Regional Quality Assurance Manager

Lakeside Foods•Manitowoc, WI

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

At Lakeside Foods and our family of companies, we're committed to providing wholesome foods to enrich people’s lives through food. We are a culture that pursues our vision of growth and innovation with passion, confidence, and commitment. We are strongest together – valuing collaborative contribution, transparency and new ideas to enable change and growth. We are committed to an inclusive and respectful environment that promotes a healthy work-life balance, and there’s a seat at the table for you. Here at Lakeside Foods, our Regional Manager, Quality Assurance plays a critical role in ensuring the safety, quality, and integrity of our products across multiple facilities. This role partners closely with plant leadership and corporate teams to strengthen food safety culture, support audits, and provide technical and leadership expertise across the region. If you’re looking for an opportunity to lead food safety strategy, mentor QA leaders, and make a meaningful impact across multiple operations, we want to talk to you!

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science or a related field preferred OR equivalent experience (10+ years in food manufacturing)
Minimum of 5 years’ experience in food manufacturing
Strong working knowledge of food safety, quality systems, sanitation, and regulatory requirements
Proven ability to communicate effectively, influence across teams, and build strong partnerships
Commitment to quality, teamwork, continuous improvement, and company values
Strong PC skills and comfort using systems and data to support quality decisions

Nice To Haves

SQF Practitioner certification
Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI/PQCI) certification
Better Process Control School (BPCS) certification

Responsibilities

Provide food safety and food quality leadership and support to facilities within the assigned region
Lead and support regulatory, third‑party, and customer audits, including preparation and follow‑up
Serve as Food Defense Coordinator, guiding facilities in food defense planning and execution
Conduct annual quality systems and process audits and ensure consistent implementation of the Quality Systems Manual
Partner with plant leadership on new equipment, new product trials, and commercialization efforts
Support plant QA leaders through training, onboarding, vacation coverage during processing season, and technical guidance
Act as a subject matter expert in sanitation and environmental monitoring, including mitigation of Listeria findings
Assist with product holds, recalls, withdrawals, complaint investigations, and corrective action follow‑up
Use SAP and key process indicators to support QA decision‑making and product disposition

Benefits

Opportunity to influence food safety and quality across multiple manufacturing and storage facilities
Flexibility to work from any Lakeside Foods plant location
A leadership role with visibility and collaboration across Operations, QA, and Corporate teams
Ability to shape and strengthen food safety culture company‑wide
A values‑driven, family‑owned company committed to quality, safety, and continuous improvement
Competitive pay based on experience
Affordable, market‑leading medical, dental, and vision insurance
401(k) retirement plan with company match
Paid vacation and personal time
Paid training and professional development opportunities