Quality Manager

The Quality Manager is responsible for the strategic leadership, development, and execution of the Food Safety and Quality Management System across the facility. This role ensures full compliance with FDA, FSMA, HACCP, SQF, and customer requirements while driving a culture of operational excellence, product integrity, and continuous improvement.

This position serves as the site Quality Leader, overseeing food safety, regulatory compliance, sanitation, audit readiness, product quality systems, and continuous improvement initiatives aligned with their business objectives.

Key Responsibilities: Food Safety & Quality Systems Leadership

• Lead and manage the site’s Food Safety & Quality Management System (FSQMS).
• Serve as HACCP Team Leader and SQF Practitioner (if certified).
• Develop, implement, validate, and reassess HACCP and Preventive Controls programs.
• Ensure compliance with GMPs, allergen control, sanitation, environmental monitoring, and labeling programs.
• Maintain robust documentation and record retention practices.

Regulatory & Compliance Oversight

• Ensure compliance with FDA, FSMA Preventative Controls, state regulatory agencies, and customer requirements.
• Maintain facility readiness for regulatory and third-party inspections.
• Lead regulatory responses, investigations, and corrective action plans.
• Monitor evolving regulatory and company standards and implementing necessary system updates.

Audit & Certification Management

• Lead all internal, customer, and third-party audits (e.g., SQF, BRC, AIB).
• Develop and execute audit preparation plans.
• Drive corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs) to closure.
• Report audit outcomes and quality system performance to executive leadership.

Product Quality & Operational Excellence

• Oversee raw material, in-process, and finished goods quality programs.
• Lead environmental monitoring and sanitation verification programs.
• Manage product holds, investigations, root cause analysis, and disposition decisions.
• Monitor and trend quality KPIs including audit scores, consumer complaints, first-pass yield, non-conformances, environmental monitoring results, and CAPA effectiveness.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives using data-based decision making.

Allergen, Labeling & Traceability Control

• Implement and verify allergen control programs and changeover validations.
• Ensure label compliance with regulatory and customer requirements.
• Maintain traceability systems (one-step forward/back).
• Lead mock recalls and ensure recall readiness.
• Participate in crisis management and emergency preparedness programs.

Sanitation & Vendor Oversight

• Oversee sanitation programs to ensure compliance with GMP and regulatory standards.
• Manage QA-related vendors and contracted services (pest control, laboratories, auditing bodies, sanitation chemicals, uniforms).
• Ensure validation and verification of sanitation effectiveness.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead, coach, and develop QA supervisors, technicians, and sanitation personnel.
• Provide ongoing GMP, food safety, and quality training to plant employees.
• Foster a culture of accountability, food safety ownership, and continuous improvement.
• Conduct performance reviews and build succession planning strategies.

Budget & Strategic Planning

• Develop and manage operating and capital budgets for the Quality department.
• Identify cost savings and efficiency opportunities without compromising food safety.
• Inform executive leadership on Quality Management System performance and risks.

Salary

$100,000 - $120,000 + Bonus

Benefits Available

Technical Qualifications: Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Biology, or a related field - or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Progressive experience in food manufacturing quality and food safety.
• Experience leading or supervising quality teams in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, FSMA Preventive Controls, GMPs, and company standards (SQF, BRC, or similar).
• Experience supporting regulatory and third-party audits.
• Working knowledge of sanitation, environmental monitoring, and allergen controls programs.

Preferred

• PCQI Certification
• HACCP Certification
• SQF Practitioner Certification

Key Competencies

• Strategic leadership
• Regulatory expertise
• Strong documentation discipline
• Analytical and data-driven decision making
• Crisis management capability
• Continuous improvement mindset
• Strong communication skills at all organizational levels
• If you’d like to hear more about this opportunity and others we are currently working on, please contact Jeff Fee at [email protected].

JO: 78.26JF