Quality Manager / SQF Practitioner

Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

Quality Manager / SQF Practitioner

Department Quality Assurance

Reports To Plant Manager / Director of Operations

Position Summary

The Quality Manager / SQF Practitioner leads the facility's quality assurance laboratory, SQF Food Safety Management System, sanitation oversight, and Kosher program. This position ensures products and processes meet SQF, HACCP, GMP, FSMA, applicable FDA requirements, customer specifications, and company standards.

As the designated SQF Practitioner, this individual leads the Food Safety Team, maintains the SQF System, oversees laboratory personnel and testing, and serves as the primary contact for SQF certification and customer audits.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Laboratory Management

• Manage the daily operations of the Quality Assurance Laboratory.
• Supervise, train, schedule, and evaluate laboratory personnel.
• Ensure accurate microbiological, chemical, physical, and analytical testing of raw materials, in-process products, finished products, water, and environmental samples.
• Review laboratory results and determine product disposition.
• Ensure laboratory equipment is calibrated, verified, and properly maintained.
• Maintain laboratory inventory, chemicals, reagents, standards, and supplies.
• Develop and maintain laboratory procedures and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Ensure laboratory housekeeping and safety requirements are maintained.

Food Safety & SQF Responsibilities

• Serve as the facility's designated SQF Practitioner.
• Maintain and continuously improve the SQF Food Safety Management System.
• Lead the Food Safety Team.
• Maintain the HACCP Plan and conduct annual reassessments.
• Ensure compliance with the current SQF Code, GMPs, FSMA, customer requirements, and all applicable regulatory standards.
• Maintain document control for all food safety and quality records.
• Verify prerequisite programs, including sanitation, allergen control, environmental monitoring, supplier approval, traceability, recall readiness, and pest management.
• Conduct risk assessments and implement preventive controls.
• Manage corrective and preventive action (CAPA) programs.
• Oversee facility sanitation practices, including SSOPs, master sanitation schedules, pre-operational inspections, chemical controls, sanitation verification, documentation, and corrective actions.
• Oversee the Kosher program and coordinate with the certifying rabbinical agency; maintain certificates, approved materials and processes, segregation and traceability controls, required records, employee training, and audit readiness.

Quality Assurance

• Review production records and laboratory data to ensure compliance with specifications.
• Investigate customer complaints, quality issues, and non-conformances.
• Lead root cause analyses and implement corrective actions.
• Approve or reject raw materials and finished products based on quality standards.
• Monitor quality trends and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Work closely with Production, Maintenance, Sanitation, and Purchasing to resolve quality and food safety concerns.

Audits & Regulatory Compliance

• Lead SQF certification, customer, regulatory, and internal audits.
• Prepare audit documentation and ensure records are complete and audit ready.
• Verify implementation and effectiveness of corrective actions.
• Monitor regulatory changes and update programs as needed.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and customer food safety requirements.

Training & Leadership

• Develop and deliver employee training on GMPs, HACCP, SQF, sanitation, allergen control, laboratory procedures, and food safety.
• Mentor and develop laboratory staff.
• Promote a culture of food safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement throughout the facility.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Biology, Chemistry, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of five years of experience in food manufacturing quality assurance and laboratory operations.
• Previous supervisory or management experience preferred.
• Qualified SQF Practitioner or ability to become qualified.
• Strong working knowledge of SQF, HACCP, FSMA, GMPs, food microbiology, laboratory testing, and quality management systems.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and electronic quality management systems.
• Experience with sanitation programs and Kosher certification requirements preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong leadership and organizational skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to interpret laboratory results and regulatory requirements.
• Experience leading audits and implementing corrective actions.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand, walk, bend, and lift up to 30 pounds.
• Ability to work in both laboratory and production environments.
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE).

Performance Expectations

• Maintain successful SQF certification with no major non-conformances.
• Ensure laboratory testing is accurate, timely, and compliant with established procedures.
• Maintain regulatory and customer compliance.
• Reduce customer complaints and product non-conformances through effective quality management.
• Foster continuous improvement in food safety, product quality, laboratory operations, and employee training.