Quality Assurance Manager

HEARTLAND FARMS INC•Hancock, WI

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Quality Assurance Manager leads the site’s Quality Assurance department and ensures products meet company, customer, regulatory, and certification requirements. This position supervises QA personnel, manages the site’s food safety and quality systems, and serves as the designated SQF Practitioner. The manager partners with plant departments to maintain audit readiness, improve product quality, and promote a strong food safety culture.

Requirements

Working knowledge of SQF, HACCP, GMPs, SSOPs, sanitation, preventive controls, internal auditing, and quality management systems.
Understanding of food manufacturing regulations, customer requirements, and audit standards.
Ability to lead investigations, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and effectiveness reviews.
Experience managing quality, production, sanitation, testing, and compliance records.
Strong leadership, communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to analyze and trend data using computerized systems.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and digital quality or compliance systems.
Must be at least 18 years old.

Nice To Haves

Basic knowledge of wastewater monitoring and compliance preferred.
Three to five years of quality assurance or food safety experience in food manufacturing.
One to three years of supervisory or leadership experience.
HACCP certification, or ability to obtain certification within the required period after hire.
SQF Practitioner experience preferred.
PCQI and internal auditor training preferred.
Experience with sanitation verification, environmental monitoring, product hold and release, customer complaints, and third-party audits preferred.

Responsibilities

Supervise, schedule, train, and develop QA personnel.
Ensure required CCP, CPC, processing, blending, cooking, packaging, and bar-line checks are completed accurately.
Review quality and production records for accuracy, completeness, and compliance.
Investigate deviations, nonconforming products, process issues, and customer complaints.
Lead corrective and preventive actions, including root cause analysis and effectiveness verification.
Analyze quality data and drive improvements that reduce defects, waste, rework, and complaints.
Maintain a visible presence on the production floor and coach employees on quality expectations.
Serve as the site’s designated SQF Practitioner.
Maintain and continuously improve the SQF, HACCP, Food Safety, Quality, GMP, Preventive Controls, and prerequisite programs.
Oversee applicable allergen, sanitation, supplier approval, traceability, recall, and food defense programs.
Lead or participate in HACCP and Food Safety Team activities.
Coordinate certification activities, audit preparation, audit responses, and corrective actions.
Lead internal audits and support customer, regulatory, and third-party audits.
Ensure food safety and quality training is completed and documented.
Escalate significant food safety, quality, regulatory, or compliance concerns to plant leadership.
Promote food safety culture through leadership, communication, training, and accountability.