Quality Assurance Manager

Quality Assurance Manager

We are seeking an experienced and hands-on Quality Assurance Manager to lead quality systems, food safety programs, and regulatory compliance at our facility in Union, NJ. This role is responsible for maintaining audit readiness, overseeing supplier management, managing customer QA requirements, and driving continuous improvement across all quality and food safety operations. The ideal candidate will bring a strong background in food manufacturing, with specific experience in seasoning, spice, or dry blending environments highly preferred.

Key responsibilities include:

• Operational Quality & Food Safety Leadership: Oversee day-to-day quality control activities and drive the implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of facility food safety programs.
• Supply Chain QA & Supplier Management: Manage supplier qualification, performance monitoring, raw material specifications, and incoming ingredient quality compliance.
• Customer QA & Compliance Management: Serve as the key technical contact for customer quality inquiries, documentation requests, specification reviews, and compliance management.
• Documentation, Investigations & CAPA: Lead root-cause analysis for quality non-conformances, internal deviations, and customer complaints; manage and enforce Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) programs.
• Audit & Regulatory Readiness: Ensure the facility remains in constant compliance and audit-ready for third-party certifications, customer audits, and regulatory inspections (FDA/USDA/State).
• Cross-Functional Coordination: Collaborate closely with Operations, Procurement, and Customer Service to resolve technical issues, support product launches, and ensure quality standards are met at every stage of production.

Qualifications include:

• Experience: 3+ years of progressive Quality Assurance/Food Safety leadership experience within a food manufacturing or processing environment required.
• Industry Background: Experience in seasonings, spices, dry blending, or ingredient manufacturing is strongly preferred.
• Technical Certifications: PCQI and HACCP certifications strongly preferred; working knowledge of GFSI standards (SQF, BRC, or FSSC 22000).
• Core Competencies: Proven experience managing supplier quality, leading root-cause investigations, managing CAPAs, and overseeing regulatory/third-party audits.
• Communication & Collaboration: Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to interface effectively with customers, auditors, vendors, and internal leadership.
• Technical Skills: Strong organizational skills and proficiency with MS Office Suite (Excel, Word) and ERP/inventory management systems.

Schedule & Compensation:

• Schedule: Full-time, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
• Salary Range: $75,000 – $80,000 / year (commensurate with experience)
• Work Location: In-person (Union, NJ)