Senior Plant Quality Assurance Manager

Ventura Foods • Chambersburg, PA

46d • Onsite

About The Position

The Plant Quality Assurance Manager II leads, manages, and executes Ventura Foods’ quality and food safety systems at the plant level. The role coordinates with the Regional Plant Quality Assurance Manager and other plant QA Managers on execution, communication, and training for company and customer systems, and on compliance with the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), USDA requirements where applicable, and other regulatory requirements. The manager also coordinates projects and training support for Operations and serves as a liaison to Technical Services, Operations Excellence, R&D, HS&E, Sales, Marketing, HR, and Finance.

This position leads plant quality and safety systems, including standard operating and sanitation procedures, training, product specifications, customer requirements, HACCP/GMP, SQF II, audits, and testing programs. It manages QA personnel, department budgets, training schedules, audits, sanitation-program coordination, complaint resolution, specifications, new-product and processing projects, and continuous-improvement efforts. The manager participates in plant management planning and works with cross-functional and regional teams to maintain food safety, quality, and customer expectations.

The role is onsite and salaried, with a first shift designation. Typical shifts are 8–12 hours per day; additional unscheduled time after hours and on weekends may be required. Employees must wear required personal protective equipment. Work may involve outdoor or adverse-temperature conditions, operational chemicals, fumes, food allergens, confined or dark spaces, and heights exceeding 18 feet, depending on the job’s specific requirements.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, microbiology, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• At least 7 years of people and functional leadership responsibilities in Quality Assurance, Regulatory, Technical Services, R&D, or other food-related work in a manufacturing environment.
• Food manufacturing experience is required.
• Supervisory and people-management experience is required.
• Strong leadership and team-building skills.
• Ability to prioritize decisions and actions using problem-solving and creative-thinking approaches.
• Knowledge of executing and maintaining a Quality Systems program.
• Basic knowledge of federal, state, and potentially local regulations and standards relating to food safety and quality, including understanding and adoption of FSMA.
• Project management, interpersonal, and supervisory skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and computer skills, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and ERP or related systems.
• Ability to recommend, initiate, and manage decisions for programs, customer support, and quality systems.
• Ability to perform tasks requiring sufficient physical strength and dexterity; work may involve intermittent sitting, standing, walking, climbing, squatting, kneeling, pushing, and pulling, as well as occasional lifting or moving of up to 50 pounds or more with assistance.
• Willingness and ability to wear personal protective equipment as required by company policy or law.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with FDA and CFIA is highly desirable.
• Wet sanitation experience, including cleaning chemicals and wastewater, is highly desired.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the plant’s Ventura Foods quality and food safety systems, including SOPs, SSOPs, training, product specifications, Must Do’s, Right First Time processing, and Total Product Containment.
• Maintain company and facility policies, procedures, and programs for food safety and quality, including customer specifications, HACCP/GMP, and SQF II requirements.
• Manage second-party and third-party audits to verify compliance with food safety and quality systems.
• Direct and train QA personnel; manage the quality budget and costs, training schedules, audits, and testing methodologies.
• Coordinate with the site Sanitation Manager on Master Sanitation and Production Sanitation activities, and collaborate with the sanitation department on proper execution of the PEM Program.
• Participate in plant management budgeting, people planning, and capital expenditure reviews; maintain staff reviews and annual performance goals.
• Conduct and analyze Quality Assurance plans related to HACCP/GMP, identify gaps, and improve critical control points and preventive measures.
• Work with Technical Services and R&D to establish specifications and to monitor and review analyses, corrective actions, and verification procedures.
• Manage complaint reviews and corrective-action resolutions with Operations; work with Regional and headquarters teams to track complaints and reduce them through continuous-improvement plans.
• Manage statistical evaluation of results and projects to improve processing or product performance, reduce costs, eliminate variation, and standardize methods.
• Oversee specifications for finished goods, processing, raw materials, and packaging, including coordination of Kosher and Halal requirements.
• Ensure food safety and compliance with company policies, Safety and HR procedures, applicable food regulations, and current Good Manufacturing Practices.
• Serve as the primary plant technical contact for new products and test runs; coordinate project work with Regional QA, Technical Services, and/or R&D.
• Oversee and monitor facility processing projects to protect product quality.
• Represent the Plant Operations Manager or Regional Quality Assurance Manager at company or industry events when needed.

Benefits

• Medical, prescription, dental, and vision coverage beginning on the first day for eligible employees.
• Profit sharing and 401(k) matching after eligible criteria are met.
• Paid vacation, sick time, and holidays.
• Employee appreciation events.
• Employee Assistance Programs.
• Career growth opportunities.
• Training and a supportive manager.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager