Qualtiy Assurance Manager

Company: Sun Holdings

Department: Quality Assurance

Reports To: VP of Purchasing

Sun Holdings is seeking a Quality Assurance Manager to lead food safety, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance across our multi-brand restaurant portfolio and supplier network. This position is responsible for protecting guest safety, maintaining product integrity, and ensuring consistent quality standards at both the restaurant and supplier levels.

The Quality Assurance Manager will partner with Purchasing, Operations, Culinary/R&D, Legal, suppliers, and distribution partners to manage inspections, supplier approvals, product specifications, nutritional information, quality investigations, and recall coordination. The ideal candidate combines technical food science expertise with a practical understanding of restaurant operations and strong problem-solving skills.

• Establish, implement, and monitor food safety and quality standards across assigned brands and restaurant locations.
• Review Health Department inspection results and third-party audits, identify recurring issues, and partner with Operations on corrective action plans.
• Develop and maintain HACCP programs, food safety procedures, and inspection documentation.
• Support restaurant leadership in responding to inspection findings and maintaining productive relationships with regulatory agencies.
• Provide guidance and training on food handling, sanitation, temperature control, allergen management, and contamination prevention.

• Manage supplier qualification, approval, and ongoing quality performance.
• Review supplier audits, certifications, HACCP plans, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and regulatory documentation.
• Coordinate supplier audits or facility assessments based on product risk, performance, or quality concerns.
• Track supplier deficiencies and corrective actions through completion and verify their effectiveness.
• Maintain current supplier approval records and communicate significant risks to Purchasing and leadership.

• Partner with Purchasing, Culinary/R&D, Operations, and suppliers to develop and validate product specifications.
• Review ingredients, allergens, nutritional information, packaging, shelf life, storage requirements, and quality acceptance criteria.
• Coordinate product evaluations to confirm consistency, food safety, brand standards, and suitability for restaurant use.
• Evaluate supplier changes, reformulations, substitutions, and new products through established review and approval processes.

• Investigate product defects, foreign material concerns, spoilage, contamination risks, temperature abuse, packaging failures, and labeling discrepancies.
• Gather supporting documentation and work with suppliers and distributors to establish traceability and identify root causes.
• Require and monitor corrective and preventive action plans to resolve issues and reduce recurrence.
• Coordinate product holds, withdrawals, and recalls with Purchasing, Operations, Legal, suppliers, and distribution partners.
• Support mock recalls and maintain accurate records of affected products, communications, and final disposition.
• Escalate significant food safety concerns and provide timely updates to leadership.

• Manage and validate nutritional information, ingredient statements, and allergen documentation across supported brands.
• Maintain accurate nutritional databases for approved ingredients, standardized recipes, and finished menu items.
• Evaluate the impact of recipe modifications, portion changes, ingredient substitutions, and supplier changes.
• Coordinate laboratory testing or third-party nutritional analysis when needed.
• Support accurate menu disclosures, calorie statements, and applicable labeling requirements.

• Partner with internal teams and distribution partners to resolve sourcing, transportation, storage, handling, and product quality concerns.
• Track inspection performance, supplier compliance, quality complaints, and corrective action completion.
• Develop consistent policies, reporting tools, and documentation practices across supported brands.
• Communicate emerging risks and improvement opportunities while promoting a proactive food safety culture.

• Bachelor’s degree in Food…