Seeking an experienced Quality Assurance professional with proven leadership skills, a collaborative work style, a passion for learning, and one who is decisive and takes initiative. As the Quality Assurance Manager, you will lead all facets of the Quality Assurance Department including quality programs, food safety and sanitation initiatives, customer programs, data management, and process improvement while establishing yourself as a technical advisor for the department. You will be a key member of the management team driving a culture that values progress yet respects tradition. Prior experience in beverage or liquid manufacturing including juices, dairy, or soft drinks along with knowledge of corresponding product quality specifications is essential.

Our client is a privately held, 3rd-generation family-owned company with an established reputation as one of the leading premium craft juice producers selling into the foodservice and retail market throughout the United States. They have shown consistent year-over-year growth in recent years and have plans to double their annual revenue by the year 2030 by making strategic company acquisitions and facility expansions. As the company continues to grow, this Quality Assurance Manager, once proven, will have the opportunity to move into a director level role with oversight of multiple facilities.

Essential Job Functions:

• Oversee all aspects of the Quality Assurance Department, encompassing quality programs, food safety and sanitation initiatives, customer programs, data management, and process improvement while serving as a subject matter expert and trusted technical advisor within the department.
• Guide, train, and mentor the Quality Department while setting clear expectations, defining schedules and milestones, conducting performance reviews, developing career advancement plans, etc.
• Conduct regular quality audits ensuring compliance with company and customer standards while identifying areas of improvement, documenting findings, and following up on corrective actions.
• Ensure the facility complies with all FDA and USDA guidelines and regulations while following Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
• Strong working knowledge of the juice manufacturing process, production equipment, cleaning and sanitizing procedures, and quality standards.
• Problem-solver with the ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Formal root cause analysis training is a plus.
• Decisive leadership ability with a strong desire to take initiative.
• Skilled presenter with the ability to present technical information clearly and concisely.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, engineering, biology, chemistry, or other technical degree preferred.
• MBA is a plus but not required.

• 10+ years of experience in Operations/Production, Quality Control, or Quality Assurance in beverage manufacturing, including juice, dairy, or soft drinks with exposure to high-speed bottling/packaging operations producing hot and cold fill, carbonated soft drinks, and still water including multiple bottling/packaging variations.
• 6-8+ years of experience in a leadership capacity responsible for the management of direct reports tracking key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Technical understanding of the liquid pasteurization process and all regulatory operational and safety standards.                                                               
• HACCP, SQF, PCQI, or other industry-specific certifications, are highly preferred.
• Clear track record of driving continuous improvement; Six Sigma, Kaizen, 5s, or TPM certification is a plus.
• Proficient in MS Office applications such as Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills. 

Compensation for this position includes an attractive base salary commensurate with experience, bonus incentives, full medical/dental benefits, matching 401-K, and paid vacation. Relocation assistance is available for outstanding candidates. Our client is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).