About This Role
This high-impact plant-level Quality leadership role involves truly owning the quality function within a stable, growing food manufacturing organization. The Quality Manager will build, influence, and elevate the quality organization, with direct visibility to senior leadership and a strong ownership culture. This position directly impacts food safety, customers, and plant performance.
Responsibilities
- Own and maintain the plant SQF certification and Quality Management System
- Ensure compliance with GMP, food safety, and regulatory standards
- Lead internal, customer, and third-party audits from preparation through completion
- Partner cross-functionally to maintain audit readiness and long-term compliance
- Oversee laboratory operations, instrumentation, and physical testing
- Ensure accurate testing of raw materials, in-process materials, and finished products
- Manage calibration schedules, laboratory equipment, and spare parts inventory
- Support product validation and new product introductions
- Collaborate with R&D on product trials, culinary work, and product development
- Serve as the primary quality contact for customers
- Investigate customer complaints and lead corrective and preventive actions (CAPA)
- Complete customer quality questionnaires and support customer audits
- Lead root cause analysis and drive corrective actions across departments
- Maintain professional, timely communication with customers
- Drive quality improvements using data and performance metrics
- Improve first-pass quality across production
- Develop and maintain quality procedures and standard work
- Partner with Operations and Maintenance to improve process stability
- Lead, coach, and develop the Quality team
- Train new and existing employees on quality systems and food safety
- Build accountability and strengthen the plant's food safety culture
- Effectively communicate and work with production employees at all levels, including Spanish-speaking team members
- Support Quality department budgets
- Manage laboratory resources and supplies
- Ensure appropriate staffing and quality support across multiple shifts
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in food science, Chemistry, or related field
- 3+ years of Quality leadership or supervisory experience
- Experience in food manufacturing
- Hands-on experience with SQF and GMP systems
- Laboratory testing and quality control experience
- Experience leading audits and corrective action programs