Quality Control Manager

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides day-to-day leadership and direction to site QC personnel, including work assignments, scheduling, training, performance management, and development.
• Ensures QC personnel are properly trained and qualified to perform assigned testing, inspection, sampling, documentation, and product disposition activities.
• Coordinates QC activities with Operations, Maintenance, Warehouse, Sanitation, and other functions to ensure product quality, food safety, and process requirements are consistently met.
• Oversees review of production and QC records and product release activities to ensure compliance with approved specifications, procedures, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Leads QC investigations involving product, process, testing, or documentation nonconformances and ensures appropriate root-cause analysis and corrective actions are completed.
• Promotes a culture of Quality and Food Safety through effective coaching, communication, accountability, and continuous improvement.

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manages daily QC laboratory and production quality activities, ensuring timely and accurate inspection, testing, documentation, and reporting.
• Reviews and approves batch records and other required quality documentation and ensures products meet established specifications prior to release.
• Manages the identification, segregation, evaluation, and disposition of nonconforming materials and products, including appropriate escalation of significant quality or food safety concerns.
• Leads or supports investigations of internal nonconformances, process deviations, customer complaints, and quality incidents using appropriate root-cause analysis methodologies.
• Ensures corrective and preventive actions are appropriately assigned, completed, documented, and evaluated for effectiveness.
• Monitors and trends key Quality and Food Safety performance indicators, including nonconformances, customer complaints, internal defects, testing results, holds, and other applicable site metrics.
• Prepares and communicates routine Quality performance reports to site and Quality leadership, identifying significant trends, risks, and recommended actions.
• Serves as a site Quality lead for internal and external audits, regulatory inspections, customer audits, certification audits, traceability exercises, and mock recalls.
• Supports implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of the site's Food Safety and Quality Management Systems.
• Partners with Operations, Maintenance, and Sanitation to evaluate and improve process controls, sanitation effectiveness, GMP compliance, and preventive controls.
• Develops, reviews, and maintains QC testing, sampling, inspection, and monitoring procedures to ensure accurate and consistent execution.
• Ensures laboratory equipment and testing methods are properly maintained, calibrated or verified, as applicable, and suitable for their intended use.
• Establishes and maintains effective production-line quality checks and audit protocols to verify adherence to established process and product requirements.
• Conducts and/or coordinates GMP, process, and Quality System audits and ensures identified deficiencies are appropriately addressed.
• Investigates customer complaints and communicates findings, root cause, corrective actions, and trends to Quality leadership.
• Supports management of controlled Quality and Food Safety documentation in accordance with established document-control requirements.
• Ensures accurate and timely entry, review, and maintenance of Quality information within applicable electronic Quality Management and ERP systems.
• Supports implementation and effective utilization of electronic Quality systems, including D365/Advanced Quality, and SafetyChain, as applicable.
• Participates in risk assessments associated with changes to products, processes, equipment, raw materials, packaging, suppliers, specifications, or manufacturing procedures.
• Provides Quality input to continuous improvement, cost reduction, process optimization, and new product or process commercialization activities.
• Provides input into the QC department budget and identifies opportunities to improve Quality performance while effectively managing laboratory and inspection costs.
• Escalates significant Quality, Food Safety, Regulatory, or customer risks to site leadership and Quality leadership in a timely manner.
• Performs other Quality-related duties as assigned.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND/OR QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, Engineering, or a related scientific/technical discipline; equivalent relevant Quality experience may be considered.
• Minimum of 5 years of Quality Assurance or Quality Control experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably food or beverage manufacturing.
• Minimum of 2 years of supervisory or leadership experience preferred.
• Demonstrated experience with laboratory testing, sampling, inspection, and manufacturing process controls.
• Experience working within a GFSI-recognized Food Safety Management System.
• Working knowledge of GMPs, Preventive Controls, sanitation, traceability, nonconforming product controls, CAPA, and root-cause analysis.
• Experience supporting or leading regulatory (FDA), certification, customer, and internal audits.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret, trend, and effectively communicate Quality data.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively across Operations, Quality, R&D, & Regulatory.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, coach, and hold employees accountable.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and electronic Quality/ERP systems

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced degree in a scientific, technical, or Quality-related discipline.
• PCQI, BRCGS or similar Food Safety/Quality certification.
• Experience leading or supporting GFSI certification.
• Experience with ERP/eQMS systems such as Microsoft D365/Advanced Quality Management.
• Experience utilizing statistical analysis, trend reporting, and data visualization tools to drive continuous improvement.

TRAVEL EXPECTED:

• 0 – 10%, including occasional travel to other company facilities, suppliers, customers, or training events as required.