Quality Assurance & Food Safety Manager

Sterling Foods - Azusa, CA

Full-time - Mid Level

Azusa, CA

Food Manufacturing

About the position

The Quality Assurance Manager is responsible for leading the development, implementation, and administration of the Quality Program and Quality System Plan, which includes the SQF System, HACCP, Food Safety, GMPs, Allergen Control, Chemical Control, Traceability, Nonconforming Procedures, and compliance with Government and Customer Requirements. A key aspect of this role involves leading the investigation and communication of quality-related issues and implementing subsequent corrective and preventive actions. The Quality Assurance Manager will be fully functional in all areas of food safety to provide direction as needed within the plant.

Responsibilities

• Develop the Quality Assurance department goals and obligations, ensuring they are met, including timely completion of testing, investigations, and reporting.
• Supervise, train, and develop QA Supervisors, Leads, Technicians, and the Sanitation team, and lead training for other departments on Quality programs and issues.
• Provide information and develop tools for personnel to maintain high quality standards and improve the effectiveness of Quality Systems.
• Maintain communication with internal functions, suppliers, customers, and senior management, demonstrating the ability to influence and lead change.
• Serve as the primary liaison and leader for corporate R&D in the factory.
• Ensure job responsibilities of QA Supervisors, Leads, Technicians, and Sanitation team are understood and applied, managing job performance accordingly.
• Schedule, organize, and hire QA Supervisors, Leads, Technicians, and Sanitation team based on production schedules and department needs.
• Review and sign all QA documentation, verify time sheets, and approve overtime, sick days, vacation, absences, and tardiness for the QA department.
• Represent QA in interdepartmental and corporate meetings, validating and signing off on changes to product labels and specifications.
• Establish retain policy and process, ensuring correct execution.
• Verify and validate the Sensory Program and utilize results for decision-making.
• Monitor equipment calibration status and certification of measuring and testing devices, ensuring renewals as required.
• Establish and execute an environmental testing program, evaluating results accordingly.
• Maintain documentation for ingredients and packaging materials, including Specifications, MSDS, Nutritional Data, and Letters of Guarantee.
• Monitor traceability of ingredients, packaging materials, in-process items, and finished products, conducting regular mock recalls to test program effectiveness.
• Facilitate successful audits by third parties and regulatory agencies, providing documents and forms as requested, and investigating audit readiness.
• Maintain records of Audit reports and comply with requests for corrective actions and follow-up communications.

Requirements

• SQF, HACCP, PCQI, and Food Defense Certified
• Experience in quality assurance management in a food manufacturing environment
• Strong leadership and team management skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to influence and lead change across the organization
• Knowledge of food safety regulations and quality standards

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with third-party audits
• Familiarity with environmental testing programs
• Background in sensory evaluation and analysis