Quality Assurance Supervisor

Description

COMPANY INTRODUCTION

Manzana Products Co. has been in business for over 100 years and is a leading producer of organic apple juice, apple sauce, and apple cider vinegar. Manzana is owned by Agrial, a prominent French co-op of 12,000 farmer members and a force in agriculture and food production.


Manzana's mission is to create quality apple products by placing the highest value on people, suppliers, customers, and continuous improvement in manufacturing capabilities, with social and environmental responsibility at the heart of our actions.

We are in the process of relocating our manufacturing facility from Sebastopol, CA to Sunnyside, WA. While the facility is essential, we believe that building a strong, dedicated team is the key to success. At Manzana, we work each day to foster a culture focused on food safety, employee health and safety, customer service, continuous improvement, and an inclusive, respectful environment where all team members' contributions are valued, and feedback is encouraged.

At Manzana, all employees are required to actively participate in our comprehensive Food Safety Program to ensure the consistent production of the highest quality and safest food products. This commitment is essential to maintaining our standards and protecting our customers.

Join us as we grow and make a difference together

Job Summary

The Quality Assurance (QA) Supervisor is responsible for supporting and overseeing food safety, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and quality system activities within the manufacturing facility. This role ensures adherence to established food safety and quality programs, supports continuous improvement initiatives, and works closely with Operations, Sanitation, Maintenance, and Warehouse teams to maintain compliance with company standards, customer requirements, and regulatory expectations.

The QA Supervisor provides leadership on the production floor, conducts verification activities, supports investigations and corrective actions, and assists in maintaining the site's Food Safety and Quality Management System

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Food Safety & Quality Systems

• Monitor and verify implementation of the Food Safety Plan, including Control Points (CPs), Critical Control Points (CCPs), Preventive Controls, and related verification activities.
• Perform and document food safety and quality program verification activities, testing, and evaluations.
• Support the product hold and release program, including disposition of non-conforming materials.
• Review production, sanitation, and quality records for completeness, accuracy, and compliance; approve records as required.
• Conduct traceability and mock recall exercises and support investigations as needed.
• Support environmental monitoring, patulin testing, and other food safety verification programs.
• Assist in maintaining compliance with SQF, HACCP, FSMA Preventive Controls, GMPs, and customer requirements.
• Support internal, customer, regulatory, and third-party audits.

Investigation & Corrective Actions

• Assist with root cause investigations related to food safety, quality, process deviations, customer complaints, and non-conforming products.
• Verify implementation and effectiveness of corrective and preventive actions.
• Investigate rejected raw materials and packaging materials that do not meet specifications; assist with supplier corrective action requests (SCARs) and follow-up activities.
• Review laboratory testing results and investigate deviations from established specifications.

Production & Plant Support

• Partner with Operations to ensure compliance with food safety and quality requirements during production.
• Suggest and implement improvements to processes, equipment, and working conditions that enhance food safety, product quality, employee safety, and operational efficiency.
• Analyze and resolve quality-related issues and provide technical support to production personnel.
• Possess authority to place materials or products on hold when food safety or quality concerns are identified.

Sanitation, Inspection, Audit & Other Facility Programs

• Review and evaluate CIP records, incubation results, dye tests, and other sanitation verification activities.
• Support the pest control program and coordinate communications with internal departments and contracted pest control providers.
• Participate in quarterly Glass and Brittle Plastic audits, GMP audits, warehouse inspections, and periodic sanitation audits.
• Verify sanitation effectiveness and support continuous improvement initiatives.

Training & Leadership

• Conduct food safety, GMP, quality, and sanitation training as needed.
• Provide coaching and guidance to employees regarding food safety and quality expectations.
• Support quality culture initiatives and employee engagement in food safety programs.
• Support the SQF Practitioner and Food Safety Team in maintaining and improving the Food Safety and Quality Management System.
• Serve as a backup SQF Practitioner and/or PCQI, as assigned and qualified.

Food Safety Requirements and Responsibilities

• Comply with all applicable company policies and Federal, State, and local regulations, including OSHA, FDA, FSMA Preventive Controls, HACCP, and SQF requirements.
• Follow and enforce Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), sanitation requirements, food defense, and food fraud prevention procedures.
• Conduct and verify monitoring activities to ensure products meet food safety, quality, regulatory, and customer requirements.
• Participate in management review and continuous improvement activities related to the Food Safety and Quality Management System.
• Assist in maintaining food safety, quality, regulatory, and customer compliance programs.
• Immediately report food safety, quality, legality, regulatory, or customer concerns to management.
• Understand and support Manzana Products Company's commitment to Food Safety, Food Quality, Food Legality, Food Defense, and continuous improvement.
• Ability to use company-issued electronic tablets, or other approved digital systems to enter quality, safety, and production information accurately.

People Management

At Manzana, Supervisors, Managers and Leadership play a critical role in shaping and sustaining a workplace culture that reflects our core values and commitment to excellence.

We work each day to create a culture focused on food safety, employee health and safety, customer service, and continuous improvement, in a respectful environment where all team members' contributions are valued and feedback is welcomed. Our leaders are expected to model and reinforce our four key values: Dynamic, Responsible, Efficient, and Respectful.

Managers are responsible for leading, developing, and supporting teams to achieve both individual and organizational success. This includes fostering a positive and inclusive work environment where employees feel engaged, empowered, and accountable.

Key expectations for people management include:

• Actively model Manzana's values and set clear expectations for behavior and performance. Promote a culture of respect, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Maintain open, transparent, and timely communication. Encourage feedback and ensure team members feel heard and valued.
• Set clear goals and expectations, monitor performance, and address issues promptly and fairly. Recognize achievements and reinforce positive contributions.
• Build strong, trusting relationships within the team. Foster an inclusive environment that values diverse perspectives and encourages participation.
• Reinforce and uphold standards related to food safety, employee health and safety, and company policies. Ensure team adherence through training, monitoring, and accountability.

Requirements

Qualifications

• Associate degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Biology, Chemistry, Quality Assurance, or a related field preferred.
• Equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.

• Minimum of 2 years of experience in quality assurance, food safety, laboratory operations, or a related role within a food manufacturing environment.
• Experience with HACCP, Preventive Controls, GMPs, environmental monitoring, and SQF systems preferred.
• Previous experience supporting audits and regulatory inspections is preferred.

Skills:

• Strong understanding of food safety, quality assurance
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong problem-solving and root cause analysis skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a cross-functional team.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and electronic record-keeping systems.

• HACCP Certification preferred.
• PCQI Training preferred.
• SQF Practitioner experience preferred.

Work Environment

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods throughout the workday.
• Ability to climb stairs and access production equipment as needed.
• Ability to occasionally lift and carry up to 30 pounds.
• Ability to perform laboratory testing and computer-based work requiring manual dexterity.
• Ability to work in production environments that may be hot, cold, wet, and noisy.

• Combination of office, laboratory, warehouse, and manufacturing production environments.
• Regular exposure to food manufacturing operations, processing equipment, cleaning chemicals, forklifts, and moving machinery.
• Requires routine presence on the production floor to support food safety, quality, sanitation, and operational activities.

Working Conditions

• This position is performed in a food-processing/production environment and may involve exposure to moving equipment, conveyors, high-pressure water, noise, wet surfaces, varying temperatures, and agricultural materials.


• The employee must be able to safely perform the physical requirements of the position, including standing, walking, bending, kneeling, reaching, pushing, pulling, and lifting as required for assigned duties.This position regularly works 8- to 10-hour shifts, Monday through Friday, with occasional Saturday work based on production and business needs consistent with applicable laws and company policies.

Required PPE may vary by work area and assigned task. Employees must wear all PPE required by company policy, hazard assessments, food-safety requirements, and posted area-specific requirements.

PPE will include:

• Smock (or other uniform shirt), hairnet, beard net, safety glasses, ear protection, bump cap, and safety shoes.PPE bay include:

• Chemical-resistant gloves and protective clothing, appropriate for the chemical and task.

Additional PPE identified through the applicable safety assessment, SDS, sanitation procedure, or posted area requirements.Employees are responsible for properly wearing, maintaining, and using required PPE at all times.

To protect food safety and prevent contamination, employees entering production areas must comply with all personal hygiene and GMP requirements.

Please note: Nuts or products containing nuts are not allowed anywhere at the facility.

The following are not permitted in production areas:

• Glitter, sparkles, or loose decorative materials.

• False eyelashes (including extensions), false fingernails, nail polish (or other nail coatings.)


• Jewelry, including rings, bracelets, watches, necklaces, earrings, piercings, or other loose accessories, except as specifically permitted by company policy.

• Items or clothing containing glitter, spakles (or other decorative materials), or loose, fraying, dangling,or shedding materials that could present a contamination risk, or personal safety risk.

• Strong fragrances.


• Loose personal items that could fall into or contaminate product.

• Any other personal item, food, candy, gum, medication, accessories cosmetics, or materials prohibited by company GMP and food-safety policies.

Employees must follow all posted hygiene, handwashing, personal protective equipment, and food-safety requirements when entering or working in production areas.

Please note: Nuts or products containing nuts are not allowed anywhere at the facility including parking lots, breakroom, offices, plant floor, etc.

Employment is contingent upon successfully completing applicable pre-employment screening requirements, which may include:

• Background check.

• Drug screening.

• DMV Check (for roles that require driving a vehicle, forklift or other similar equipment.)

Manzana Products Co. is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential functions of their position. Applicants and employees who require a reasonable accommodation during the application process or to perform the essential functions of the job are encouraged to contact Human Resources.

Manzana Products Co. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees and maintaining a workplace that is inclusive, respectful, and free from unlawful discrimination and harassment. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, experience, business needs, and other legitimate job-related factors in accordance with applicable law.