Quality Sr Manager

About the role

Manufacturing Quality Control work includes auditing, monitoring, and determining the quality of manufacturing processes and/or outputs against defined internal and regulatory standards. This role involves testing random samples of finished goods, reporting manufacturing process deviations and defects in finished goods, and liaising with Quality Assurance to troubleshoot and resolve problems.

Responsibilities

• Implement continuous improvement initiatives utilizing Lean methodologies and principles to enhance operational efficiency, quality, and process performance.
• Direct plant-wide quality systems and compliance activities while serving as the primary internal auditor to maintain ongoing readiness for SQF and customer-specific audits.
• Lead audit preparation, inspections, corrective action follow-up, and compliance activities to support strong audit performance and sustained adherence to quality and food safety requirements.
• Ensure quality and food safety standards are executed and sustained.
• Manage customer escalations and quality concerns, lead root cause analysis investigations, and develop and implement corrective and preventive actions using structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Partner with Operations and Continuous Improvement teams to identify opportunities to reduce defects, improve process control, enhance operational performance, and drive continuous improvement and cost-saving initiatives.
• Utilize data analysis and quality tools to identify trends, evaluate process performance, and support data-driven decision-making.
• Follow all Plant rules, Processes, Hygiene, and Allergens procedures related to production of Safe Quality Foods.
• Report any potentially unsafe conditions which may result in unsafe foods or noncompliance to SQF-related procedures to a person of authority.
• Participate in SQF Root Cause and Corrective Actions (from customer complaints, SQF audits, validation, and verification activities) as required.
• Follow all procedures related to producing Safe Quality Foods (SQF).
• Report any potentially unsafe SQF conditions or customer complaints to a person of authority to record and/or correct the situation.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required (preferred) or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5-7+ years of quality leadership experience in manufacturing, packaging, food production, pharma, or other regulated environments.
• Experience managing customer complaints, escalations, root cause investigations, and CAPA activities.
• Strong knowledge of SQF, HACCP, GMP, Quality Management Systems (QMS), and audit readiness.
• Experience leading internal audits and maintaining compliance with quality and food safety standards.
• Lean Six Sigma knowledge (Green Belt-level preferred), data analysis, and continuous improvement experience.
• Proficiency with Minitab, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Prior people leadership experience, including coaching, training, and managing direct reports.
• Strong organizational, communication, presentation, and customer-facing skills.
• Ability to prioritize competing demands, drive quality culture, and work cross-functionally across plant operations.

Skills

• HACCP
• SQF
• Problem Solving
• Data Analysis
• Minitab
• Lean Six Sigma
• A3 Structured Problem Solving

Pay

Pay Range: $110,900.00 - $147,900.00

Education & Experience: BA or equivalent + 6 years related experience, or MA + 4 years related experience.