QA Manager

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced QA Manager to lead Quality Assurance, Food Safety, and Laboratory operations at a food manufacturing facility. The ideal candidate will have strong experience in food/dairy manufacturing, food safety, quality systems, laboratory testing, regulatory compliance, and team leadership. This role requires a hands‑on, self‑driven, collaborative leader who can identify problems, conduct root‑cause investigations, implement corrective actions, and drive continuous improvement with minimal supervision.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the plant Quality Assurance and Food Safety programs and ensure compliance with company policies and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Maintain audit readiness and support customer, regulatory, and third‑party audits.
• Manage and maintain HACCP, FSMA, PCQI, GMP, SQF, sanitation, preventive control, and quality programs.
• Lead investigations of non‑conformances, customer complaints, quality issues, and food safety events; identify root causes and implement effective corrective/preventive actions.
• Manage hold/release programs, change control, specifications, manufacturing instructions, and quality documentation.
• Oversee sanitation, SSOPs, pest control, preventive maintenance, and food safety programs in partnership with Operations.
• Manage laboratory and analytical testing, including microbiology, yeast/mold, coliform, pH, Brix, water activity, fats/solids, and SPC/statistical analysis.
• Oversee Environmental Monitoring Programs (EMP) and investigate environmental monitoring failures.
• Coordinate internal and third‑party laboratory testing, including product and environmental/pathogen testing; review/generate Certificates of Analysis (COAs).
• Track quality KPIs, analyze trends, and drive continuous improvement.
• Partner with Operations, Production, Maintenance, R&D, Laboratory, and Sanitation teams on quality and food safety initiatives.
• Support new/reformulated product introductions and ensure compliance with specifications and regulatory requirements.
• Serve as the quality contact for customer complaints and quality‑related inquiries.
• Maintain current quality systems, procedures, SSOPs, work instructions, forms, and records.
• Lead, coach, mentor, and hold Quality/Lab team members accountable while maintaining a collaborative team environment.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, or related scientific field, or equivalent education/experience.
• 5-8+ years of Quality Assurance/Food Safety experience in a food, beverage, dairy, or similar manufacturing environment.
• Leadership, supervisory, or management experience; 1+ year of management experience preferred.
• Strong hands‑on knowledge of food manufacturing GMPs/cGMPs.
• Experience with HACCP and FSMA.
• PCQI certification/experience preferred and may be required.
• SQF Practitioner experience/certification strongly preferred.
• Experience with GFSI/SQF and third‑party/customer audits; BRC and SMETA experience preferred.
• Strong laboratory and food safety experience.
• Experience with environmental monitoring programs preferred.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, quality systems, regulatory compliance, and laboratory practices.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, organizational, documentation, and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently, make decisions, investigate problems, and implement solutions without requiring constant direction.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with Operations and other plant functions and hold teams accountable.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and quality/computer systems.
• Must be able to read, write, and communicate effectively in English.

Preferred Background:

• Dairy or ice cream manufacturing experience is highly preferred. Candidates with backgrounds in food science, chemistry, biology, microbiology, food laboratory operations, and food safety are strongly encouraged to apply.