Quality Assurance Manager

Quality Assurance Manager

Job Summary:

The QA Manager directly leads the QA Department by managing the QA Shift Supervisors and Specification and Labeling Coordinator in a USDA inspected pork slaughter, fabrication, and raw bacon facility. The role oversees the quality auditing programs and execution of HACCP and other food safety tasks by the QA staff. The QA Manager also supports the maintenance of product specification details including new product setup, label creation, and regulatory label approval. The QA Manager coordinates with 3rd party contract sanitation provider and is the main facility liaison.

Key Responsibilities:

• Direct management of all QA Shift Supervisors, Specification and Labeling Coordinator, and indirect management of approximately 45 hourly QA technicians.
• Investigate customer quality complaints, identify root causes, implement corrective actions, and ensure timely resolution.
• Monitor, trend, and report customer complaints monthly to corporate leadership, identifying recurring issues and driving preventive action plans.
• Act as the primary liaison with the third-party sanitation provider, managing and overseeing all sanitation activities, including daily cleaning performance, Master Cleaning Schedule (MCS) execution, sanitation program effectiveness, and invoice review and approval.
• Develop and monitor KPIs related to food safety, quality, sanitation, and regulatory compliance.
• Support SQF and third-party audits, ensuring ongoing compliance and audit readiness across all quality and food safety programs.
• Report significant quality, food safety, and regulatory matters to plant and corporate leadership, ensuring effective communication of corrective actions, compliance status, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Manage the creation, review, and approval of product specifications and labeling to ensure compliance with USDA-FSIS regulations, export requirements, and customer specifications.
• Maintain expert-level knowledge of applicable USDA, FDA, SQF, HACCP, GMP, SSOP, and other regulatory and industry quality standards.
• Promote and support a strong culture of workplace safety by ensuring compliance with all company safety policies, OSHA requirements, and safe work practices.
• Develop and deliver food safety and quality training programs to ensure employee knowledge, compliance, and adherence to best practices.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to promote food safety culture, improve operational-product specification performance, and support continuous improvement and regulatory compliance initiatives.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree with 5+ years of relevant experience, preferred. Relevant experience will be considered in lieu of degree.
• HACCP certification preferred
• SQF Practitioner certification preferred
• Must be available to work overtime, weekends and holidays as required for a 24 hr. operation.
• Must have strong leadership capabilities with excellent communication skills, allowing for positive working relationships within close working environments.

Other Duties:

Please note, this job description is not designated to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties and responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice.

Work Environment:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to a variety of extreme conditions on the site including exposure to fumes or airborne particles, moving mechanical parts and vibration. The noise level in the work environment can be loud and hearing protection is required. The position regularly works near moving mechanical parts and in cold, hot, and outdoor conditions that include inclement weather, heat and humidity, and exposure to dust.

Physical Demand:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

The position lifts heavy objects, walks and stands for long periods of time under adverse field conditions. The employee lifts, pushes, pulls, or carries objects; uses abdominal and lower back muscles to provide support without fatigue. The position requires good manual dexterity (hand, hand with arms and fingers, two hands) and multi-limb coordination. The position requires the ability to quickly move arms and legs. The employee must have excellent stamina and vision.

Background Screening/Checks:

This position is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. This may include verification of employment, education, criminal background, driving history, and other relevant information, conducted in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

EOE, including Disability/Veteran

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