Quality Control Manager
About The Position
Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery is hiring a Quality Control Manager to lead its quality and food safety programs in a dairy manufacturing environment at its Menomonie facility. The role oversees product quality, food safety, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement while leading and developing Quality Control and laboratory personnel. The manager works closely with teams throughout the facility to ensure products meet customer, regulatory, and company standards. The position is hands-on and involves work throughout production, laboratory, warehouse, and office areas. The environment may include varying temperatures, noise, wet conditions, and cleaning chemicals. The successful candidate will coordinate daily quality activities, maintain quality programs and documentation, lead audits and investigations, and communicate quality risks and performance to leadership. Employment is contingent on successfully completing the required background check and drug and alcohol screening, consistent with company policy.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, Microbiology, Quality Assurance, or a related field.
- 3–5 years of experience in quality and food safety within food and/or dairy manufacturing.
- Required PCQI and HACCP certifications.
- Strong knowledge of food safety regulations, GMPs, sanitation, Preventive Controls, laboratory testing, and quality management systems.
- Experience leading, coaching, or developing employees.
- Strong problem-solving skills, including root cause analysis, risk assessment, and corrective action management.
- Excellent communication, organization, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
- Ability to analyze quality data, identify trends, and make informed decisions.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and quality documentation or management systems.
- Ability to stand and walk throughout the facility for extended periods.
- Ability to bend, twist, stoop, reach, and climb stairs as needed.
- Ability to operate a computer, laboratory equipment, and other job-related tools.
- Ability to lift, carry, and move up to 50 pounds.
- Ability to meet applicable visual acuity and color perception requirements.
- Successful completion of the required background check and drug and alcohol screening, consistent with company policy.
Responsibilities
- Lead, coach, and develop Quality Control and laboratory team members.
- Create a team-oriented environment that prioritizes accountability, collaboration, food safety, and quality.
- Coordinate daily staffing, laboratory testing, inspections, and quality control activities.
- Oversee sampling, inspection, testing, and monitoring of raw materials, packaging, in-process products, and finished goods.
- Maintain and improve food safety and quality programs, including HACCP, Preventive Controls, environmental monitoring, allergen controls, sanitation verification, and Good Manufacturing Practices.
- Ensure products and processes meet applicable FDA, FSMA, USDA, Wisconsin regulatory, SQF/GFSI, customer, and company requirements.
- Oversee product holds and releases, nonconforming products, customer complaints, and quality investigations.
- Coordinate and lead regulatory, customer, certification, and third-party audits, including preparation and follow-up.
- Conduct internal audits and facility inspections, identify compliance improvements, and ensure corrective actions are completed.
- Maintain accurate quality documentation, procedures, product specifications, and records.
- Review quality data and trends to identify risks, recurring issues, and improvement opportunities.
- Lead root cause investigations and corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs).
- Collaborate with Operations, Sanitation, Maintenance, R&D, Supply Chain, and other teams to resolve quality concerns and improve processes.
- Communicate quality performance, potential risks, and recommended actions to leadership.
- Support initiatives to strengthen food safety, improve product consistency, reduce waste, and enhance operational performance.
Benefits
- Affordable medical, dental, and vision coverage.
- Benefits eligibility on the first of the month following 30 days of employment.
- Health Savings Account (HSA), accident, and critical illness coverage.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and additional free resources.
- 401k match, paid time off, and holiday pay.
- Tuition reimbursement.
- Career growth and advancement opportunities.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
