Quality Assurance Supervisor Food & Safety

Position Summary
The Quality Assurance Supervisor is responsible for overseeing daily quality, food safety, and sanitation operations in a beverage manufacturing facility producing high-acid, acidified, preserved, and thermally processed beverages for food service customers. This role ensures compliance with FDA regulations, HACCP, and GFSI standards, manages SAP-based QA release activities, oversees sanitation and janitorial services, manages customer complaints, and ensures that only approved suppliers are used for materials and services.

Key Responsibilities

Quality Assurance & Food Safety
• Supervise daily QA activities to ensure compliance with food safety, quality, and regulatory requirements
• Ensure compliance with FDA regulations applicable to:
  – High-acid beverages
  – Acidified foods (21 CFR Part 114)
  – Preserved and thermally processed beverages
• Verify critical control points, process controls, and monitoring for thermal processing and preservation
• Ensure adherence to HACCP, GMPs, SSOPs, and prerequisite programs
• Conduct routine GMP, sanitation, and food safety inspections
• Support FDA inspections, customer audits, and third-party audits (FSSC 22000, SQF, BRCGS)

SAP QA Release & Documentation
• Perform and supervise QA lot releases, holds, and dispositions in SAP
• Ensure accurate documentation of finished product releases and nonconformances
• Investigate deviations, holds, and out-of-spec results and document corrective actions
• Maintain audit-ready quality records and electronic documentation

Sanitation & Janitorial Oversight
• Ensure sanitation schedules, SSOPs, and cleaning validations are followed
• Verify sanitation effectiveness through pre-operational inspections, ATP testing, and environmental monitoring
• Ensure sanitation supports allergen control, food safety, and equipment protection

Customer Complaints & Food Service Support
• Manage customer complaints related to food service products
• Lead investigations into quality, safety, or service-related complaints
• Coordinate root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions
• Communicate findings and corrective actions to internal teams and customers as required
• Monitor complaint trends and implement continuous improvement initiatives

Supplier Approval & Control
• Ensure only approved suppliers are used for raw materials, packaging, chemicals, and services
• Verify supplier compliance with food safety and quality requirements
• Maintain approved supplier lists and documentation
• Support supplier audits, evaluations, and corrective actions
• Ensure contractors and service providers meet food safety and sanitation requirements

Leadership, Training & Continuous Improvement
• Supervise, train, and coach QA technicians, sanitation staff, and contractors
• Promote a strong food safety culture across all shifts
• Participate in employee training, evaluations, and disciplinary actions
• Lead root cause analysis and continuous improvement initiatives
• Support validation and verification of food safety and sanitation programs

Qualifications
Education & Experience
• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 3–5 years of QA or food safety experience in beverage or food manufacturing
• Experience with thermally processed, preserved, acidified, and high-acid beverages preferred

Technical Skills
• Strong knowledge of FDA food regulations and HACCP
• Experience with SAP QA release systems
• Familiarity with GFSI standards (FSSC 22000, SQF, BRCGS)
• Experience managing sanitation teams and contractors
• PCQI certified and low acid food certification desirable

Leadership Skills
• Strong communication and organizational skills
• Ability to work cross-functionally with production, maintenance, and supply chain
• Flexible to support multiple shifts and audits