Senior Quality Systems Manager

Why you will love working at Maola®: * Built on over a century of dedication, Maola is always looking ahead—investing in our people, strengthening our communities, and securing fresh, local dairy for the future. * Join a farmer-owned cooperative rooted in integrity, sustainability, and a passion for providing fresh, high-quality Maola dairy products. * We prioritize your well-being with competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package, including Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k) with employer match, Life Insurance, paid time off, and more—available within your first month. * Our employees are an integral part of who we are — what you do and what you think matters. Starting Annual Salary Range: $140,000 - $165,000

SUMMARY

The Senior Quality Systems Manager is a member of the FSQ team, responsible for managing and leading Maola’s corporate quality, food safety, and regulatory systems. This role oversees the development and implementation of programs across the company, based on the ISO 9001 model. The Senior Quality Systems Manager provides leadership in resolving complex issues, analyzes intricate data, and offers insights and actionable recommendations to executive and senior leadership through effective problem-solving and troubleshooting. Operating with independence, the Senior Quality Systems Manager interprets both internal and external FSQ challenges, recommending best practices to enhance products, processes, and services. This role will also lead cross functional teams or project initiatives that focus on developing and implementing standardized work processes. As a subject matter expert, the Senior Quality Systems Manager is essential in developing and implementing processes critical to quality, food safety and regulatory compliance. Additionally, this role ensures performance through measuring and reporting performance against planned goals and objectives. This position is essential in building a culture of compliance, ensuring that all products meet customer expectations and industry regulations, while advancing the company’s strategic goals.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. * Customer Complaint Management:Manage escalation and RCA (root cause analysis) for consumer complaints along with documentation of consumer events and criteria and direction for compensation. * Quality Management System: Oversee the development and implementation of the quality management system (QMS), ensuring it effectively aligns with company objectives and regulatory requirements. * QFS Policies and Procedures: Design, implement, and maintain quality policies and procedures that align with company objectives and regulatory requirements. * Licensing and registration: Assure all regulatory and compliance registrations and certifications are in compliance and up to date. (SQF, Regulatory registration, Kosher, EU compliance) * Metrics and Performance. This role is pivotal in developing, managing, trending and analyzing quality and food safety mtrics, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, and reporting these results to stakeholders. * Quality Assurance Programs: Design and oversee quality assurance programs that enhance product quality and safety, ensuring consistency across all products. * Data Analysis and Reporting: Analyze quality data to identify trends, root causes, and areas for improvement. Prepare and present reports to senior management and stakeholders. Regulatory participation and oversight. * Food Safety Culture. Support the food safety culture initiatives and strategies as directed. Support the development and implementation of training programs and events to promote a culture of quality and food safety, ensuring employees are knowledgeable and compliant with standards.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in science, data management, or related areas of study.
• At least 8 years of corporate, regulatory, consumer, and quality systems

experience. * At least 8 years of experience in quality, production, or commercial experience within the food industry. Dairy experience preferred.

COMPETENCIES

• Communication
• Communicate clearly and effectively through multiple channels – oral,

written, visual, and non-verbal – ensuring our messages are understood and delivered appropriately, whether in-person or digitally.

• Accountability
• Take responsibility for actions and anticipate challenges before they

arise. * Solve problems both within and outside of departments, proactively addressing issues as they occur.

• Customer Focused
• Prioritize understanding and meeting both internal and external customer

needs. * Ensure high levels of satisfaction and loyalty by anticipating customer requirements and striving for exceptional service.

• Initiative
• Proactive in identifying opportunities and addressing potential threats.
• Act independently and decisively, rather than waiting for situations to

demand action.

• Problem-Solving
• Possess the ability to identify and address complex issues with minimal

guidance. * Skilled at analyzing challenges and finding practical, effective solutions.

• Collaboration
• Take responsibility for deliverables while also supporting others to

ensure that collective goals are met. * Able to work harmoniously with others toward a common goal, recognizing and valuing each person’s contributions, is fundamental to successful collaboration.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to stand and walk. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision for computer work and ability to adjust focus. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. The employee may be required to travel by car to company sites and off-site meetings.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The individual would encounter normal office environmental conditions.
• The noise level for the work environment would be considered in the moderate

range (example: computers, printers, light traffic). Maola Local Dairies™ is a farmer-owned cooperative sustainably producing a full suite of nutritious dairy products. Maola processes milk, cream, butter, and dry milk powders through our network of six dairy processing plants. With a keen eye on quality, freshness, and love for the environment, Maola delivers dairy products that are both nutritious and sustainable to our local communities. For more information about Maola, please visit [ All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.