Jonathan Cerar Email & Phone Number

Kent, Wa, Us

Quality Assurance Manager leading key food safety, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency programs across multiple locations. Responsible for ensuring products meet the highest standards of quality and safety.Key achievements include:Completed a multi-department label update project in 3 months, achieving 100% first-print accuracy by managing a cross-functional team using the stage gate process.Maintained SQF food safety system, consistently achieving an "Excellent" rating for 5 consecutive years by performing comprehensive food safety verification activities.Led the USDA Organic Compliance program, ensuring 100% certification success, by maintaining strict adherence to the organic system plan.Managed the customer complaint program, achieving a 90% resolution rate within one week and preventing recurring issues through trend analysis and targeted corrective actions.Maintained the CAPA system, resolving 95% of issues within 2 weeks and reducing incident recurrence by implementing effective corrective and preventive measures.Reduced stock outs to below 2% month-over-month by creating an automated inventory management system, improving control over raw materials and packaging.Developed a digital Production Ordering Schedule, reducing production planning time by 50% and eliminating transcription errors by automating previous manual processes.Managed the antibiotic testing program, leading a team of 12 analysts and achieving less than 1% false positives year-over-year by enhancing training and ensuring strict compliance.Streamlined the product testing laboratory, reducing cost per test by 15% while maintaining high testing standards by optimizing lab processes.Developed and implemented HACCP and food safety plans, achieving zero major findings in WSDA and FDA audits over a 12-year period through comprehensive risk assessment and hazard analysis.

Took a brief career break to focus on family and relocation, managing household responsibilities and a move to the Seattle area. Returned to the workforce after securing childcare and began seeking new professional opportunities.

Meridian, Id, Us

Laboratory Manager at Udder Health Systems, leading the lab through a period of rapid growth and process improvements. Responsibilities included overseeing laboratory operations, managing staff, and developing systems to increase efficiency and accuracy. Key accomplishments include:Boosted sample processing capacity by 25%, increasing daily throughput by developing a laboratory database for data input, tracking, and reporting.Enhanced accuracy and efficiency, improving sample processing times and reducing errors, by implementing analyst qualification and proficiency systems.Increased output and reduced staff turnover by mentoring and supervising laboratory analysts in a collaborative environment, measured by improved proficiency testing.Improved diagnostic capabilities through the successful introduction of new microbiological testing methods by collaborating with industry experts and academia.Increased workload capacity without compromising quality by optimizing the laboratory budget and managing a team of four analysts while coordinating workflow.Created a new revenue stream by designing and conducting product effectiveness studies, leading to successful customer adoption before commercial release.

Bellevue, Wa, Us

Chemist at Pascal, playing a key role in both quality assurance and production, ensuring product consistency and regulatory compliance. Key accomplishments include:Ensured consistent product quality, as measured by adherence to industry and regulatory standards, by conducting chemical analysis of raw materials and finished products.Enhanced test accuracy and minimized downtime by maintaining and calibrating laboratory equipment, ensuring reliable results.Increased production efficiency, as measured by reduced manufacturing time, by researching and developing new manufacturing method.Secured regulatory compliance and maintained certifications by performing internal audits in line with FDA, ISO 9001, and ISO 13485 standards.Improved production efficiency and minimized errors by assisting with product batching and ensuring accurate formulation.