QUALITY CONTROL MANAGER

KENT WORLDWIDE•Columbus, MS

13d

About The Position

The Quality Control Manager leads site QC personnel and oversees daily laboratory and production quality activities. The role ensures inspections, testing, documentation, and product release are accurate and timely, and that products meet approved specifications and applicable regulatory requirements. The manager coordinates with Operations, Maintenance, Warehouse, Sanitation, and other functions to support product quality, food safety, and process requirements. The position leads investigations of nonconformances, process deviations, customer complaints, and quality incidents; oversees root-cause analysis and corrective and preventive actions; monitors and reports Quality and Food Safety performance; and serves as a site lead for audits, regulatory inspections, traceability exercises, and mock recalls. The manager also supports the site's Food Safety and Quality Management Systems, maintains procedures and controlled documentation, oversees laboratory equipment and testing methods, and contributes to risk assessments and continuous improvement. The role provides input to the QC department budget and escalates significant Quality, Food Safety, Regulatory, or customer risks to site and Quality leadership.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, Engineering, or a related scientific or technical discipline; equivalent relevant Quality experience may be considered.
Minimum of 5 years of Quality Assurance or Quality Control experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably food or beverage manufacturing.
Demonstrated experience with laboratory testing, sampling, inspection, and manufacturing process controls.
Experience working within a GFSI-recognized Food Safety Management System.
Working knowledge of GMPs, Preventive Controls, sanitation, traceability, nonconforming product controls, CAPA, and root-cause analysis.
Experience supporting or leading FDA regulatory, certification, customer, and internal audits.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to interpret, trend, and communicate Quality data.
Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to communicate across Operations, Quality, R&D, and Regulatory.
Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, coach, and hold employees accountable.
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and electronic Quality/ERP systems.

Nice To Haves

Minimum of 2 years of supervisory or leadership experience preferred.
Advanced degree in a scientific, technical, or Quality-related discipline.
PCQI, BRCGS, or similar Food Safety/Quality certification.
Experience leading or supporting GFSI certification.
Experience with ERP/eQMS systems such as Microsoft D365/Advanced Quality Management.
Experience using statistical analysis, trend reporting, and data visualization tools to drive continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

Provide day-to-day leadership and direction to site QC personnel, including assigning work, scheduling, training, performance management, and development.
Ensure QC personnel are trained and qualified for assigned testing, inspection, sampling, documentation, and product disposition activities.
Coordinate QC activities with Operations, Maintenance, Warehouse, Sanitation, and other functions.
Oversee review of production and QC records and product release activities for compliance with specifications, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
Manage daily QC laboratory and production quality activities, including inspection, testing, documentation, and reporting.
Review and approve batch records and other quality documentation, and ensure products meet specifications before release.
Manage identification, segregation, evaluation, and disposition of nonconforming materials and products, escalating significant concerns as appropriate.
Lead or support investigations of nonconformances, process deviations, customer complaints, and quality incidents using root-cause analysis.
Ensure corrective and preventive actions are assigned, completed, documented, and evaluated for effectiveness.
Monitor and trend Quality and Food Safety performance indicators, and prepare and communicate routine performance reports to site and Quality leadership.
Serve as a site Quality lead for internal and external audits, regulatory inspections, customer audits, certification audits, traceability exercises, and mock recalls.
Support implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of the site's Food Safety and Quality Management Systems.
Partner with Operations, Maintenance, and Sanitation to evaluate and improve process controls, sanitation effectiveness, GMP compliance, and preventive controls.
Develop, review, and maintain QC testing, sampling, inspection, and monitoring procedures.
Ensure laboratory equipment and testing methods are maintained, calibrated or verified as applicable, and suitable for intended use.
Establish and maintain production-line quality checks and audit protocols.
Conduct or coordinate GMP, process, and Quality System audits, and ensure deficiencies are addressed.
Investigate customer complaints and communicate findings, root causes, corrective actions, and trends to Quality leadership.
Support controlled Quality and Food Safety documentation and maintain accurate information in electronic Quality Management and ERP systems.
Support implementation and effective utilization of electronic Quality systems, including D365/Advanced Quality and SafetyChain, as applicable.
Participate in risk assessments for changes to products, processes, equipment, raw materials, packaging, suppliers, specifications, or manufacturing procedures.
Provide Quality input to continuous improvement, cost reduction, process optimization, and new product or process commercialization.
Provide input into the QC department budget and identify opportunities to improve Quality performance while managing laboratory and inspection costs.
Escalate significant Quality, Food Safety, Regulatory, or customer risks to site and Quality leadership in a timely manner.
Perform other Quality-related duties as assigned.