Quality Assurance Associate Manager

Position Overview

The Quality Assurance Associate Manager supports day‑to‑day activities at the Trilliant Food and Nutrition facility, developing, implementing, and maintaining quality assurance programs and food safety systems. The role ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) standards, customer expectations, and internal quality standards while collaborating cross‑functionally to drive continuous improvement and promote a culture of quality and food safety.

• Monitor, analyze, and communicate quality and food safety metrics, providing reports and recommendations for continuous improvement in product quality, food safety, product performance, and process optimization.
• Assist in defining department roles and responsibilities, selecting, training, developing, and supporting the Quality Team to meet regulatory, internal, and customer quality requirements.
• Play a key role in root cause analysis investigations for customer complaints, non‑conformances, and deviations, verifying completion of corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) as needed.
• Support the development and maintenance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and training programs for quality and food safety, collaborating with production and training teams to ensure adherence to protocols.
• Monitor, maintain, and improve all aspects of the quality function and lab processes—including specifications, sampling, procedures, methods, deviations, equipment, supplies—to ensure proper documentation and record‑keeping in compliance with regulatory and certification standards.
• Assist and support the development of a vendor quality program to ensure compliance and minimize deviations and defects.
• Assist with the maintenance of supplier documentation via Trace Gains, reviewing COA/COC for incoming and non‑conform ant material investigations.
• Assist and support sanitation program and procedures in collaboration with operations, ensuring validation and verification of sanitation procedures for effectiveness and efficiency.
• Lead positive release programs ensuring compliance with specifications and food safety regulations such as preventative control review.
• Lead change‑management initiatives to enhance quality processes and drive operational excellence.
• Conduct and monitor completion of GMP audits, taking corrective actions or recommending process improvements as needed to meet expectations.
• Support food defense initiatives to protect products from intentional contamination and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Conduct and monitor environmental monitoring programs (EMP) to proactively control environmental risks, minimize contamination, and ensure compliance with food safety regulations.
• Assist in ensuring effective execution of quality systems and practices in alignment with certifications or regulatory requirements (e.g., GMP, SQF Certification, FSMA/HACCP, FDA compliance, SPC, Organic Certification, Kosher Certification, Food Defense).
• Follow food safety/quality/regulatory policies and procedures, executing responsibilities identified in SOPs and reporting concerns to the Food Safety and Quality Manager, Senior Director of Quality Excellence and Food Safety, Director of Operations, and/or Corporate Compliance Manager as needed.
• Verify, approve, and ensure required documentation and record‑keeping of all new and revised formulas and specifications, assisting in product commercialization and plant trials.
• Perform all other duties, responsibilities, and special projects as assigned.

• Bachelor's degree in a science‑based related area of study.
• 2+ years of managerial experience—including defining roles, hiring, employee development, and day‑to‑day management of a quality team in a production environment.
• 5+ years of hands‑on plant quality assurance experience in a food industry or related manufacturing facility.
• Certification in HACCP, SQF, PCQI, or Food Defense Qualified Individual.
• Understanding of sanitation systems, techniques, and procedures.
• Understanding of change management.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, projects, and simultaneous user needs.
• Strong project…