QA Manager

The Quality Assurance Manager reports to the Quality Assurance Director and is responsible for leading the food safety and quality systems for a high-volume food manufacturing operation. This role provides leadership and support for business growth and continuous improvement while ensuring all products consistently meet customer specifications and established food safety and quality standards.

The QA Manager provides overall leadership of the Quality Assurance team within a 24/7 manufacturing environment and plays a critical role in maintaining high standards for product quality and food safety.

This position is responsible for developing maintaining evaluating and implementing Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) Safe Quality Food (SQF) Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) quality assurance quality control testing and food safety programs.

Strong technical knowledge of dairy cheese cultured products or a comparable regulated food manufacturing environment is highly preferred. The successful candidate will bring strong leadership problem-solving communication analytical and interpersonal skills.

• Directly manage the QA Supervisor and Plant Sanitarian with indirect oversight of laboratory technicians.
• Oversee laboratory testing of raw materials finished products and plant samples to ensure testing is completed accurately and within established timelines.
• Manage the plant laboratory including staffing scheduling testing procedures supplies equipment facilities and applicable certification requirements.
• Promote a safe working environment by following all required safety procedures and ensuring team members complete required safety training and use appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Ensure regulatory compliance across all Food Safety and Quality programs including Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Food Defense and Pest Control programs.
• Develop and deliver employee training focused on hygienic product handling sanitation HACCP SQF GMP and other applicable food safety requirements.
• Lead customer regulatory and certification audits including SQF FDA USDA state inspections Kosher Halal and other applicable programs.
• Develop and oversee corrective action plans and responses resulting from audits inspections and identified compliance issues.
• Serve as the sites SQF Practitioner with appropriate backup support from QA leadership.
• Lead and promote a strong Food Safety Culture throughout the manufacturing facility.
• Manage product status programs including Hold Release Rework and Reject processes with authority and accountability for final product disposition decisions.
• Review production documentation to ensure compliance with regulatory and quality requirements and provide technical guidance regarding documentation inquiries.
• Develop maintain and implement QA policies procedures work instructions and other quality documentation.
• Maintain and update the facilitys recall procedures and documentation on an annual basis.
• Plan and execute mock recalls and product traceability exercises.
• Manage consumer and customer complaint programs including root-cause investigations corrective and preventive actions trend analysis and timely communication.
• Maintain the Pathogen Environmental Monitoring Program including investigation and corrective/preventive actions for out-of-specification results.
• Manage in-process and finished-product testing programs ensuring accurate recordkeeping trending and reporting of results.
• Identify and communicate quality trends and opportunities for improvement to plant and senior leadership.
• Partner with operations and cross-functional teams to improve Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) manufacturing performance product quality and operational metrics.
• Schedule lead and report on regular facility inspections.
• Provide technical expertise and leadership in the implementation of continuous improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate with operations engineering maintenance sanitation and other departments to improve food safety quality efficiency and overall plant performance.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as needed to support business and operational objectives.

• Bachelors degree or equivalent experience in a scientific field such as food science microbiology chemistry biology or a related discipline.
• 5 years of experience in food manufacturing dairy processing or a similarly regulated food production environment.
• 5 years of management and/or senior supervisory experience.
• Strong knowledge of microbiology food science HACCP SQF GMP and food safety systems.
• HACCP PQCI SQF or comparable food safety certifications preferred.
• Strong computer skills including proficiency with Microsoft Windows Excel and Word.
• Excellent verbal written presentation and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong analytical and deductive reasoning skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to interpret regulatory requirements and effectively translate them into facility policies procedures and practices.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment while managing multiple priorities.
• Flexibility to work varied hours as needed in support of a 24/7 manufacturing operation.
• Demonstrated experience developing implementing and managing Quality Assurance metrics and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Experience with continuous improvement initiatives and/or project management is preferred.
• Proven leadership skills with the ability to build trust motivate teams establish accountability and drive results.
• Strong commitment to customer satisfaction product quality process reliability and food safety excellence.
• Working knowledge of sanitation operations and current and emerging sanitation practices.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on highly engaged quality leader who can balance regulatory compliance with the realities of a fast-paced manufacturing environment. This individual should be comfortable working directly with operations and frontline employees while also communicating effectively with senior leadership.

Success in this role requires someone who is analytical decisive collaborative and proactive with the ability to identify risks solve problems develop people and continuously raise the standards for food safety and quality.

• Primarily a manufacturing and production environment with low to moderate physical demands.
• Occasional lifting of objects weighing up to 45 pounds.
• Frequent standing walking sitting and movement throughout the manufacturing facility.
• May occasionally require climbing balancing stooping kneeling crouching or crawling.
• Requires the ability to use hands to handle tools equipment controls and other materials.
• Requires the ability to reach with hands and arms.
• Vision requirements include close vision distance vision peripheral vision depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
• Work may involve exposure to varying temperatures elevated noise levels production equipment and other conditions typical of a food manufacturing environment.
• Ability to work within a 24/7 operation including flexible hours when required.

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