quality of product 

• Computer proficiency including PCs, MS Office Suite and Google drive

• Ability to use all equipment associated with QA/QC (GC, Spectrophotometer, PCR machine); Demonstrated mechanical aptitude.

• Willingness to occasionally work during evenings and weekends

Job Requirements

• Able to stand for prolonged periods of time

• Able to stoop, crawl, twist, turn, lift, kneel, climb ladders and stairs

• Able to regularly lift/carry 50 pound boxes

• Occasionally moving up to 165 pound kegs and materials

• Able to work in indoor and outdoor environment with moderate noise, sometimes slippery floors

• Floor surface may vary from hard tiled floor or concrete to carpet

• Ability to tolerate a high-level work pace that is typical for a retail food industry

• The noise level in the work environment can be loud

• Able to work 6-8 hours on your feet 

What we offer

• Competitive base salary/pay

• Vacation: 80 hours a year PTO, 24 hours of Personal time, 8 hours Birthday PTO

• Additional PTO potential: Ecliptic Observed Holidays, 8 hours volunteer pay, increase PTO based on years of service

• Partial paid/fully paid Health Insurance premiums following waiting period

• Food and Beer benefits

• Free Employee assistance program and Telemedicine