Quality Assurance Auditor - Dairy

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Job description

Reports to: Quality Control Veterinarian

FLSA Status: Exempt

Company Overview

Select Milk is one of the nation's largest and most progressive dairy cooperatives, with likeminded producers that have earned a reputation for innovation in animal welfare, environmental sustainability, technology, and overall business practices. Established in 1994, Select Milk markets and processes milk from member dairies in the Southwest and the upper Mid-West. Headquartered in Dallas, the company represents over 116 family-owned dairies, 20 wholly owned subsidiaries, and 8 joint ventures with other major food/beverage producers.

Summary of Functions

Select Milk Producers (SMP) is looking to add a Quality Assurance Auditor for our Southwest dairy region. The Quality Assurance (QA) Auditor will work with the Production Practices team and dairy farm personnel to audit and monitor dairy farm operations and programs as they relate to animal care and welfare, animal safety, and regulatory issues. The selected candidate will work with dairy farm personnel to ensure the integrity and sustainability of the audit programs and will seek to establish and monitor key quality measures and locate improvement opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Conduct audits for the SMP dairies in the Southwest region, assessing the dairy's animal welfare standards and providing a complete report and analysis of the audit findings.
• In partnership with the dairy producers, dairy managers, farm personnel, and the Production Practices team, implement changes to address the prioritized issues and train and educate farm personnel as needed.
• Monitor and report on the implementation of animal welfare standards and the status of all programs on the dairies and the enforcement of corrective action plans.
• Make recommendations for revision of existing or the development of new standards as needed to ensure that animal welfare standards and guidelines reflect new research and technology.
• Operate as part of a high functioning cross disciplined team to elevate teammates and achieve objectives together. This will include clearly communicating schedules and priorities, documenting visits, keeping accurate records, sharing findings, and developing issues, as well as collaborating on innovative solutions for those issues.
• Provide ongoing team building and development for dairy farm leaders.
• Initiate animal welfare and care programs as well as development and execution of programs in the areas of employee development, worker safety, environmental stewardship, sustainability, food safety and antibiotic stewardship for SMP member dairies.

Qualifications

• Bi-lingual skills (English/Spanish) highly desired
• Auditing experience is desired but not required
• Experience in and understanding of some or all of the following fields: agricultural animal health and welfare, agriculture industry, food supply chain, farm management, principles and practices associated with animal welfare including animal husbandry and/or agricultural or humane education.
• Adept at building collaborative relationships and providing effective training and education to dairy farm personnel.
• Passion for animal care/welfare and the ability to provide objective audit analysis and reporting.
• Must have reliable transportation to visit the dairies in the respective region
• Must be physically capable of performing all aspects of dairy farm auditing role including standing for long periods.

Education

Bachelor's degree in animal welfare, animal science or agriculture or related field or related area from four-year college or university; or two-year degree in the above with a minimum of 3 years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Certificates and Licenses

• Farmer's Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Evaluator, or ability to achieve certification
• Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization (PAACO), or ability to achieve certification