CIS QUALITY MANAGER - 73935

Executive Service

Along with your resume, please submit a cover letter describing how your background (education, work history, and other experience) best qualifies you for this position.

Who we are and what we do:

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture's Division of Consumer & Industry Services (CIS) monitors a diverse range of materials, products, and services to ensure quality, consumer protection, public safety, and a fair marketplace.

To support a safe food supply, the Food and Dairy section enforces bottled water regulations and licenses and inspects retail food stores, food processors and manufacturers, food warehouses and distributors, dairy farms and milk transport trucks, and custom slaughterhouses.

The Plant Certification section oversees licensing of plant nurseries, dealers, and greenhouses and guarantees healthy, pest-free plants in interstate and international trade.

The Pesticides section registers pesticides for use in Tennessee, inspects pest control businesses, certifies applicators, and monitors groundwater quality.

The Weights and Measures section works to ensure citizens get what they pay for by testing devices such as fuel pumps, commercial scales, and liquid propane gas meters for accuracy. Truth in labeling is verified for fuel quality standards. Inspections are also made for net quantity on packaged products and for the accuracy of price verification systems.

Furthermore, the Division promotes pollinator health, administers grain indemnity, and enforces laws to prevent youth access to tobacco.

How you make a difference in this role:

Essential to enforcing the wide-ranging regulations described above is a system to ensure that the Division's activities are conducted in an accurate, timely, and consistent manner and with exceptional customer service. This position will report directly to the Assistant Commissioner of CIS and will lead the development and implementation of a formalized Quality Management System.

The level at which this position will operate is alongside CIS program directors, with the expectation of a close working relationship that bridges office and field activities. The Division's activities for licensing and inspection are housed within an electronic platform used across every program area. A separate IT position leads the internal team for development, user acceptance testing, and training on that system. However, the Quality Manager will sit on this team as well. Additionally, the CIS Quality Manager will work with the Laboratory Quality Manager to ensure the quality of the data passed between regulators and laboratory staff.

Key Responsibilities:

Quality Management System (QMS)

1. Develop, implement, and maintain the Quality Management System.
2. Ensure regulatory processes (licenses, permitting, and inspections) are documented, controlled, and continuously improved.
3. Align quality objectives with organizational goals.

Compliance & Regulatory Oversight

1. Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and standards.
2. Prepare for and manage external audits, inspections, and certifications.
3. Monitor regulatory changes and update policies accordingly.

Continuous Improvement

1. Lead continuous improvement initiatives (e.g., Lean, Kaizen, Six Sigma).
2. Analyze quality metrics and performance data to identify trends.
3. Drive root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions (CAPA).

Audit & Risk Management -Plan and conduct internal audits

1. Manage nonconformances and follow-up actions. -Identify quality risks and implement mitigation strategies.

Process & Product Quality Control -Define quality standards and acceptance criteria

1. Oversee testing, inspections, and validation activities.
2. Ensure supplier and vendor quality requirements are met.

Training & Culture

1. Train employees on quality policies, procedures, and standards.
2. Promote a culture of quality and accountability across the organization.
3. Act as a quality advocate and advisor to leadership and staff.

Customer & Stakeholder Engagement

1. Handle customer complaints and feedback related to quality.
2. Ensure customer requirements are understood and met.
3. Communicate quality performance to leadership and stakeholders.

Reporting & Leadership -Track and report key quality metrics (KPIs)

1. Support strategic planning and decision-making.
2. Lead or mentor quality teams and cross-functional groups.

Minimum Qualifications:

Skills & Competencies:

1. Strong knowledge of quality standards and regulations
2. Analytical and problem-solving skills
3. Audit and risk management expertise
4. Communication and leadership abilities
5. Data-driven decision-making

Pursuant to the State of Tennessee's Workplace Discrimination and Harassment policy, the State is firmly committed to the principle of fair and equal employment opportunities for its citizens and strives to protect the rights and opportunities of all people to seek, obtain, and hold employment without being subjected to illegal discrimination and harassment in the workplace. It is the State's policy to provide an environment free of discrimination and harassment of an individual because of that person's race, color, national origin, age (40 and over), sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status or any other category protected by state and/or federal civil rights laws.