QA Manager

Job Title:

Quality Assurance Manager

Job Description

The Quality Assurance Manager is a hands-on leadership role responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing all food safety and quality system programs. This position ensures that all food products are safe, compliant, and meet or exceed internal standards, regulatory requirements, and customer expectations. The manager leads the site's QA team, drives continuous improvement, and plays a pivotal role in maintaining and enhancing food safety regulations and standards across the facility.

Responsibilities

+ Develop and implement comprehensive food safety programs that ensure products consistently meet safety and quality standards.

+ Maintain and manage documentation related to HACCP, GMP, SOPs, and employee training to ensure compliance and audit readiness.

+ Investigate and complete customer complaints for the site in a timely, thorough, and accurate manner, including root cause analysis and corrective actions.

+ Provide leadership, support, and guidance to ensure food quality standards, food safety guidelines, legal requirements, and customer expectations are consistently met.

+ Support and comply with all quality management systems, continuous improvement programs, food safety initiatives, employee safety programs, preventative maintenance programs, and product legality requirements.

+ Oversee and manage lab equipment, including calibration and verification, to ensure accurate and reliable testing results.

+ Inspect, test, and measure products for conformance to specifications, including testing of physical and chemical properties of products.

+ Ensure that all quality control and quality assurance procedures are followed and updated as needed to align with regulatory and customer requirements.

+ Provide direct oversight of sanitation operations and site FSQA team members, including supervisors and leads, to maintain a hygienic and compliant production environment.

+ Lead, mentor, and develop a team of approximately 22 FSQA and sanitation personnel, fostering a culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.

+ Coordinate and support internal and external audits, including USDA, FDA, and other regulatory or customer audits, ensuring successful outcomes and prompt resolution of findings.

+ Collaborate with operations and other departments to address quality and food safety issues, implement corrective and preventive actions, and drive process improvements.

+ Monitor and analyze quality and food safety data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement, and report findings to site and corporate leadership.

+ Ensure employee training on food safety, quality standards, GMPs, and relevant procedures is conducted, documented, and regularly refreshed.

Essential Skills

+ 2+ years of quality leadership experience in a food manufacturing or food processing environment.

+ Proven experience with SQF systems and certification requirements.

+ Hands-on HACCP experience, including development, implementation, and maintenance of HACCP plans.

+ Strong knowledge of food safety principles, food quality standards, and regulatory requirements, including USDA and FDA.

+ Demonstrated experience in quality assurance and quality control within the food industry.

+ Proficiency in implementing and maintaining Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

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Experience with lab equipment operation, calibration, and verification for physical and chemical testing of products.

+ Strong management and leadership skills with experience leading and developing teams.

+ Ability to investigate and resolve customer complaints, including conducting thorough root cause analyses and implementing corrective actions.

+ Solid understanding of quality management systems and continuous improvement methodologies.

+ Effective communication and collaboration skills to work across departments and with various stakeholders.

+ Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic, production-focused environment.

Additional

Skills & Qualifications

+ Degree in a science-related field is preferred, such as Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or a related discipline.

+ Candidates without a degree may qualify with 5+ years of food quality leadership experience.

+ Experience managing or supporting SQF certification at a facility level.

+ Familiarity with audit processes and requirements for USDA, FDA, and third-party certifications.

+ Experience overseeing sanitation programs and teams in a food production environment.

+ Experience in continuous improvement initiatives related to food safety, quality, and operational efficiency.

+ Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to make data-driven decisions.

+ Comfort working in a leadership role that serves as the top quality authority at a facility, overseeing supervisors, leads, and a larger team.

+ Interest in career growth and advancement opportunities within a broader corporate quality or…