Job DescriptionWhat will you be doing?The Quality Assurance Manager serves as the site leader for Food Safety, Quality, and Regulatory Compliance, accountable for protecting consumers, ensuring brand integrity, and enabling business growth.
This role leads and continuously improves the site's Food Safety & Quality Management System (FSQMS) to meet and exceed FDA, SQF/ BRC (GFSI), Organic, and customer requirements. The QA Manager partners cross-functionally with Operations, Maintenance, Supply Chain, Product Development, and Commercial teams to mitigate risk, drive operational excellence, and support innovation and commercialization.
This position plays a critical leadership role in fostering a proactive food safety culture, leveraging data and continuous improvement tools to enhance product quality, process capability, and regulatory readiness.
The position will be based in Richmond, CA.
Main responsibilities:- Lead Food Safety & Quality Systems: Own and continuously improve the site FSQMS (HACCP, FSMA/Preventive Controls, GMPs, SQF/ BRC, EMP, allergen control) to ensure audit readiness and full compliance.
- Regulatory & Audit Leadership: Serve as primary contact for State, FDA, third-party, and customer audits; lead inspections, responses, and corrective action closure.
- Product Safety Authority: Make final decisions on product release, holds, deviations, and disposition; oversee lab, environmental, and microbiological programs.
- Quality Team Leadership: Develop and lead the QA team through effective mentorship, clear accountability, strategic hiring, structured onboarding and ongoing capability development.
- Data-Driven Improvement: Establish KPIs and leverage data to drive risk reduction, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement.
- Supplier & Customer Quality: Lead supplier quality programs and own customer complaint management, including investigation and trend analysis.
- Commercialization & Change Management: Partner with R&D and cross-functional teams to support new product launches and manage formulation, labeling, and process changes.
- People Leadership & Culture: Develop and lead the QA team while embedding a strong food safety and quality culture across the plant.
- Operational Partnership: Collaborate with Operations to improve process capability, reduce waste, and ensure consistent product quality.
We are looking for candidates who possess the following:All other duties as assigned. We believe the successful candidate has these qualifications and experience: Required:- Bachelor's degree in food science, Microbiology, or related discipline
- 5 plus years of progressive experience in Quality or Food Safety leadership within a high-speed large-scale production bakery or similar processes (low moisture, shelf-stable goods)
- Deep expertise in SQF/ BRC, HACCP, and audit management
- Demonstrated success in leading cross-functional initiatives, driving change and influencing stakeholders
- Demonstrated expertise in working with internal and external functions including regulators and public brand customers
Preferred: - SQF Practitioner and/or PCQI certification
- Experience in commercial baking (bread, buns, rolls)
- Familiarity with digital quality management systems and tools
Work Environment:- Manufacturing and cold room environments
- Flexibility to support audits, inspections, and business critical activities
We also provide a variety of benefits including:- Competitive wages paid weekly
• Access to up to 50% of your earned wages before payday, via our partnership with Stream - Associate discounts
- Health and financial well-being benefits for eligible associates (Medical, Dental, 401k and more!)
- Time off (vacation, holidays, sick pay). For eligibility requirements please visit myACI Benefits
- Leaders invested in your training, career growth and development
- An inclusive work environment with talented colleagues who reflect the communities we serve
Our Values - Click below to view video: ACI Values
A copy of the full job description can be made available to you.
About the TeamPay Transparency:Starting rates will be no less than the local minimum wage and may vary based on criteria such as location, experience, and qualifications.
Candidates with unique qualifications may be considered for compensation above this range. Benefits may include medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance, sick pay, PTO/Vacation Pay or Flexible Time Off, paid holidays, bereavement pay, and retirement benefits (pension and/or 401k eligibility). [If applicable:] Associates in this position may be eligible for a quarterly bonus.
