Quality Assurance & Process Authority Manager

Job Details Posting Details

• • Posted on October 30, 2026

Locations

• Northumberland, PA 17857, USA
• On-site
• Quality
• Full-Time
• Requisition #: FOODS
  001466

Description

At Furmano Foods
, you join a value-driven company with a legacy built on farm, faith, and family since 1921. We are dedicated to producing quality, shelf-stable foods while nurturing our employees, community, and the environment. We offer competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and the opportunity to make a lasting impact while contributing to a culture of quality, service, and sustainability.

Position Summary :

This role combines manufacturing Quality Assurance leadership with thermal processing, food safety, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement. Initial responsibilities emphasize QA management, FDA and GFSI compliance, process monitoring, and technical investigations.

Through structured training and mentorship with Furmano’s current Thermal Process Authority, the successful candidate will develop expertise in process evaluation, validation, and development, with the long-term objective of succeeding the current authority. Advancement depends on documented competencies, training milestones, and formal assessments rather than tenure.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 1. Thermal Processing and Process Authority Development

• Work with the current Thermal Process Authority through defined learning objectives, practical assignments, competency assessments, and documented milestones.
• Develop expertise in commercial sterilization, batch and continuous retorts, heat penetration and distribution, process calculations, and scheduled process requirements.
• Support thermal studies, validation, data evaluation, and investigations of process deviations, equipment performance, and product safety impacts.
• Evaluate formulation, packaging, ingredient, and equipment changes; maintain processing documentation, regulatory filings, and scheduled process records.
• Develop sound judgment in evaluating processing risks and corrective actions; assume independent Process Authority duties only after demonstrated qualification and formal authorization.

2. Quality Assurance and Food Safety Management

• Support effective Food Safety and Quality Management Systems and compliance with applicable FDA requirements, including 21 CFR Parts 113, 114, and 117.
• Support BRCGS and other applicable GFSI-recognized certification requirements, internal audits, corrective actions, and continuous improvement.
• Participate in food safety plans, hazard analysis, preventive control verification, FDA inspections, third-party audits, and customer assessments.
• Investigate quality issues, identify root causes, and implement sustainable corrective and preventive actions.
• Collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, and Quality to strengthen manufacturing controls and first-pass quality; maintain an active manufacturing-floor presence.

3. Manufacturing Process and Product Quality Improvement

• Analyze manufacturing and laboratory data for trends, variability, and improvement opportunities.
• Lead or support cross-functional projects improving product consistency, defect reduction, waste prevention, and process reliability.
• Evaluate retort operations, filling systems, formulation controls, and other processes affecting food safety and quality.
• Improve quality standards, testing methods, procedures, and controls; investigate texture, consistency, formulation, container integrity, and processing performance.
• Apply structured problem-solving and continuous improvement methods to deliver measurable results.

4. Laboratory Operations and Product Development Support

• Guide finished-product testing, product grading, and quality laboratory operations; ensure reliable methods, calibration, records, and employee training.
• Support product development, reformulation, plant trials, and commercialization, particularly changes affecting thermal processing or food safety.
• Participate in shelf-life studies, product evaluations, and process optimization; collaborate with R&D on ingredient and formulation compliance, processing requirements, and performance.

5. Leadership, Training, and Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Coach and develop assigned QA and laboratory personnel; reinforce food safety and quality accountability with manufacturing leaders.
• Develop and deliver training on thermal processing, process controls, and quality requirements.
• Communicate technical findings, regulatory concerns, and improvement opportunities to management.
• Demonstrate…