Senior Manager, Quality Assurance

About the Role

You are someone who is experienced in the development and management of food safety and quality programs in the food industry. You have an eye for detail and a passion for problem-solving. You have a very solid understanding of food safety and compliance, a willingness to research, an enthusiasm for reading, and an endless desire to learn. To excel in this role, you should have excellent attention to detail, strong communication skills, a good understanding of industry standards, and business acumen for understanding how quality impacts the greater supply chain organization.

The Senior Manager, Quality Assurance reports directly to the Director of Quality Assurance & Quality Management Systems (QA & QMS) and is responsible for the integration of Quality with Supply Chain, Marketing, Sales, and R&D. Key areas include incorporating food safety and product quality in all products from concept to commercialization and in-market performance, including customer/consumer complaint investigation. This role supports the technical development and leadership of Quality Programs and builds the capabilities of the Product Quality and Field Quality team.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop the Product Quality and Field Quality team.
• Deploy Field Quality resources with a focus on reviews of Supplier facilities.
• Manage food safety and quality risks, gaps, and opportunities for products, including new and current products, processes, and systems.
• Ensure adherence to and monitoring of OUAF and Contract Manufacturer's Quality Policies.
• Manage and deploy Quality Assurance programs across co-manufacturing partners and functional areas, influencing Operations leadership with quality best practices.
• Stay abreast of product quality through product reviews and quality assurance programs, working with R&D, Sales, and Marketing.
• Maintain strong partnerships with R&D, Marketing, Logistics, and Co-manufacturing operations to drive sustainable and reproducible product supply from concept to commercialization and quality improvement.
• Oversee and improve quality aspects of product launches by supporting the commercialization process.
• Guide product trials by establishing Process Baselines, Quality attributes, desirable ranges/targets, and ensure Process compliance and sustainability.
• Lead investigation of in-plant, distribution, customer, and consumer quality incidents (e.g., foreign material, food safety, quality non-conforming product), identifying root causes and facilitating corrective action with teams.
• Manage the onboarding process of new co-manufacturing partners, product, equipment, packaging start-ups, and commissioning.
• Facilitate and drive implementation of OUAF Quality Management System, including documentation and measures of performance of key Quality programs (Supplier approval, internal/external audit requirements, product development, FSMA compliance, HARPC plans, Cost of Quality).
• Drive food safety/quality risk assessments, participate in planning/execution and reviewing of required sampling programs and data, develop and refine product specifications, and ensure execution of said specifications.
• Define, track, and report Quality Key Performance Indicators, and direct resources toward continuous improvement initiatives they surface.
• Perform tasks typically handled by the Product Quality and Field Quality roles, including sanitary design reviews, equipment process evaluations, engineering-led installations, and FATs.
• Implement high-impact improvements across co-manufacturers and warehouses, create technical scorecards, and integrate engineering requirements into the Quality system.
• Conduct strategic site assessments of Suppliers (e.g., Warehouses, Contract Manufacturing, and occasionally Material Suppliers).
• All other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Demonstrated skills influencing components of the company, tough-mindedness, vision, and political savvy to manage internally and externally. Assertive, yet collaborative.
• Minimum education required: BS in Food Science or related Science degree.
• 7+ years of experience in the food industry, preferred CPG experience.
• Prior leadership, managerial, or supervisory experience.
• PCQI and/or HACCP certified.
• Plant production experience and strong knowledge of product processing.
• Expert abilities and decision-making for Food Safety, Regulatory, and Quality challenges.
• Able to manage multiple responsibilities with urgency via prioritization and program management skills.
• Ability to drive organizational alignment on Quality objectives with an enterprise-wide mindset, adapting structure, processes, and systems to achieve objectives.
• Record of leadership and demonstrated success in collaborative development, documentation, planning, and implementation and continuous improvement of quality systems.
• Knowledge of Quality Standards, Systems, and Quality Policies, with skills and ability to execute against requirements.
• Capable of influencing development steps in the Innovation and Commercialization process to leverage design in achieving consumer safety and quality objectives (e.g., Food Safety Plan Assessment), driving improvement of consumer-based specifications.
• Strong knowledge and general business acumen to support and influence Marketing and R&D.
• Capable of engaging other business functions in the development and standardization of Quality manuals, policies, procedures, data templates, audit standards, and Quality Key Performance Indicators.
• Takes initiative and sets high standards.
• Able to manage, coach, and develop people, talent, and skills.
• Able to demonstrate and execute leadership behaviors.
• Strong business partnering and relationship management skills.
• Previous exposure to cross-functional work between sustainability and operations preferred.
• Genuinely passionate about improving childhood nutrition for a healthier and happier planet.
• Knowledgeable in Statistical Process Control programs, Design of Experiments, and Process capability studies.
• Solid knowledge of Microsoft Suite, Outlook, Slack, and other professional platforms.
• Up to 40% travel required; some months may vary depending on project work.
• Must reside in the United States; visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Benefits

• Full-Time, Salaried, Exempt position.
• Annual salary range: $140,000.00 to $150,000.00, with actual offer considering skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
• Eligibility for additional forms of compensation such as bonuses, stipends, equity, and role-specific perks.
• Annual Bonus.
• 401(k) program + 4% company match after three months.
• New Hire Remote Life Stipend + annual Nourish and Nurture Allowance.
• Monthly Cell and Internet Stipend.
• Quarterly Farm-to-Fridge home deliveries and Employee Discounts.
• New Parents: Up to 18 weeks of paid Parental Leave, Baby Steps Back To Work, 3 months’ supply of Once Upon a Farm products, and breast milk shipping service and support for traveling parents.
• Unlimited Paid Time Off.
• Paid Volunteer Time.
• Paid Time Off to fulfill civic responsibilities, including jury duty and voting.
• Medical Insurance for the employee is covered at 100% on select plans, with additional plan options at a reduced cost.
• Vision and Dental Insurance are covered at 100% for the employee and dependents.
• Life insurance.
• Flexible spending account (Medical & Dependent Care) and Health Savings Accounts for applicable plans.
• Employee assistance program (EAP).

About the Company

Our Purpose: Drive systemic improvement in childhood nutrition for a healthier, happier, and more equitable world.

Our Business: At Once Upon a Farm, we provide organic, crave-worthy snacks and meals for children of all ages. Our recipes are crafted with only the best organic ingredients—whole fruits and veggies, cold-pressed (our pouches), or freshly frozen (our meals) to perfection—to support growing kids at every stage. Each recipe contains no added sugar and is free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives.

We support and champion farmers who supply the highest-quality organic ingredients for our foods. We help parents keep their promise to provide the best nourishment for their children’s bodies and souls. We treat our consumers, customers, suppliers, investors, and all valued employees with dignity and respect. We will always fight for and support efforts to drive positive social change and food justice for the benefit of parents, kids, and families.

Our Team: We’re a fully remote team, highly collaborative, dynamic, and supportive. We share a singular mission to make the world a better place through high-quality, delicious, nourishing, and nutritious products accessible to every home. We’re invested in our product and equally in one another's success. Once Upon A Farm is a purpose-driven brand made up of an inclusive group of individuals with diverse backgrounds, passions, and beliefs. We hire self-motivated, independent thinkers genuinely passionate about improving childhood nutrition for a healthier and happier planet.