Quality Assurance Manager

Reference: PR/601710_1784649030Quality Assurance ManagerLeading Food Manufacturing CompanySeabrook, NJ AreaAbout the OpportunityA leading food manufacturing organization is seeking an experienced Quality Assurance Manager to lead all quality, food safety, and sanitation programs at a high-volume production facility. Reporting directly to the Plant Manager, this individual will be responsible for ensuring product quality, regulatory compliance, audit readiness, and continuous improvement across the site.This is a highly visible leadership role with responsibility for quality systems, food safety programs, sanitation oversight, customer and regulatory audits, and team development.Key ResponsibilitiesQuality & Food Safety LeadershipLead all quality assurance, food safety, and sanitation functions for the facility.Ensure compliance with GMP, HACCP, SQF, Food Safety, Food Security, and company quality standards.Monitor product quality throughout the manufacturing process and drive corrective actions when necessary.Review and oversee all Food Safety & Quality documentation and reporting.Serve as the primary contact for product recalls and quality-related issues.Manage product hold and release decisions.Audit & Regulatory ComplianceLead customer, FDA, USDA, SQF, Organic, and third-party audits.Coordinate audit preparation, execution, and corrective action plans.Maintain audit readiness and ensure ongoing compliance with regulatory requirements.Partner with corporate quality leadership on consumer complaints, root cause investigations, and trend analysis.Sanitation OversightManage sanitation programs and personnel to maintain world-class plant cleanliness standards.Monitor and improve the Master Sanitation Schedule.Identify process gaps and implement corrective actions to strengthen sanitation performance.Cross-Functional CollaborationPartner closely with Production, Maintenance, Supply Chain, Warehouse, and Finance teams.Drive continuous improvement initiatives related to quality, food safety, and operational excellence.Support employee training programs, including SQF verification and validation activities.Leadership & Team DevelopmentLead a team of direct and indirect reports within the Quality and Sanitation functions.Recruit, coach, mentor, and develop employees.Conduct performance evaluations and provide ongoing feedback and development opportunities.Foster a culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.QualificationsRequiredBachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Quality, Engineering, or a related field; equivalent experience will also be considered.5+ years of Quality Assurance experience within a food manufacturing environment.Previous people leadership experience managing direct reports.Strong knowledge of:HACCPGMPsFood Safety SystemsManufacturing Quality ProgramsSQF, HACCP, and PCQI certifications.Experience leading customer and regulatory audits.Ability to perform root cause analysis and apply statistical problem-solving techniques.Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.Proficiency with spreadsheets and quality data analysis.PreferredExperience within food and/or beverage manufacturing.Knowledge of microbiology and product formulation.ASQ or other professional quality certifications.Experience managing FDA, USDA, Organic, SQF, and customer audits.Experience with technical report writing and quality documentation.Strong coaching, training, and team development capabilities.