Quality Manager

Quality Manager

About the Role

We're looking for a hands-on Quality Manager to own and elevate quality across our food manufacturing operations. This role sits at the center of our mission to deliver fully traceable, sustainable, and premium ingredients to both global pet food leaders and fast-scaling startups.

You'll be responsible for designing and operating the quality systems that support rapid growth-from initial site launch through nine-figure annual revenue. This includes building a robust Quality Management System, safeguarding cold-chain integrity, and ensuring compliance across sourcing, production, storage, and distribution. You'll work closely with operations, engineering, finance, and leadership to ensure quality is embedded at every step, starting with raw material origin and ending with customer delivery.

This is an opportunity for a motivated leader who thrives in high-growth environments and enjoys building systems, teams, and processes from the ground up.

Key Responsibilities

Quality Systems & Compliance

• Design, implement, and continuously improve the company's Quality Management System to support long-term scale.

• Establish product quality standards and ensure documentation, recordkeeping, and specifications meet regulatory and customer expectations.

• Ensure adherence to FDA cold chain requirements and all applicable local, state, and federal regulations related to human-grade pet food ingredients.

• Lead internal and third-party audits, oversee corrective and preventive actions, and proactively identify food safety and quality risks.

Operational Excellence

• Partner with operations leadership and the CEO to integrate quality into daily manufacturing and strategic decision-making.

• Ensure full product traceability from raw material sourcing through processing, storage, shipping, and invoicing.

• Support the implementation and optimization of ERP and QMS tools to enable inventory accuracy, traceability, and compliance.

• Maintain cold-chain integrity while minimizing time-to-processing and preserving product quality.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Manage and mentor a growing quality team (3+ direct reports), fostering a strong safety and quality culture.

• Ensure safe working conditions for the quality team within the manufacturing facility.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with internal teams and external partners to align on quality objectives.

Data & Continuous Improvement

• Track and analyze quality KPIs, identify trends, and communicate insights and recommendations to senior leadership.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen food safety, efficiency, and customer trust.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred in Food Science, Microbiology, or a related discipline.

• 10+ years of experience in food manufacturing environments.

• 5+ years in quality leadership roles, including required experience within the flavor industry.

• Demonstrated experience managing enterprise-level quality and food safety programs.

• Strong working knowledge of FDA, USDA, NOAA Seafood Inspection Program, and relevant international regulatory bodies.

• Experience with GFSI-recognized schemes and formal QMS certifications.

• Deep understanding of food safety systems and best practices in food or beverage manufacturing.

• PCQI certification required; Seafood HACCP certification strongly preferred.

• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to engage effectively with operators, executives, customers, and regulators.