Quality & Food Safety Manager

About Us

We’re the original oatmilk company, founded in Sweden over 25 years ago and now growing rapidly in the U.S. Our mission is to make it easy for people to eat better and live healthier lives without recklessly taxing the planet’s resources. Sustainability, health, and transparency guide everything we do.

About the Role

We’re looking for a Quality & Food Safety Manager to oversee day-to-day quality operations and long-term planning at our manufacturing facility. This role involves hands-on leadership, collaboration with plant management, and ensuring compliance with U.S. and international quality and food safety standards. You’ll manage a team, interface with multiple departments, and drive continuous improvement in our global quality programs.

Responsibilities

• Manage all day-to-day quality programs to maintain Oatly’s reputation for industry-leading product quality.
• Maintain world-class product quality in company-operated manufacturing facilities and establish quality specifications.
• Lead the quality department at both operational and strategic levels.
• Review and enhance existing quality assurance procedures, developing a comprehensive plan to upgrade the company’s quality program in collaboration with senior leadership.
• Work with Manufacturing, Marketing, Procurement, and R&D teams to implement quality program enhancements.
• Serve as a key liaison between Corporate Quality & Regulatory and Plant Quality Teams to ensure compliance with BRC Global Standards, FDA/FSMA, FDA/LACF, HACCP, Kosher, Halal, and other regulatory requirements.
• Monitor compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
• Review Plant Quality/Food Safety Policy Procedures and Quality Verification Records for ingredients, raw materials, finished products, and plant audits.
• Coordinate with Plant Leadership and Sanitation teams to maintain efficient sanitation processes and programs.
• Assign monthly internal auditing schedules and environmental monitoring.
• Manage the plant’s microbiological requirements, ensuring conformance to specifications for raw materials, in-process materials, and finished products, including environmental micro monitoring.
• Support certifications such as Gluten-Free, Non-GMO Project Verified, Vegan, Kosher, Glyphosate Residue Free, and Halal.
• Ensure FDA/FSMA, GFSI-BRC, HACCP/HARPC, Food Defense, and Food Fraud programs are established and implemented.
• Investigate consumer complaints, determine root causes, and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Manage the Hold-and-Release program with timely corrective and preventive actions.
• Oversee Plant Deviation management and Quality/Food Safety preventive control programs.
• Coordinate Global Quality/Food Safety, Regulatory, and Continuous Improvement Initiatives with Plant Operations and Regional Teams.
• Implement, manage, and maintain the LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System).
• Participate in Control Plan and Site Master Plan updates.
• Develop and implement food safety, quality, and regulatory programs.
• Identify training and development needs for plant personnel and coach for professional growth.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Food Science, Food Microbiology, Food Chemistry, Biology, or a related field.
• 3-5 years of managerial or supervisory experience.
• Experience with aseptic processing and filling/packaging (preferred).
• Certifications in HACCP, FDA/FSMA-PCQI, BRC/SQF Practitioner (preferred).
• Certification in “Better Process Control School” for Acidified & Low Acidified Foods (preferred).
• Experience with GFSI (BRC, SQF, ISO 22000, FSSC), FDA/FSMA audits, and other regulatory audits (preferred).
• Experience in microbiology or managing a microbiology lab.
• Experience with CIP systems, COP, and facility sanitation standards (preferred).
• Experience evaluating and implementing quality systems and specifications (preferred).
• Understanding of Six Sigma or Lean Manufacturing (preferred).
• Experience with Statistical Process Control (preferred).
• Ability to exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible force frequently.

Qualities We Value

You feel connected to our mission of encouraging health, sustainability, and transparency. You’re a self-starter who thrives in a culture of accountability and ownership. You’re ready to make an impact in a growing brand, leveraging your experience to build something lasting. An entrepreneurial spirit and energy for ground-up innovation are key.

Benefits

We offer paid vacation, comprehensive benefits, and a collaborative work environment with coworkers who are invested in the company’s and each other’s success. Enjoy a startup vibe within a global company.

Pay

The base salary for this role is estimated at $120,000, with actual compensation influenced by factors such as geographic location, internal equity, experience, education, specialty, and training. Compensation may also include bonus, commission, or equity as applicable.