Job DescriptionPosition OverviewThe 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 USDA-FSIS, FDA, SQF (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.
Main responsibilities:Lead Food Safety & Quality Systems: Own and continuously improve the site FSQMS (HACCP, FSMA/Preventive Controls, GMPs, SQF) to ensure audit readiness and full compliance.
Regulatory & Audit Leadership: Serve as primary contact for USDA-FSIS, 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 KPls 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:RequiredBachelor's degree in food science, Microbiology, or related discipline
5 plus years of progressive experience in Quality or Food Safety leadership within a
USDA-regulated food manufacturing environment
Deep expertise in USDA-FSIS regulations, SQF, HACCP, and audit managementDemonstrated success in leading cross-functional initiatives, driving change and influencing stakeholders
Demonstrated expertise in risk assessment, design, validation, and implementation of food safety and quality systems for new production lines, including HACCP plans, preventive controls, SSOPs, and process validations.
PreferredSQF Practitioner and/or PCQI certification Experience with Seafood HACCP
Experience in RTE food or soup manufacturing
Familiarity with labeling systems and automated printing (e.g., Videojet)
Work EnvironmentManufacturing 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.
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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.
