Quality Assurance Manager

Position Overview

Universal Packaging West (UPW), a leading plastics packaging manufacturer serving the food and beverage industry, is seeking an experienced and driven Quality Manager to lead and maintain our Quality Management System and SQF program. The ideal candidate will have strong experience in plastics bottle manufacturing, food packaging environments, and successful management of SQF audits and quality systems.

This position plays a critical leadership role in ensuring compliance with customer specifications, regulatory requirements, and food safety standards while driving continuous improvement throughout the operation.

The Quality Manager is responsible for the development, implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of the plant Quality Management System (QMS). This role oversees all quality assurance and quality control activities, including SQF certification, customer complaint investigations, internal audits, documentation control, and QA team leadership.

Candidates with experience in PET bottle manufacturing, injection molding, blow molding, or plastics packaging environments are strongly preferred.

• Lead and maintain the site Quality Management System (QMS) in compliance with SQF, customer, regulatory, and internal requirements.
• Serve as the primary lead during SQF audits, customer audits, and third-party inspections.
• Ensure ongoing SQF certification readiness and compliance with food safety standards.
• Develop, implement, and monitor quality procedures, policies, and corrective actions.
• Manage internal audit programs, GMP inspections, and quality verification activities.
• Oversee QA Inspectors and QC personnel, including training, development, scheduling, and performance management.
• Lead customer complaint investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective/preventive action implementation.
• Monitor plant processes that impact product quality and food safety.
• Maintain document control systems and quality records.
• Conduct Management Review Meetings and report quality metrics to plant and corporate leadership.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives and Lean Manufacturing activities.
• Partner with Production, Maintenance, Warehouse, and Sanitation teams to improve overall plant performance and compliance.
• Assist in developing and delivering employee quality and food safety training programs.

• Minimum 5 years of Quality Management experience in a manufacturing environment required.
• Experience leading and maintaining SQF certification and audits required.
• Experience in plastics packaging, PET bottle manufacturing, injection molding, or blow molding strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, GMPs, quality systems, and manufacturing controls.
• Experience with SQF or similar quality standards preferred.
• Strong root cause analysis and problem-solving skills.
• Experience managing QA/QC teams in a manufacturing environment.
• SAP or equivalent ERP system experience preferred.
• Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement experience preferred.
• Strong organizational, leadership, and communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel required.

• Full-time
• Monday to Friday
• Occasional flexibility based on production and audit schedules

Temecula, CA 92590 – In Person