Quality Assurance Manager

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Job Description
: Quality Assurance Manager - Food Manufacturing (Start-up Phase)

Department: Operations

Reports to: Plant Manager

Il Pastaio is a leading Italian manufacturer of premium potato-based gnocchi and fresh pasta, founded in 1983. With three production plants in Italy—including one dedicated to gluten-free products—the company serves both private label and own-brand markets under labels such as Il Pastaio, Patarò, and Patagnocco. The company is renowned for its flexibility, quality, and constant innovation, with a strong R&D focus, certifications (gluten-free, organic), and an annual production capacity of approximately 90,000 kg through 11 production lines.

Backed since May 2022 by Riverside Europe (a Private Equity firm), Il Pastaio is embarking on international growth, including the acquisition of Canuti Tradizione Italiana in Rimini.

U.S. Expansion

Il Pastaio is currently developing its first North American manufacturing facility in Allenwood, Pennsylvania—a 71,300 sq ft plant in the Great Stream Commons business park, part of a $12.5M investment expected to create around 75 jobs in Union County. The site is located in a Keystone Opportunity Zone.

Role Overview

The Quality Manager is responsible for overseeing microbiological, chemical, and physical testing programs; validating sanitation and allergen controls; and managing the plant’s food safety and quality management systems. This role ensures that all quality procedures are implemented, maintained, and continuously improved.

• Own and maintain the facility’s Food Safety Plan (FSP) including hazard analysis, CCPs, preventive controls, allergen management, environmental monitoring, and recall readiness
• Lead daily operations of the Quality Assurance department including in-process inspections, finished product evaluation, hold/release decisions, and COA verification
• Oversee and validate microbiological and analytical testing for raw materials, environmental swabs, water samples, and finished goods
• Implement and maintain robust systems for traceability, lot tracking, and product recall
• Ensure the facility is audit-ready at all times to meet government, customer, and global food safety certification requirements (SQF, BRCGS)
• Review quality data to identify trends and lead corrective and preventive actions using structured root-cause analysis
• Review and approve raw material specifications, label claims, formulation changes, and change controls in collaboration with R&D and Regulatory Affairs
• Partner with Sanitation and Maintenance to verify hygienic design, sanitation effectiveness, and allergen control validation
• Develop and execute internal GMP audit programs, foreign material controls, and zone-based environmental monitoring
• Train plant personnel on FSMA, HACCP, GMPs, CCP monitoring, and product safety fundamentals

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Advanced knowledge of HACCP, FSMA Preventive Controls, GMPs, and GFSI standards (SQF/BRC)
• Regulatory inspections and third-party audit preparedness experience
• Competency in food microbiology, sanitation chemistry, and environmental monitoring programs
• Strong ability to interpret lab data, identify trends, and translate them into operational improvements
• Proficiency in QMS platforms, Microsoft Excel, and statistical tools
• Effective cross-functional leadership and capability development across QA and operations

• A pivotal role in launching our first U.S. facility
• International experience with exposure to Italian culture, values, and food manufacturing excellence
• Professional growth within a PE-backed international company
• A people-focused culture committed to operational excellence and innovation