Overview In this role you will lead the QA department to ensure compliance with company policies and regulatory standards. You will integrate food safety, quality assurance and quality control across the plant, driving robust SQF programs and HACCP plans. You will collaborate across functions to meet audits, certifications, and customer requirements while supporting product development and labeling. This position offers an opportunity to shape the plant's quality culture and sustain high standards in a hands-on, leadership-focused environment.
Responsibilities- Manage and sustain all SQF programs and drive SQF scores over 90%
- Review, update and create HACCP plans to match business needs
- Organize and maintain QA documents and programs for easy retrieval
- Monitor manufacturing to ensure compliance with SSOP, GMP, HACCP, SQF for audits and customers
- Establish specifications, standards, procedures for QC and new product development
- Develop and execute plant-wide quality and food safety training programs
- Support sales with label submissions for new products
- Maintain product specifications and files; manage certifications (Kosher, Halal, Organic, GMO, GF, USDA, FDA)
- Oversee third-shift sanitation for equipment/building sanitation
- Coach, develop and train subordinates; manage discipline and staffing actions
- Ensure swab testing, pH, sodium, etc., align with plant processes
Key requirements- Bachelor's degree in relevant field, plus a solid track record implementing and maintaining GMPs, SSOPs, HACCP, SQF and prerequisites
- 10-15 years as QA Manager in food industry, with at least 5 years in a USDA environment
- Must be SQF Practitioner and HACCP certified
- Strong Microsoft Office and other systems knowledge
- Experience overseeing QA in a meat processing or cold environment preferred
- Self-starter and initiative-taker
- Professional, dependable, flexible and ownership-minded
- Integrity and ethical actions
- SQF program management
- HACCP development and maintenance
- GMP and SSOP compliance
