Quality Assurance Manager

The Krusteaz Company is looking for a Quality Assurance Manager to join our Manhattan, Kansas team! The Quality Assurance Manager is responsible for overseeing all plant-level quality efforts to ensure that products and processes meet or exceed company, customer, and regulatory standards for product quality and food safety. This role involves both leadership and hands-on involvement across the plant’s quality processes, including the quality lab and production floor.

The manager will work closely with cross‑functional teams, including Corporate QA, to ensure alignment with quality initiatives and goals. Additionally, this position plays a key role in building customer relationships and leading the resolution of quality‑related issues.

• Lead and manage the Quality Assurance team, including hiring, training, performance management, and development.
• Oversee all foundational Food Safety and Quality programs.
• Develop and execute a site‑specific strategic quality plan to meet business objectives.
• Facilitate change and lead improvement efforts.
• Collaborate with other plants’ quality teams and corporate QA to establish overall quality goals and standards.
• Align Quality department objectives with the overall plant’s goals and work closely with other departments such as Operations, Purchasing, Logistics, and R&D.
• Identify and implement quality improvement initiatives using a data‑driven approach within a collaborative environment.
• Ensure that food safety, security, and regulatory compliance are met through programs such as HACCP, GMP, microbial surveillance, and product protection.
• Manage plant‑level quality programs, including pest control, sanitation, waste management, and chemical safety practices.
• Serve as a technical resource for internal teams, customers, and suppliers regarding quality and food safety.
• Oversee and manage plant inspections and audits (e.g., FDA, BRC, Kosher), implementing action plans as needed.
• Lead the plant’s response to quality complaints, including investigation and resolution.
• Proactively identify and mitigate food safety risks.
• Represent the Quality department in interactions with customers, sales teams, auditors, and regulatory agencies.
• Develop and monitor SOP’s for quality systems.

Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities may include conducting quarterly check‑ins and annual reviews, interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

• B.S. in Food Science or a related technical field, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 5‑10 years of food quality and food safety experience in QA or a quality‑related function, with at least 5 years of leadership experience in the food industry.
• Proven experience in developing and managing food safety systems.
• Strong problem‑solving, communication, and leadership skills, with experience in cross‑functional team collaboration.
• Occasional travel required for annual quality and leadership meetings, as well as internal audit support.

This position requires working in both manufacturing and office environments. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, sit, talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone along with reaching. Specific vision abilities include close vision requirements due to computer work. Moderate noise, ability to work in a confined area, and ability to sit at a computer for an extended period of time are also included.

Must be able to effectively communicate and work in a dynamic environment. You may also be on your feet for several hours a day and may be exposed to a variety of physical demands that require you to lift heavy objects, climb stairs, exert energy, bend, twist and squat and use tools and equipment in an indoor production environment that has a high level of food dust and limited climate control while wearing…