QA & Field Operations Manager

***This is not a role with ForceBrands***

Field Operations & QA Manager

Full-Time | Chicago Area | Up to 75% Travel

The Opportunity

A high-growth, nationally distributed better-for-you food brand is seeking a Field Operations & QA Manager to serve as a key on-site representative across its co-manufacturing network.

This highly hands-on role will ensure products are manufactured safely, efficiently, consistently, and in accordance with established quality standards. The position will work closely with Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, and manufacturing partners to oversee production performance, strengthen quality systems, maintain inventory accuracy, ensure product and packaging compliance, and drive continuous improvement.

The ideal candidate is a proactive problem solver who enjoys being on the manufacturing floor, digging into root causes, and building strong relationships with co-manufacturing partners.

What You'll Own

Production & Co-Manufacturer Oversight

• Serve as a primary on-site operations representative during production runs.
• Monitor production performance, line efficiency, downtime, yields, and execution against production plans.
• Identify manufacturing issues in real time and partner with co-manufacturers to drive resolution.
• Communicate production status, delays, risks, and operational concerns to internal stakeholders.
• Build strong relationships with co-manufacturing partners and key facility personnel.

Quality & Food Safety

• Ensure finished products meet established quality and product specifications.
• Monitor adherence to GMPs, food safety programs, sanitation requirements, and manufacturing procedures.
• Identify and escalate quality or food safety deviations and support root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve quality, food safety, and GMP SOPs.
• Maintain recall and traceability programs, including periodic mock recalls.
• Maintain organized COA documentation for finished goods and raw materials.
• Develop and manage a sensory quality program to evaluate consistency across production runs.
• Partner with co-manufacturers to identify quality trends and prevent recurring issues.

Product, Packaging & Inventory

• Verify packaging, labels, coding, pallet configurations, and finished goods against approved specifications.
• Support packaging transitions, new product launches, production trials, and process validations.
• Conduct physical inventory audits of finished goods and packaging materials.
• Reconcile physical inventory against ERP/WMS records and investigate discrepancies.
• Monitor inventory for shortages, excess, or aging materials and communicate risks to Operations.

Operational Excellence

• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce waste and costs, and strengthen product quality.
• Support standardized operating procedures across manufacturing partners.
• Document site visits, risks, action items, owners, and follow-up activities.
• Identify recurring production issues and help implement sustainable solutions.

What You Bring

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, Food Science, Business, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 3 to 5 years of experience within food, beverage, CPG, or co-manufacturing operations.
• Experience working within manufacturing environments, ideally across multiple facilities.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, inventory management, and production planning.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and ERP systems such as NetSuite, Cin7, or similar.
• Ability to travel up to 75%.

Preferred:

• Experience within snacks, protein products, or better-for-you food and nutrition.
• Knowledge of GMP, HACCP, SQF, FSMA, or similar food safety and quality systems.
• Experience with inventory audits and cycle counts.
• Familiarity with packaging specifications and regulatory labeling requirements.
• Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma experience.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to spend extended periods on manufacturing floors.
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 30 pounds.
• Comfort working in manufacturing environments with varying temperatures and noise levels.
• Ability to travel extensively by air and automobile.

Location & Compensation

This position is highly preferred for candidates based in the Chicago area and requires regular travel to manufacturing and supplier locations.

Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience, with a comprehensive benefits package.

This is an opportunity to join a rapidly growing consumer brand in a highly visible, hands-on position with meaningful ownership over manufacturing execution, quality, and operational improvement.