Quality Assurance Manager Job Buffalo area,New York USA,Quality Assurance

Quality Assurance Manager

Join a team that nourishes life from farm to table! Upstate Niagara Cooperative, proudly owned by 200+ local family farms, is one of America's largest and most stable dairy cooperatives. Guided by farmer- and employee-led values, we process and market high-quality milk, yogurt, dips, sour cream, cottage cheese, and more under our trusted brands:
Upstate Farms®, Bison®, Milk for Life®, and Intense Milk®. Here, you'll support sustainable farming, strong communities, and the mission to deliver fresh, local dairy to families every day.

Manage all Plant Quality Assurance (QA) activities to ensure compliance with Upstate Niagara Cooperative Inc. and regulatory requirements. Primary areas of responsibility include Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Good Sanitation Practices (GSP), product conformity, and service quality. This position reports directly to the Manager of Corporate Quality Assurance, with functional reporting to the Plant Manager. The Quality Assurance Manager is part of the Plant's management team, representing Corporate QA at the Plant level and working to continuously improve product and process quality.

Key Responsibilities

Local Responsibilities (Plant-Level)

Develop and Implement a Plant Quality Plan

With the Plant Manager and Plant Management team, define the quality function's role and communicate it to all facility associates to ensure continuous improvement.

Serve as Facility SQF Practitioner

Maintain SQF Level 3 certification and manage continuous improvement programs.

Review and Audit Manufacturing Procedures

Ensure compliance with established practices and procedures.
Identify and address nonconformances, ensuring corrective actions are effective.

Ensure Regulatory Compliance

Be knowledgeable of and stay current on Federal and State requirements.
Represent the facility during inspections and audits by customers and regulatory agencies.

Maintain and Enforce GMP Guidelines

Collaborate with Plant Management and Corporate QA to update and enforce Good Manufacturing Practices.

Oversee Sanitation Practices

Work with Plant Management and Corporate QA to establish and validate sanitation programs.
Conduct periodic audits for compliance and evaluate new products/techniques.

Manage Product Specifications and Documentation

Establish systems to control and document release, holds, and disposition of products manufactured at the facility.

Provide Leadership for the Laboratory

Work closely with Laboratory Associates and Lab Supervisor to ensure proper training and supervision.
Perform analyses and participate in routine lab activities as needed.

Collaborate on Incoming Goods and Raw Materials Assessments

Develop quality assessment procedures for raw materials.
Work with Purchasing to establish and enforce quality standards with vendors.

Develop and Monitor Quality Department Budget

Establish and document the department budget and regularly analyze/report status for Quality Department

Establish Training Programs

Continually monitor the effectiveness of training for Operations and Quality personnel.

In the absence of the QA Manager, the QA Lab Lead will assume these duties.

Additional Key Responsibilities at the Corporate QA-Level

Implement Programs Supporting Upstate Niagara's Commitment to Product Excellence

Establish Plant Quality Metrics in cooperation with Corporate QA.

Issue Weekly Plant Quality Report

Represent the Plant in weekly and quarterly Quality Committee meetings.

Maintain Log of Concessions and communicate concessions effectively to Corporate Quality.

Design and Implement Quality Programs as required by Corporate QA (e.g., Hold Policy, Recall Policy, Pathogen Testing, Customer Complaint Resolution, HACCP).

Qualifications

Education

Bachelor's degree (B.S.) in Food, Dairy, or Natural Sciences from a four-year college or university; OR Equivalent combination of education (minimum AAS) and relevant experience.

Experience

Five to seven years of related experience and/or training in the Food and Beverage industry.
Active involvement in Quality Programs is required.
Previous supervisory experience is required.
Familiarity with ISO Quality Management Systems, HACCP, and statistical process…