Specifications Manager - Lakeview Farms : Job Details

Company Overview:

At Lakeview Farms, we are committed to delivering exceptional food products that meet the highest standards of quality and safety. As a leader in the food manufacturing industry, we recognize the importance of clear and precise specifications to ensure consistency, excellence, and alignment with customer expectations.

Position Overview:

We are seeking a Specification Manager to join our Corporate Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA) Organization. This critical role will be responsible for developing, maintaining, and continuously improving specifications for raw materials and finished goods. The Specification Manager will work cross-functionally with R&D, Operations, Procurement, and FSQA teams to ensure that all ingredients and products meet defined analytical measures and quality standards.

The primary objective of this role is to clearly define and document what good looks like for all ingredients and finished products, supporting operational excellence and ensuring compliance with company and regulatory standards.

Key Responsibilities:

Specification Development:

• Create and maintain detailed specifications for raw materials, ingredients, and finished goods.
• Define analytical measures, key performance attributes, and quality parameters for all products.
• Ensure specifications align with company quality standards, regulatory requirements, and customer expectations.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Partner with R&D to translate product development requirements into actionable specifications.
• Work closely with Operations to ensure specifications are feasible and operationally aligned.
• Collaborate with Procurement to align supplier expectations and validate raw material specifications.
• Support FSQA by ensuring specifications meet food safety and compliance requirements.

Data Management and Documentation:

• Maintain an accurate, organized, and up-to-date database of all specifications.
• Develop systems to track changes and ensure version control for all specification documents.

Continuous Improvement:

• Identify opportunities to enhance specification processes and improve clarity and consistency.
• Benchmark industry best practices and apply them to optimize specification development and maintenance.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Technology, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in the food manufacturing or CPG industry, with a focus on specifications, quality assurance, or product development.
• Strong understanding of raw materials, ingredient functionality, and finished goods manufacturing processes.
• Excellent collaboration skills with experience working cross-functionally in a fast-paced environment.
• Exceptional attention to detail and ability to translate complex information into clear, actionable documentation.
• Proficiency in specification management systems or other relevant software tools.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements (e.g., FDA, USDA, FSMA) and industry quality standards.
• Analytical mindset with strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.

Why Join Us:

• Be part of a collaborative team that values quality, innovation, and excellence.
• Opportunity to shape and improve processes that directly impact product quality and company success.
• Competitive compensation and benefits package, including opportunities for professional growth.