Senior Quality Manager - Food

We are seeking a QA Manager to lead the quality and food safety function within a highly automated food manufacturing facility. This role is responsible for ensuring all products meet regulatory, customer, and internal quality standards while maintaining a strong culture of food safety across the plant.

The position will work closely with operations, maintenance, and plant leadership to ensure quality systems are effective, compliance requirements are met, and continuous improvement initiatives support operational excellence in a fast-paced production environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the plant's quality assurance and food safety programs, ensuring compliance with internal standards and regulatory requirements.
• Manage and develop the quality team across multiple shifts within a 24/7 manufacturing operation.
• Oversee implementation and maintenance of food safety systems including HACCP, preventive controls, and environmental monitoring programs.
• Lead root cause investigations and corrective action processes related to quality issues, deviations, and customer complaints.
• Manage internal audits, regulatory inspections, and third-party food safety audits including SQF, BRC, FDA, or USDA where applicable.
• Ensure quality documentation, procedures, and records are maintained and updated to support compliance and traceability.
• Partner with operations and engineering teams to support process improvements that enhance product quality, yield, and consistency.
• Monitor plant performance through quality metrics, trending, and statistical analysis to identify risks and improvement opportunities.
• Lead product investigations, including product holds, non-conformance management, and corrective actions.
• Support the development and maintenance of a strong food safety culture across the facility.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or a related discipline.
• 8-12+ years of quality or food safety experience within food, beverage, dairy, or high-speed manufacturing.
• Proven experience managing quality systems within operating manufacturing environments.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, preventive controls, and food safety regulations.
• Experience managing regulatory inspections and third-party audits.
• Experience working in 24/7 manufacturing environments preferred.
• Strong problem-solving, leadership, and communication skills.