Quality Assurance Manager

Quality Assurance ManagerLocation: Cabot, VermontEmployment Type: Full-TimeWork Setting: Onsite The Quality Assurance Manager will provide strategic and operational leadership for food safety, quality assurance, laboratory operations, and regulatory compliance at the Cabot manufacturing facility in Cabot, VT. Reporting to the Quality Assurance Director, this role will lead the QA function within a 24/7 dairy manufacturing operation, ensuring that all cheese and cultured products consistently meet customer specifications, regulatory requirements, and established food safety and quality standards. The QA Manager will oversee QA personnel, laboratory activities, food safety programs, audits, regulatory compliance, product release and disposition, environmental monitoring, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives. The ideal candidate will bring strong experience in food manufacturing or dairy operations, along with deep knowledge of food microbiology, HACCP, SQF, GMP, sanitation, regulatory compliance, and quality systems.The Quality Assurance Manager is responsible for maintaining and continuously improving the plant's food safety and quality systems. This position will ensure compliance with HACCP, SQF, GMP, PMO, Food Defense, sanitation, pest control, laboratory, testing, traceability, and product release programs. The position serves as the site's SQF Practitioner and provides leadership for the QA team, laboratory operations, regulatory compliance, audits, quality metrics, and continuous improvement.Key ResponsibilitiesLead the plant's overall Quality Assurance and Food Safety programs.Maintain, develop, evaluate, and implement HACCP, SQF, GMP, and quality assurance systems.Serve as the site's SQF Practitioner, with the QA Supervisor serving as backup.Promote and strengthen the facility's Food Safety Culture.Ensure products consistently meet established customer, food safety, and quality specifications.Maintain product status programs covering Hold, Release, Rework, and Reject.Exercise authority over final product disposition decisions.Directly manage the QA Supervisor and Plant Sanitarian.Provide indirect leadership and oversight to laboratory technicians.Manage staffing, scheduling, training, performance, and development of QA personnel.Promote accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement across the QA organization.Ensure employees complete required food safety, sanitation, quality, and safety training.Oversee laboratory testing of raw milk, finished products, in-process materials, and plant samples.Manage laboratory staffing, scheduling, supplies, equipment, facilities, and testing procedures.Maintain the facility's Certified State Lab for Producer Testing.Ensure laboratory results are accurate, timely, documented, and appropriately trended.Oversee in-process and finished-product testing programs.Ensure compliance with FDA, USDA, PMO, GMP, SQF, state, customer, Kosher, and Halal requirements.Lead customer, regulatory, certification, and third-party audits.Develop and manage corrective action plans resulting from audits or quality issues.Interpret applicable regulatory requirements and translate them into plant procedures.Maintain regulatory documentation and ensure production records meet requirements.Maintain the plant's Pathogen Environmental Monitoring Program.Investigate out-of-specification environmental monitoring results.Lead root cause investigations and CAPA implementation.Oversee sanitation programs and ensure compliance with current sanitation standards and techniques.Support pest control, food defense, hygiene, and sanitary operating programs.Develop, maintain, and implement plant QA policies, procedures, and documentation.Review production paperwork for regulatory and quality compliance.Maintain and annually update the Plant Recall Manual.Lead mock recalls and traceability exercises.Maintain accurate records for testing, quality events, corrective actions, and product disposition.Manage customer and consumer complaint programs.Investigate complaints, determine root causes, and implement corrective actions.Track and trend complaint data and communicate findings to appropriate stakeholders.Monitor quality and operational KPIs.Partner with cross-functional teams to improve plant performance and manufacturing metrics.Provide technical support for quality improvement and process optimization initiatives.Ensure all QA personnel follow required safety procedures and PPE requirements.Conduct and report regular plant inspections.Work collaboratively with manufacturing, operations, sanitation, maintenance, and other departments.Support continuous improvement, project management, and operational excellence initiatives.Perform additional responsibilities as required.Required QualificationsBachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Dairy Science, Chemistry, Biology, or another related scientific field, or equivalent experience.5+ years of experience in food manufacturing, dairy manufacturing, or a closely related food production environment.5+ years of management or senior supervisory experience.Strong knowledge of food microbiology, food science, HACCP, SQF or equivalent food safety systems, GMP, sanitation, food safety and quality systems.Experience with regulatory compliance and interpretation of applicable regulations.Experience managing laboratory testing and quality control programs.Strong knowledge of quality assurance metrics and KPI management.Strong analytical, deductive reasoning, and problem-solving skills.Excellent written and verbal communication skills.Strong leadership and interpersonal skills.Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Windows, and related computer systems.Ability to work independently and effectively in a cross-functional team environment.Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing operation.Ability to work flexible hours when required, including supporting a 24/7 operation.Preferred QualificationsHACCP certification.SQF certification or SQF Practitioner experience.PQCI certification.Dairy or cheese manufacturing experience.Experience with cultured dairy products.Experience leading FDA, USDA, SQF, customer, Kosher, Halal, or state audits.Experience with environmental pathogen monitoring programs.Experience with CAPA and root cause analysis.Continuous improvement or project management experience.Experience with product release, hold, rework, reject, and final disposition programs.Experience with recall and traceability programs.