Quality Assurance Manager

Mixed Nuts, Inc. (established in 1986) is a food manufacturing and packaging company in Pico Rivera, CA specializing in nuts, dried fruits, and snack products for National and private-label brands. The QA Manager owns all food safety, quality assurance, and sanitation programs for the facility. This is a hands‑on leadership role — roughly two-thirds on the production floor and one‑third administrative.

You'll manage a team of QA technicians and supervisor, lead third‑party and internal audits, maintain the HACCP plan and GFSI certification (SQF), and serve as the go‑to for customer quality inquiries. We need someone who takes ownership, drives continuous improvement, and holds the line on food safety without needing to be told.

• Own and maintain the facility's HACCP plan, prerequisite programs, food safety SOPs, and GFSI‑benchmarked certification (SQF)
• Manage day-to-day quality operations: floor inspections, CCP verification, receiving inspections, document review, and finished product release
• Prepare for and lead third‑party audits (SQF, Code of Conduct, customer). Conduct monthly internal GMP audits and mock recalls. Drive all corrective actions to closure
• Oversee sanitation programs, environmental monitoring, pest management coordination, and equipment calibration
• Manage the approved supplier program — onboarding, risk assessments, documentation, and ongoing compliance monitoring
• Handle customer complaints from investigation through corrective action. Respond to customer requests for quality documentation, COAs, and product specs
• Maintain labeling and packaging compliance: master label binders, nutrition panels, ingredient/allergen statements, and regulatory formatting updates
• Train and develop QA technicians. Deliver GMP orientations, weekly food safety trainings, and annual training programs. Lead monthly food safety management review meetings

• Bachelor's degree (BS/BA) in Food Science, Biology, Microbiology, Chemistry, or related field
• PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual) certification
• 5 years of food safety and quality assurance experience in a food manufacturing environment
• Hands‑on experience developing and managing SOPs and Product Specifications
• Experience implementing or managing SQF practices and facilitating audits
• Working knowledge of FDA regulations (21 CFR Part 117), FSMA, cGMPs, and GFSI standards
• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills

• Bilingual English/Spanish (strongly preferred)
• SQF Practitioner, Lead Auditor, or HACCP certification
• Experience in nut, dried fruit, snack food, or CPG manufacturing
• Familiarity with allergen control programs, kosher certification, and Non‑GMO verification
• On‑site food manufacturing facility
• Requires standing/walking for extended periods
• Exposure to dust and allergens (tree nuts, peanuts)