QA MANAGER I - West Debone

About the Role

At Pilgrim’s, Safety Is A Condition, which means the safety of our team members comes first—always. As the Quality Assurance Manager, you will lead quality control programs within the Pilgrim’s poultry processing plant, ensuring compliance with food safety, quality standards, and regulatory requirements. You will manage and coordinate activities to maintain consistent production, develop statistical analysis for performance improvement, and collaborate across teams to address issues impacting food safety or operational efficiency. Strong leadership, analytical skills, and a commitment to continuous improvement are essential for this role.

Responsibilities

• Manage, plan, coordinate, and direct quality control programs to ensure consistent production and service aligned with established standards.
• Develop and apply statistical analysis to monitor and improve food safety and quality performance.
• Implement food safety and quality procedures in alignment with Pilgrim’s corporate and facility programs.
• Develop the site’s quality budget using zero-based budgeting techniques; analyze spend to drive cost reduction.
• Build and maintain cooperative relationships within the facility and with external partners, including customers.
• Serve as a key member of the facility leadership team.
• Prevent product and company risk by managing nonconforming product processes, QA HOLDS, and corrective action programs.
• Coordinate with operations and quality teams to investigate customer complaints and ensure timely resolution.
• Promote and organize training activities related to food safety and quality assurance.
• Collaborate with facility teams to resolve personnel and processing issues using root cause analysis.
• Coach and train FSQA team members to ensure clear understanding of departmental expectations.
• Lead customer, third-party, and USDA/FSIS/ASM audits.

Qualifications

• Previous supervisory experience required.
• Experience in poultry further processing or slaughter preferred.
• Strong understanding of USDA and OSHA regulations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint); SAP experience preferred.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated leadership, analytical, and math skills.
• High integrity, dependability, and strong work ethic.
• Self-motivated, flexible, and adaptable to a fast-paced environment.
• GFSI (BRC specifically) training preferred.

Candidate Expectations

• Willingness to travel as needed, with overnight stays of 1–4 days.
• Flexibility to work varying days and shifts, including occasional weekends.
• Ability to work independently and uphold PPC’s values and FSQA programs.
• Maintain a positive and cooperative work atmosphere.
• Navigate processing areas and equipment safely.
• Recognize and act on safety and food safety risks; consistently enforce safe work habits across the facility.

Educational Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science or a related field, or
• Five (5) years of relevant experience/training, or
• Equivalent combination of education and experience.

Work Environment

Exposure to both office and production environments. Production areas may include wet/humid conditions and moving mechanical parts. Noise levels in production areas are typically loud.

Benefits

• Vision, Medical, and Dental coverage begin after 60 days of employment.
• Paid Time Off: Sick leave, vacation, company observed holidays, or any other statutorily required paid leave.
• 401(k): Company match begins after the first year of service and follows the company vesting schedule.
• Career Development: Continuous learning opportunities and a focus on career growth through various learning and development programs.

Pay

Base salary range of $90,005 - $100,000, based on experience.

Schedule

Monday – Friday; does require some weekend work.

About Us

Pilgrim’s is a leading global food company with more than 62,000 team members worldwide. The company processes, prepares, packages, and delivers fresh, frozen, and value-added food products for customers in more than 100 countries. Pilgrim’s operates protein processing plants and prepared foods facilities in 14 states, Puerto Rico, Mexico, the U.K., the Republic of Ireland, and continental Europe.

Vision: Become the best and most respected company in our industry, creating the opportunity of a better future for our team members.

Core Values: Availability, Determination, Discipline, Humility, Ownership, Simplicity, Sincerity.