Quality Assurance Manager

Plant Quality Manager ABOUT THE ROLE Reporting directly to the Plant Manager, this position carries leadership responsibility over a dedicated QA team of 15 — spanning lab technicians, quality supervisors, and process improvement specialists. The Quality Manager also chairs the Quality Pillar within the Plant Leadership Team, with a strong focus on driving Continuous Improvement across operations. Close collaboration with Daisy Brand's Technical Services group and in-house R&D team is a regular part of this role. At its core, this position exists to ensure the facility operates in full alignment with Daisy Brand's quality standards at every stage — from raw material intake through production, storage, and distribution. A qualified Quality Representative serves as backup in the Manager's absence. PRINCIPAL DUTIES Management & Leadership Accountable for production quality standards across the facility Oversee the Quality Department budget, including approval and reconciliation of expenditures Create, maintain, and improve quality documentation for the facility and all products Act as the facility's official point of contact for quality-related regulatory and government matters Lead a team of 15 quality professionals — including 11 technicians, 2 supervisors, and 2 process improvement specialists — through structured onboarding, development plans, and ongoing coaching Coordinate cross-functional communication between Marketing, Production, Technical Services, and Product Development Systems & Methodologies Oversee the consumer complaint process from investigation through resolution Build and refine quality programs that align with Daisy Brand's Pure & Clean standards Champion a culture of continuous improvement through education and performance data Ensure Quality systems are fully integrated with other operational and high-performance work systems Direct quality methodologies, systems coordination, and Statistical Process Control Maintain and implement HACCP, HACQP, FSMA, and Food Defense plans Technical Support Function as the facility's SQF Practitioner, with annual responsibility for system verification and validation Ensure Quality Technicians are properly trained, qualified, and consistently executing required testing protocols Coordinate outside services including pest control, third-party lab testing, and equipment maintenance Administer the hold/release database for Finished Goods and Raw Materials Ensure plant and business initiatives remain aligned with all quality and compliance requirements Offer technical expertise in support of both current product lines and new product development SQF RESPONSIBILITIES As the designated SQF Practitioner for the facility, this role carries full authority and accountability to: Develop and implement the Food Safety Fundamentals, Food Safety Plan, and Food Quality Plan Oversee the full lifecycle of the SQF System — development, implementation, review, and ongoing maintenance Safeguard the integrity of the SQF System and take corrective action when needed Ensure all relevant personnel are informed and equipped to maintain effective SQF compliance Scope includes Pre-Requisite Programs, Critical Control Points, Critical Quality Points, monitoring activities, sampling and analysis across raw materials, finished product, and work in progress, as well as scheduling and leading internal audits. QUALIFICATIONS B.S. or M.S. in Food Science, Dairy Product Technology, Food Microbiology, Chemistry, or a comparable technical discipline with relevant industry experience 5–10 years in QA/QC within food manufacturing, with a track record of managing quality systems Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to author technical documents and contribute to policy development Background in GMP, SQF, TQM, HACCP, Six Sigma, or similar continuous improvement frameworks #J-18808-Ljbffr