Mackie Myers is partnering with a Food & Bev company on a Senior Quality Assurance Manager position.
About the Company
Our client is a growing food manufacturing organization seeking a Senior Quality Assurance Manager to provide leadership for quality systems, food safety programs, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement initiatives. This individual will serve as a key member of the site leadership team, ensuring that products consistently meet customer expectations, regulatory requirements, and internal quality standards.
About the Role
The Senior Quality Assurance Manager will lead all aspects of quality and food safety strategy for a complex manufacturing environment. This role is responsible for developing and strengthening quality systems, managing certification and audit programs, leading quality personnel, and partnering with cross-functional teams to improve operational performance and customer satisfaction.
Responsibilities
- Lead site-wide quality and food safety initiatives that support business objectives.
- Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
- Serve as the primary quality leader within the facility, partnering closely with Operations, Supply Chain, Commercial, and Product Development teams.
- Ensure compliance with all applicable food safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.
- Maintain and improve programs related to preventive controls, sanitation, allergen management, traceability, and risk mitigation.
- Provide leadership during regulatory inspections and customer assessments.
- Oversee quality management systems and ensure consistent execution across all functions.
- Drive effective management of non-conformances, investigations, corrective actions, and preventive actions.
- Establish robust procedures to support product integrity and regulatory compliance.
- Direct internal, customer, and third-party audit activities.
- Maintain certification programs and ensure ongoing audit readiness.
- Lead continuous improvement efforts resulting from audit findings and compliance reviews.
- Oversee the investigation and resolution of customer quality concerns.
- Lead root cause analysis and implementation of sustainable corrective actions.
- Partner with internal stakeholders to reduce recurring quality issues and improve customer experience.
- Lead, mentor, and develop quality professionals across the organization.
- Foster a high-performance environment focused on collaboration, ownership, and results.
- Build organizational capability through training and employee development.
- Utilize quality data and performance metrics to identify risks and opportunities.
- Drive process improvements that enhance product quality, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
- Support new product launches, process changes, and operational improvement projects.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Engineering, or a related technical discipline required. Advanced degree preferred.
- 8+ years of progressive leadership experience in quality assurance and food safety within food, beverage, ingredient, or consumer products manufacturing.
- Demonstrated success managing quality systems within a regulated production environment.
- Experience leading certification programs, customer audits, and regulatory inspections.
- Proven ability to lead teams and influence cross-functional stakeholders.
Required Skills/Technical Expertise
- Strong working knowledge of GMPs, HACCP, FSMA, preventive controls, and food safety management systems.
- Experience with root cause analysis, corrective action programs, and risk assessment methodologies.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and decision-making skills.
- Ability to balance strategic priorities with day-to-day operational support.
- PCQI, HACCP, and SQF Practitioner, BRCGS Practitioner, or equivalent GFSI certification required
- Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma training