Assistant QA Manager

Assistant Quality Assurance Manager

Salary Range: $80K - $95K

Are you ready to elevate your career in manufacturing operations and be a part of creating the world's best desserts? Dessert Holdings partners with some of North America's most iconic chains to bring people together to celebrate life's sweetest moments! We have an amazing opportunity to join a high-growth organization and pave the way for future career advancement.

Dessert Holdings is looking for an Assistant Quality Assurance Manager to join our team based in Aurora, CO
. This position oversees Quality Assurance (QA) activities and assists QA Managers and Sr. Dir FSQA for implementing Quality Management Systems including SQF, HACCP, FSMA, and GMPs and to ensure safety and quality of employees and products.

The typical hiring range for this role is $80,000 to $95,000 annually and is based on several factors such as education, work experience, skills, certifications, location, etc. In addition to pay, Dessert Holdings offers benefits such as a choice of comprehensive medical plans, dental and vision insurance, paid vacation and holidays, and retirement contribution to all eligible employees.

• Ensures Safe Quality Food (SQF) guidelines and directives are implemented, maintained, and functioning effectively.
• Understands and applies policies and procedures related to SQF, HACCP, FSMA, GMP, and DH requirements.
• Supports all audit activities, including GFSI, customer, regulatory, IPF, and internal audits.
• Oversees and enforces food safety and quality programs, including quality checks, formula reviews, and specification audits.
• Manages inventory release and hold processes for finished goods (FG), raw materials (RAW), and work-in-progress (WIP).
• Administers the foreign object control program, CCP/PC validation, and shelf-life studies.
• Assists in training new QA employees, emphasizing food safety and quality standards.
• Assumes QA Manager responsibilities in their absence, including daily operations, reporting, and issue resolution.
• Conducts floor audits to verify effective implementation of QA policies and procedures; escalates deviations and collaborates with cross-functional teams to restore process control.
• Leads customer complaint investigations and internal issue reviews.
• Communicates product deviations to cross-functional teams and recommends corrective actions for nonconformances.
• Coordinates laboratory sample handling to ensure proper labeling, submission, and accurate testing.
• Exhibits excellent verbal communication, coaching skills, and the ability to work effectively in a team environment.

• BS degree or equivalent experience in a food manufacturing environment
• At least 5+ years of QA experience in food production
• At least 3+ years of prior supervisory experience
• Certification in a GFSI audit scheme and/or PCQI certification is preferred; must be able to obtain these certifications
• Must have a flexible schedule including working weekends, as necessary
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; bilingual in Spanish is preferred
• Intermediate to advanced proficiency using Microsoft Office, ERP systems, and other software programs
• Ability to work in a team environment.
• Must spend 50% of the time on the production floor.
• Travels up to 20% to other facilities within the DH organization.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is expected to actively participate on the production floor.
• Use hands and fingers to handle objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms.
• Stoop, kneel or bend.
• Lift and/or move up to 30 pounds and push/pull up to 45 pounds; is required to ask for assistance if weight is exceeded

Dessert Holdings is North America's fastest-growing premium dessert company, bringing unparalleled dessert experiences to both retail and food service customers. The company, headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, is a collection of premium dessert companies and brands:
Steven Charles, The Original Cakerie, Lawler's Desserts, Atlanta Cheesecake Company, Dianne's Fine Desserts, and Kenny's Great Pies. Dessert Holdings is owned by Bain Capital, employing more than 3,200 people across nine North American manufacturing facilities.

Dessert Holdings and its related entities provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or any other characteristics protected by law.