Quality Assurance Manager

The Quality Assurance Manager leads the facility’s food safety and quality systems, daily sanitation oversight, audit readiness, and regulatory coordination. This role works closely with production and other departments to protect product quality, strengthen processes, and build a strong food safety culture.

Food Safety and Quality Systems

• Lead the development, implementation, and maintenance of the SQF food safety system; perform monitoring, verification, and validation activities for SQF and HACCP programs.
• Maintain prerequisite programs, including supplier approval, customer complaints, USDA and FDA HACCP, SSOPs, GMPs, allergen controls, and ongoing employee training.
• Develop, maintain, and verify SOPs for processes affecting food safety and quality. Keep equipment calibration and validation current and documented.
• Oversee daily sanitation and GMP compliance; maintain facilities and grounds to high sanitation standards and assess food safety risks from new construction or equipment.

Quality, Audits, and Regulatory Compliance

• Drive product quality improvements and continuous process enhancements during production. Identify, contain, and resolve quality or safety issues through effective corrective actions.
• Prepare for and lead SQF and other food safety and quality audits; conduct supplier audits as needed and coordinate sample submissions with third-party laboratories.
• Serve as the primary liaison with state agencies, USDA FSIS, and FDA personnel. Stay current with applicable requirements and maintain compliance with agencies, Halal and Organic certifiers, customers, and brokers.
• Manage USDA label approval and product development records for commercialization, including formulations, process instructions, labels, specifications, nutrition facts panels, and ingredient statements.

Leadership and Plant Partnership

• Train employees on food safety and quality responsibilities, ensure adequate staffing and resources, and communicate unusual conditions that may affect operations, safety, or quality.
• Prepare the annual food safety and quality budget and partner with other departments on capital projects, maintenance needs, and production priorities.
• Oversee stormwater pollution prevention, wastewater management, and hazardous waste disposal programs in accordance with applicable requirements.
• The role also requires professionalism, confidentiality, ethical conduct, and a clean, safe, organized work environment. Responsibilities may evolve with business needs.