North Pacific Seafoods – Pederson Point Looking for Quality Assurance Manager at Naknek, Alaska Full Time

The QA Manager oversees all aspects of the quality assurance program at a seafood processing plant.  Acts as the plant’s HACCP Team Coordinator, taking the lead role in directing the preparation and implementation of the site’s HACCP Plans.  In cooperation with the site’s management, prepares and disseminates the plant’s operation manuals.  Ensures plant operations adhere to the company’s and site’s operations manuals, and all regulatory requirements, customer specifications, and food safety standards mandated by the HACCP plan. Responsible for the site QMS program and quality benchmarks.  Acts as plant liaison with internal managers and regulatory agencies on food safety and quality issues. Maintains compliant paper and electronic business records, and files various internal and external reports. Trains employees in QA/QC subjects.  Supports corporate policies and initiatives and maintains positive relationships with the fishing fleet and employees.  This position is exempt from overtime and reports to the Corporate QA Manager, with dotted line reporting to the Plant Manager.

COVID-19 MANDATORY VACCINATION POLICY:  In accordance with NPSI’s duty to provide and maintain a safe workplace, we will require all employees to be fully vaccinated (boosters strongly recommended) against COVID-19 effective January 1st, 2022.  Applicants who are offered a position with NPSI who are in need of an exemption from this requirement due to a medical reason, or because of a sincerely held religious belief, must submit a completed Accommodation Request form to the Vice President of Human Resources to begin the interactive accommodation process as soon as the job offer is made.  If  you are offered a position and would like to request an Accommodation Request form, please call our corporate office at (206) 726-9900.

• Performs and manages all functions of the quality assurance program.
• As HACCP Team Coordinator, directs all activities of the site’s HACCP Team(s).
• Supervises and trains plant personnel in food safety and quality procedures.
• Ensures all plant operations conform to regulatory standards and good manufacturing practices.
• Responsible for HACCP plan and BRC certification.
• For plant QC and QA positions, interviews and screens applicants, makes hiring decisions, supervises staff, provides training and makes job change / termination decisions.
• Point of contact for regulatory bodies and customers on plant food safety and quality issues.
• Works with employees and supervisors to maintain harmonious working relationships and resolve conflict, in line with company policies.
• Submits purchasing requests for departmental supplies.
• Develops long-term professional working relationships with employees, fishermen, local communities and regulatory agencies. Represents the company professionally and appropriately in interactions with others.
• Maintains accurate, compliant and organized paper and electronic business records and files various internal and external reports.
• Keeps up to date with changing food safety and quality regulations and requirements.
• Works with other NPSI plants and the corporate office on various projects and initiatives.
• Other duties as assigned.

Employees live on site in communal bunkhouses with shared facilities.  The cookhouse prepares hearty and nutritious meals and snacks.  The housekeeping staff cleans and sanitizes restrooms and common areas.  Laundry is done for employees once a week. 

In Alaska, employees are paid overtime after eight regular hours in a day, and after 40 regular hours in a week.  With no onsite expenses, and hopefully a large fish run, this is often a great way to make money in a relatively short period of time.  NPSI recognizes several holidays during the year.  Hourly employees are paid at their overtime rate for all hours worked on the holiday.  In the summer, July 4th is a recognized holiday.

NPSI offers a generous employer matching 401(k) retirement plan and you are eligible to participate on day one!  We also offer affordable, traditional health insurance benefits that include medical, dental, vision and prescription coverage.

• 3+ years of seafood processing QA/QC experience, preferably in the Alaska seafood industry.
• HAACP certification preferred.
• Food science degree preferred.
• BRC certification experience preferred.
• Proven ability to manage employees, food safety and quality functions.
• Working knowledge of good manufacturing practices and food safety regulations.
• Influential, collaborative, professional demeanor. Effective oral and written communications.
• Intermediate Microsoft Office skills (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook).
• Ability and willingness to work in a seafood processing plant with inherent hazards such as moving machinery, ammonia, wet floors, noise, forklift traffic, etc. Work is often in inclement weather (cold, wind, rain, snow).
• Ability to work long hours, seven days a week, during the production seasons.
• Consistent and reliable attendance is an essential function of this position.

Transportation, Room and Board

NPSI provides transportation from certain points of travel (generally, Seattle WA and Anchorage, AK) to the worksite and back, as well as room and board, for those employees who work until they are laid off.  Employees who leave before the season ends may be responsible for their own transportation, and they will be charged $15 per day for room and board.

No Tolerances
North Pacific Seafoods prohibits the use, sale, or possession of ANY drug not medically authorized.  We do not allow the use or possession of marijuana, medical or otherwise, at our plants.  Employees may be asked to submit to random, post-accident, or for cause testing at any time, and NPSI reserves the right to search all areas of the plant without advance notice in order to maintain the no tolerance policy.

Important Considerations

This work can be hard, monotonous, and boring.  Most cell phones do not work in remote areas of Alaska.  Employees have access to pay phones at the plant.  GCI cell phones are the most reliable in Naknek.  T-Mobile and Verizon occasionally work.  NPSI provides free, limited access to a desktop computer to check email.  We also have limited WiFi connection.  There is no way to predict how much work will be available since this is a wild fishery.

Payroll Information

Our processor wage plan provides pay increases based on the total number of hours you work for our company.  The first increase (Tier II) is after 1,200 hours.  This means if you work longer seasons, or choose to come back multiple years, your hours accumulate towards these pay increases.  Pay periods are biweekly.  Our workday is defined as the calendar day, and our work week runs from Monday through Sunday.  Employees are paid on the Friday following the end of the biweekly pay period.  We encourage employees to sign up for direct deposit but you may elect to receive paper checks instead. 

Equal Employment Opportunity

It is NPSI’s policy to comply with federal, state, and local law prohibiting unlawful discrimination.   NPSI does not and will not permit discrimination (including harassment) in recruitment, hiring, or other employment actions and decisions based on an employee or applicant being a member of a protected class, which includes, but is not limited to, race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age (40 or older), disability and genetic information (including family medical history), or other statuses protected by state and local law. It is NPSI’s policy to provide legal and fair treatment to all employees regarding recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, wages, hours, benefits, working conditions, training, and availability of advancement opportunities.

At-Will Employment

NPSI is an “at-will” employer, meaning that the employee or NPSI may terminate employment at any time, with or without notice, and with or without cause.  No one at NPSI is authorized to guarantee employment for a certain time period or otherwise alter the at-will nature of employment with NPSI. The language that appears in this job posting is not intended to create and does not create, nor is it intended to constitute and does not constitute a contract between NPSI and any employee. No manager, employee, or representative of NPSI, except the President or CEO, has the authority to enter into any contract guaranteeing employment for any specific term, and no such contract shall be deemed binding unless it is in writing and signed by the President or CEO.

Accommodation Requests

NPSI provides reasonable accommodations to applicants during the application process to ensure equal access to all available positions.  To request accommodation, please call NPSI’s Vice President of Human Resources at (206) 726-9900.