FSQ Manager

Why you will love working at Maola:

Built on over a century of dedication, Maola is always looking ahead—investing in our people, strengthening our communities, and securing fresh, local dairy for the future.

• Join a farmer‑owned cooperative rooted in integrity, sustainability, and a passion for providing fresh, high‑quality Maola dairy products.
• We prioritize your well‑being with competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package, including Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k) with employer match, Life Insurance, paid time off, and more—available within your first month.
• Our employees are an integral part of who we are — what you do and what you think matters.

The Food Safety and Quality Manager is the senior FSQ representative at the facility, responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining quality assurance, quality control, and food safety programs at the High Point, NC dairy production site, which includes fluid milk and ice cream operations. This role ensures compliance with all regulatory standards, customer requirements, and company policies while upholding the highest levels of product quality and safety.

The manager leads the FSQ team, drives continuous improvement initiatives, and partners with cross‑functional departments to maintain standards, ensure consistency, and proactively mitigate risks.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Quality Assurance Oversight
  :
  Develop, implement, and monitor quality control systems to ensure products meet internal, regulatory, and customer standards.
• Food Safety Management
  :
  Ensure compliance with food safety regulations and standards, including sanitation, allergen control, and pathogen prevention programs.
• Team Leadership
  :
  Supervise and train quality assurance and food safety staff, fostering a culture of accountability and excellence.
• Audits and Inspections
  :
  Prepares for and conducts regulatory, certification, and customer audits to maintain certifications and healthy customer relationships. Manage all aspects of the internal audit program.
• Risk Management
  :
  Identify, assess, and mitigate risks related to food safety, contamination, or quality deviations.
• Process Improvement
  :
  Analyze production data, investigate non‑conformances, and implement corrective actions to enhance product consistency and safety.
• Documentation
  :
  Maintain accurate records, including standard operating procedures (SOPs), testing results, and compliance reports.
• Collaboration
  :
  Work closely with operations, sales, procurement, and supply chain teams to align quality and safety requirements and goals with operational efficiency.
• Training and Education
  :
  Develop and deliver training programs on food safety, sanitation, and quality protocols for facility staff.
• Customer and Supplier Interaction
  :
  Investigate and address customer complaints, monitor raw material quality, and ensure traceability throughout the supply chain.
• Other duties as assigned
  .

• This is a people leader role for a team of quality control and assurance colleagues.

• At least a bachelor’s degree in food science, Microbiology, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• At least 4 years of experience in food safety and quality assurance, within the food industry, preferably within bottling or dairy milk manufacturing.
• Ice Cream manufacturing experience preferred.
• Knowledge of food safety regulations, Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA), General Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Pasteurizing Milk Ordinance (PMO), Interstate Milk Shippers (IMS).
• Preventative Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) certified.
• Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) management experience required, certification preferred in either (FSSC or SQF, preferred).

• Communication
  • Communicate clearly and effectively through multiple channels – oral, written, visual, and non‑verbal –…