QA Manager

Job Description

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Quality Assurance Manager

Position Overview

The Quality Assurance Manager reports to the Quality Assurance Director and is responsible for leading the food safety and quality systems for a high-volume food manufacturing operation. This role provides leadership and support for business growth and continuous improvement while ensuring all products consistently meet customer specifications and established food safety and quality standards.

The QA Manager provides overall leadership of the Quality Assurance team within a 24/7 manufacturing environment and plays a critical role in maintaining high standards for product quality and food safety.

This position is responsible for developing, maintaining, evaluating, and implementing Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP), Safe Quality Food (SQF), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), quality assurance, quality control, testing, and food safety programs .

Strong technical knowledge of dairy, cheese, cultured products, or a comparable regulated food manufacturing environment is highly preferred. The successful candidate will bring strong leadership, problem-solving, communication, analytical, and interpersonal skills.

Essential Responsibilities

• Directly manage the QA Supervisor and Plant Sanitarian , with indirect oversight of laboratory technicians.
• Oversee laboratory testing of raw materials, finished products, and plant samples to ensure testing is completed accurately and within established timelines.
• Manage the plant laboratory, including staffing, scheduling, testing procedures, supplies, equipment, facilities, and applicable certification requirements.
• Promote a safe working environment by following all required safety procedures and ensuring team members complete required safety training and use appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Ensure regulatory compliance across all Food Safety and Quality programs, including Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Food Defense, and Pest Control programs.
• Develop and deliver employee training focused on hygienic product handling, sanitation, HACCP, SQF, GMP, and other applicable food safety requirements.
• Lead customer, regulatory, and certification audits, including SQF, FDA, USDA, state inspections, Kosher, Halal, and other applicable programs.
• Develop and oversee corrective action plans and responses resulting from audits, inspections, and identified compliance issues.
• Serve as the site's SQF Practitioner , with appropriate backup support from QA leadership.
• Lead and promote a strong Food Safety Culture throughout the manufacturing facility.
• Manage product status programs, including Hold, Release, Rework, and Reject processes, with authority and accountability for final product disposition decisions.
• Review production documentation to ensure compliance with regulatory and quality requirements and provide technical guidance regarding documentation inquiries.
• Develop, maintain, and implement QA policies, procedures, work instructions, and other quality documentation.
• Maintain and update the facility's recall procedures and documentation on an annual basis.
• Plan and execute mock recalls and product traceability exercises.
• Manage consumer and customer complaint programs, including root-cause investigations, corrective and preventive actions, trend analysis, and timely communication.
• Maintain the Pathogen Environmental Monitoring Program , including investigation and corrective/preventive actions for out-of-specification results.
• Manage in-process and finished-product testing programs, ensuring accurate recordkeeping, trending, and reporting of results.
• Identify and communicate quality trends and opportunities for improvement to plant and senior leadership.
• Partner with operations and cross-functional teams to improve Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), manufacturing performance, product quality, and operational metrics .
• Schedule, lead, and report on regular facility inspections.
• Provide technical expertise and leadership in the implementation of continuous improvement initiatives .
• Collaborate with operations, engineering, maintenance, sanitation, and other departments to improve food safety, quality, efficiency, and overall plant performance.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as needed to support business and operational objectives.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in a scientific field such as food science, microbiology, chemistry, biology, or a related discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in food manufacturing, dairy processing, or a similarly regulated food production environment.
• 5+ years of management and/or senior supervisory experience.
• Strong knowledge of microbiology, food science, HACCP, SQF, GMP, and food safety systems .
• HACCP, PQCI, SQF, or comparable food safety certifications preferred.
• Strong computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Windows, Excel, and Word .
• Excellent verbal, written, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong analytical and deductive reasoning skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to interpret regulatory requirements and effectively translate them into facility policies, procedures, and practices.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment while managing multiple priorities.
• Flexibility to work varied hours as needed in support of a 24/7 manufacturing operation .
• Demonstrated experience developing, implementing, and managing Quality Assurance metrics and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) .
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Experience with continuous improvement initiatives and/or project management is preferred.
• Proven leadership skills with the ability to build trust, motivate teams, establish accountability, and drive results.
• Strong commitment to customer satisfaction, product quality, process reliability, and food safety excellence.
• Working knowledge of sanitation operations and current and emerging sanitation practices.

What We're Looking For

The ideal candidate is a hands-on, highly engaged quality leader who can balance regulatory compliance with the realities of a fast-paced manufacturing environment. This individual should be comfortable working directly with operations and frontline employees while also communicating effectively with senior leadership.

Success in this role requires someone who is analytical, decisive, collaborative, and proactive , with the ability to identify risks, solve problems, develop people, and continuously raise the standards for food safety and quality.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• Primarily a manufacturing and production environment with low to moderate physical demands.
• Occasional lifting of objects weighing up to 45 pounds .
• Frequent standing, walking, sitting, and movement throughout the manufacturing facility.
• May occasionally require climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling.
• Requires the ability to use hands to handle tools, equipment, controls, and other materials.
• Requires the ability to reach with hands and arms.
• Vision requirements include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Work may involve exposure to varying temperatures, elevated noise levels, production equipment, and other conditions typical of a food manufacturing environment.
• Ability to work within a 24/7 operation , including flexible hours when required.

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Saige Partners, one of the fastest growing technology and talent companies in the Midwest, believes in people with a passion to help them succeed. We are in the business of helping professionals Build Careers, Not Jobs. Saige Partners believes employees are the most valuable asset to building a thriving and successful company culture, which is why we offer a benefit package and convenient weekly payment solutions that helps our employees stay healthy and maintain a positive work/life balance. Contact us to learn more about the opportunity below or check out other opportunities at


Meet Your Recruiter

Alexi Deshmukh