Apparel Quality Assurance Manager

Department: CNPD - Product Development
Post End Date: 12/08/2017
Position Type: Employee
Position Reports To: Senior Sourcing Manager
Position Supervises: Quality Assurance –Administrative Support Personnel
Pay Level: 9
FLSA Status: Exempt
 

 

Position Summary:

Develop/manage Kroger policies/programs to ensure regulatory compliance for apparel products that are covered under federal/state regulations. Work with Kroger procurement, product development, import and other departments to ensure proper testing programs/procedures are in place for both regulatory and quality attributes. Demonstrate the company’s core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion and safety.

Essential Job Functions:

• Supervise and coach direct reports in the performance of their duties; complete performance reviews and provide feedback to direct reports
• Develop an escalation process; work with regulatory compliance, buyers and development team to evaluate fabric, trim and product testing failures and make final decision to retest or override for production purposes
• Develop stringent policy to review final inspection failures and make final decision to ship or fail a shipment
• Utilize centric to access testing reports from Bureau Veritas; work with sourcing manager to periodically review with suppliers and product development teams
• Incorporate testing reports from centric into supplier score card
• Develop on-boarding documents for direct import suppliers
• Build out supplier score card – Phase 1: Implement goals of social compliance, on time shipping, testing of pass/fail rates, and final inspection of pass/fail rates; Phase 2: Implement goals of performance on color lab-dips, strike offs and fit submits
• Work with sourcing managers and product development teams to tier suppliers in each region and create 1, 3 and 5 year projections with key suppliers
• Work with factories to fill product category needs, such as pants and sweaters
• Build out factory capabilities audits, focusing on upstream and downstream capabilities or contracting arrangements
• Develop in country final inspection capabilities through contract labor or factory conducted evaluations
• Develop final inspection qualified factory certification process for factories
• Develop pre, pro and du pro inspection audits/protocols for new factories and factories with issues
• Conduct and direct import factory conducted final inspection audits
• Work with senior sourcing manager to decide whether a product is commercially acceptable after failing third-party final inspections
• Develop work in progress (WIP) process for all purchase orders
• Develop basic production planning schedule for key programs
• Determine a strategy to review product in stores and conduct tests to assess the quality of store bought products
• Travel to schedule third-party final inspections in Asia with auditors
• Must be able to perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation

Minimum Position Qualifications/Education:

• Bachelor’s degree or 3 years’ experience in general merchandise, design/buying, compliance, sourcing and/or supply chain
• Ability to read, understand and interpret Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and state regulations/laws
• Ability to communicate to non-regulatory audiences (e.g., merchandisers, operators, corporate brands associates, etc.)
• Proficient Microsoft Office skills

Desired Previous Job Experience/Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in chemical, mechanical, textile or material engineering, chemistry or biology
• Five years’ experience in general merchandise product compliance

 

Education Level: Bachelor's Desired
Required Travel: Up to 25%
Required Certifications/Licenses: None
Position Type: Full-Time
Regions: West

States: Oregon
Keywords:

 

Jobs at Kroger: At Kroger, we hire people who have a passion for helping others and who want to build a relationship with our Customers. No matter what stage of your career, you can build your future at Kroger. We look for people who want more, aspire to be more and work hard to achieve their goals. Our focus on keeping the Customer first is what makes us successful. We offer many opportunities not only in our stores, but in Manufacturing, Logistics, Marketing, Finance, Human Resources, and many other fields.
 

Company Overview
Kroger Family of Companies employs nearly 443,000 associates who serve customers in 2,796 retail food stores under a variety of in 35 states and the District of Columbia.  Kroger and its subsidiaries operate an expanding ClickList offering – a personalized, order online, pick up at the store service – in addition to 2,253 pharmacies, 787 convenience stores, 324 fine jewelry stores, 1,439 supermarket fuel centers and 38 food production plants in the United States.  Kroger is recognized as one of America’s most generous companies for its support of more than 100 Feeding America food bank partners, breast cancer research and awareness, the military and their families, and more than 145,000 community organizations including schools. Careers with The Kroger Co. and our family of companies offer competitive wages, flexible schedules, benefits and room for advancement.

 

 Posting Notes:  OR || Portland || 3800 S.E. 22Nd Ave. || 97202 || Kroger General Office || [[mfield2]] || Apparel (Fred Meyer) || Employee || Exempt || Full-Time || None