Quality Assurance Manager

About the role

At the heart of our company is a deep passion for creating fresh, healthy, and artisan-quality food that brings people together. We honor the craft of artisan cooking using scratch-made stocks, hand-chopped herbs, and only the highest-quality ingredients complemented by cutting-edge technology. This allows us to deliver consistently safe, exceptional products on a large scale.

Our culture is built on principles that shape how we grow, both as individuals and as a team. One of our core values, Honoring Development, guides us to actively seek out, celebrate, and nurture one another’s talents, strengths, and interests. By fostering each other’s growth, we strengthen our relationships and capabilities, driving both personal and professional success.

We also believe in Honoring Each Other. We surround ourselves with passionate people who share our love for great food. Through mutual respect and collaboration, we create an environment where employees are empowered to thrive, building trusting, and rewarding relationships with our clients, partners, and one another.

Responsibilities

Manage the quality assurance team to verify that the Quality Management System is successfully executed every shift, every day. The role ensures that all materials and finished products are safe and conform to all relevant specification, regulatory and customer requirements.

• Management and training of the QA team to ensure cover across all shifts as required
• Supervises the daily execution of the Quality Management System
• Ensures operational verifications are conducted as per HARPC and HACCP plan and that they are fully documented
• Ensures Good Manufacturing Practices are upheld and maintained
• Complete internal audits and monitors the consistency of outputs across the team for compliance purposes
• Ensures procedural or process deviations are captured and that appropriate interventions are made to keep product safe and maintain compliance with specification
• Investigates deviations and uses Root Cause Analysis techniques to complete CAPA (Corrective Action Preventive Action) to mistake-proof and prevent re-occurrence
• Utilizes continuous improvement techniques to improve standards
• Uses KPI information and trends to improve our systems and compliance
• Liaises with USDA and FDA inspectors when necessary
• Trains the operational team to ensure that new process and procedures are adopted
• Builds production and QA team capability to improve communication and understanding of quality standards
• Investigates customer complaints or any non-conformance raised internal or externally to provide data which informs resolution
• Organizes organoleptic panel to ensure consistent quality
• Runs 3rd party audits, when needed (Customer/Regulatory/Organic/GFCO/GFSI (SQF))
• Build preventive approach to FSQA Incidents when needed (Ex: Foreign material Prevention committee, QA-EMP weekly meeting)
• Perform new equipment risk assessment and ensure validation as required. (Allergens, Cleaning, CCPs, new equipment.)
• Train the QA team to ensure that FSQA systems to be utilized fully when needed. (ROSS, InfinityQS, PARCView, Sharepoint)
• Fully conversant with QA team disciplinary rules and procedure in place and can act in line with the procedure
• Provides and encourages a safe working environment for all personnel

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education, training and/or experience
• Background in food science or related field and a minimum of 3 years’ experience in QA systems and food safety auditing with experience writing audit reports and interpreting corrective action responses
• Certified HACCP (Required) Internal auditor and PCQI (Preferred)
• At least 2 years supervisory experience is required (Especially people management experience)
• Valid Driver's license and ability to travel by air if needed

Skills

• Ability to lead, develop, coach, motivate and support individuals on the team
• Knowledge of Quality systems, food safety programs, HACCP, HARPC and GMP’s is required (Including GFSI standards such as SQF or BRC)
• Must have excellent communication, interpersonal and team-building skills. Ability to impact and influence others to drive change
• Ability to work cross-functionally with teams and individuals to coach and educate and improve the quality and food safety systems
• Experience with regulators (FDA) and, preferably USDA
• Working knowledge of key US food regulations
• Understanding of important microbiological, physical and chemical hazards to food
• Continuous improvement knowledge preferred (including Root Cause Analysis and CAPA)
• Excellent computer skills in Office, SharePoint, and ERP systems
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret complex documents
• Ability to respond effectively to the sensitive inquiries or complaints
• Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems
• Self-starter able to conceptualize and drive initiatives forward
• Positive attitude and motivated by contributing to the overall success of the team
• Able to develop strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Creative problem-solving skills
• Obsessive attention to detail, well organized and able to juggle many projects at once
• Comfortable moving at a fast pace and in ambiguous environments
• Passionate about food
• Willing to address difficult situations head on with patience and respect

Pay

The Quality Assurance Manager base pay range $100,000 - 120,000 USD/annually. The listed salary range represents Kettle Cuisine’s good faith estimate for this position and represents the minimum and maximum for new hire salaries for the Everett, WA location only. Ranges will be reviewed on a regular basis. An employee’s rate of pay within the range is determined by their qualifications, relevant experience, and demonstrated performance over time.

In addition to those factors, we believe in the importance of pay equity and consider internal equity of our current team members as a part of any final offer. Hiring at the maximum of the range would not be typical to allow for future and continued salary growth.

The Quality Assurance Manager position is eligible for our comprehensive benefits package and is eligible for the annual discretionary bonus program up to 15%.

Schedule

Less than 25% travel is required for this position. Travel would be to other sites via airplane. QA Manager must have availability and flexibility to work different shifts and days, sometimes for weeks at a time, to provide support and training to all of our employees. May need to work weekends or overtime as required.