Quality Assurance Supervisor Food & Safety

Position Summary

The Quality Assurance Supervisor is responsible for overseeing daily quality, food safety, and sanitation operations in a beverage manufacturing facility producing high‑acid, acidified, preserved, and thermally processed beverages for food‑service customers. This role ensures compliance with FDA regulations, HACCP, and GFSI standards, manages SAP‑based QA release activities, oversees sanitation and janitorial services, manages customer complaints, and ensures that only approved suppliers are used for materials and services.

Responsibilities

• Quality Assurance & Food Safety
  • Supervise daily QA activities to ensure compliance with food safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.
  • Ensure compliance with FDA regulations applicable to high‑acid beverages, acidified foods (21 CFR Part 114), and preserved/thermally processed beverages.
  • Verify critical control points, process controls, and monitoring for thermal processing and preservation.
  • Ensure adherence to HACCP, GMPs, SSOPs, and prerequisite programs.
  • Conduct routine GMP, sanitation, and food‑safety inspections.
  • Support FDA inspections, customer audits, and third‑party audits (FSSC 22000, SQF, BRCGS).
• SAP QA Release & Documentation
  • Perform and supervise QA lot releases, holds, and dispositions in SAP.
  • Ensure accurate documentation of finished‑product releases and nonconformances.
  • Investigate deviations, holds, and out‑of‑spec results and document corrective actions.
  • Maintain audit‑ready quality records and electronic documentation.
• Sanitation & Janitorial Oversight
  • Ensure sanitation schedules, SSOPs, and cleaning validations are followed.
  • Verify sanitation effectiveness through pre‑operational inspections, ATP testing, and environmental monitoring.
  • Ensure sanitation supports allergen control, food safety, and equipment protection.
• Customer Complaints & Food Service Support
  • Manage customer complaints related to food‑service products.
  • Lead investigations into quality, safety, or service‑related complaints.
  • Coordinate root‑cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions.
  • Communicate findings and corrective actions to internal teams and customers as required.
  • Monitor complaint trends and implement continuous‑improvement initiatives.
• Supplier Approval & Control
  • Ensure only approved suppliers are used for raw materials, packaging, chemicals, and services.
  • Verify supplier compliance with food‑safety and quality requirements.
  • Maintain approved supplier lists and documentation.
  • Support supplier audits, evaluations, and corrective actions.
  • Ensure contractors and service providers meet food‑safety and sanitation requirements.
• Leadership, Training & Continuous Improvement
  • Supervise, train, and coach QA technicians, sanitation staff, and contractors.
  • Promote a strong food‑safety culture across all shifts.
  • Participate in employee training, evaluations, and disciplinary actions.
  • Lead root‑cause analysis and continuous‑improvement initiatives.
  • Support validation and verification of food‑safety and sanitation programs.

Qualifications

• Education & Experience
  • Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or related field (or equivalent experience).
  • 3–5 years of QA or food‑safety experience in beverage or food manufacturing.
  • Experience with thermally processed, preserved, acidified, and high‑acid beverages preferred.
• Technical Skills
  • Strong knowledge of FDA food regulations and HACCP.
  • Experience with SAP QA release systems.
  • Familiarity with GFSI standards (FSSC 22000, SQF, BRCGS).
  • Experience managing sanitation teams and contractors.
  • PCQI certification and low‑acid food certification desirable.
• Leadership Skills
  • Strong communication and organizational abilities.
  • Ability to work cross‑functionally with production, maintenance, and supply chain.
  • Flexibility to support multiple shifts and audits.