Quality Manager

Gehl Food & Beverage•Walterboro, SC

About The Position

Reporting to the VP of Food Safety & Quality, the Quality Manager plays a key leadership role at the facility, overseeing Food Safety & Quality (FSQ) programs, regulatory compliance, and the development of a high-performing FSQ team. This role partners closely with Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, and external regulators to ensure safe, compliant, and high-quality products.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in food science, Engineering, Biology, Microbiology, Chemistry, or related field preferred
Minimum 5 years of management experience in Food Safety and Quality within food or beverage manufacturing
Hands-on experience with aseptic processing and packaging operations strongly preferred
Strong background in food testing, laboratory operations, and microbiological/commercial sterility testing
Proven experience developing and implementing FSQ, GMP, and HACCP programs
Deep knowledge of regulatory requirements and third-party audit standards (FDA, USDA, SQF)
Demonstrated people leadership, coaching, and team-building skills
Excellent written and verbal communication abilities
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)

Responsibilities

Lead, develop, and manage a team of FSQ Supervisors, Leads, and Technicians, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and food safety excellence
Oversee daily FSQ activities including sampling, analysis, audits, microbiological testing, and positive release of ingredients, packaging, and finished products
Manage and continuously improve FSQ programs, including GMPs, HACCP, sanitation, allergen controls, CIP, and internal audits
Serve as a key member of the site Food Safety Team and provide technical leadership across aseptic processing and packaging operations
Ensure regulatory and certification compliance (FDA, USDA, SQF, customer, and internal standards) and lead third-party audits and inspections
Drive FSQ strategy execution, KPI tracking, trend analysis, and performance reporting for the site
Lead investigations and resolution of CAPAs related to process deviations, hold events, customer complaints, and audit findings
Oversee sanitation and allergen control programs, including monitoring, validation, verification, and effectiveness reviews
Manage positive release processes and disposition for ingredients, packaging materials, and finished products
Partner with Supplier Quality, Process Authorities, and cross-functional teams on change control, new products, packaging, and continuous improvement initiatives