Quality Assurance Manager

California Dairies, Inc.•Visalia, CA

2d•$95,913 - $144,526•Onsite

About The Position

Join the California Dairies, Inc. (CDI) team, a farmer-owned cooperative dedicated to sustainably producing the highest quality dairy products while fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration. CDI products are delivered locally and around the world. At our Visalia plant, equipped with the largest single evaporator-dryer in North America, we manufacture milk powder, butter, and AMF. We encourage you to be part of our team that's shaping the future of dairy, right from the heart of California! Our commitment to CDI employees: We believe in valuing our team with a total rewards package that goes beyond the basics. You'll find we offer competitive pay and incentive programs designed to recognize and reward your contributions. Competitive medical, dental, and vision benefits, generous paid time off, sick days & holidays, retirement plans designed to secure your future. We don't stop there. We've also cultivated a variety of valuable programs focused on your personal well-being and professional growth, ensuring you have the support you need to both inside and outside of work. Job Summary The Quality Assurance Manager oversees all quality systems, food safety programs, and regulatory compliance for the dairy manufacturing facility (butter, powder, and packaging). This role ensures adherence to the Food Safety plan, HACCP, GMP, SQF, and regulatory standards while leading the QA laboratory team and supporting overall plant performance.

Requirements

Strong working knowledge of SQF, HACCP, FSMA, USDA regulations, and NPDES wastewater permits.
Proven experience managing lab technicians, developing teams, and driving a culture of continuous improvement.
Strong root-cause analysis, analytical troubleshooting, and math/statistical skills.
Proficiency with quality tracking software, lab instruments, and basic data entry systems.
Must demonstrate good judgement when carrying out duties as assigned.
Bachelor’s degree in Dairy Science, Food Science, or a related field required.
4 or more years of QA leadership experience in a food manufacturing environment (dairy facility experience strongly preferred).
Must hold (or be able to obtain) State certification as a Certified Industry Supervisor for Appendix N drug residue testing.
English is required as the written and spoken language.

Responsibilities

Oversee plant SQF, HACCP / Food Safety plan, GMP, Allergen, and Bio-Security programs to ensure total food safety and compliance.
Lead daily reviews of microbiological test results, daily HACCP / Food Safety plan sheets, in-process production logs, and CIP (Clean-In-Place) sanitation records; investigate out-of-spec trends or cleaning failures.
Manage product release processes, including reviewing Certificates of Analysis (C of A) for butter and powder; manage hold/release inventory as needed.
Direct the Environmental Microbiological Monitoring program.
Design and deliver annual and new-hire training for GMP, HACCP / Food Safety plan, Allergen, and Bio-Security programs.
Conduct daily plant inspections to verify GMP adherence, sanitation levels, and State/USDA seal integrity.
Serve as the primary plant liaison for Federal, State, local, USDA, and third-party inspectors during audits and equipment checks.
Oversee the plant wastewater program, ensuring sampling, testing, and monthly/quarterly/annual NPDES permit reporting are fully compliant.
Manage, schedule, and develop Quality Assurance Technicians; conduct performance evaluations and training.
Standardize sampling and testing protocols across all laboratory staff.
Oversee calibration schedules and maintenance for lab and processing equipment (thermometers, NIRs, pH meters, refractometers, etc.).
Manage laboratory supply inventory and purchasing budgets.
Enforce SQF,QA, GMP, Safety policies and procedures, and production needs. “Food Safety and Quality” are the responsibilities of this position.
Perform other duties as assigned.