QA Manager – Food Manufacturing

QA Manager – Food Manufacturing

KIT Recruitment is supporting a confidential food manufacturing organization in the search for an experienced QA Manager to lead quality, food safety, and regulatory programs within a fast-paced production environment.

This opportunity is ideal for a hands-on quality professional who combines strong technical knowledge with people leadership. The successful candidate will be responsible for maintaining robust food safety systems, supporting regulatory and customer requirements, leading audits, and developing a strong quality culture throughout the facility.

QA Manager – Position Details

• Salary: $100,000 annually
• Bonus: 10% annual bonus
• Schedule: Monday–Friday, approximately 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
• Vacation: 3 weeks annually
• Benefits: Comprehensive coverage beginning Day 1
• Full-time, permanent opportunity

QA Manager – Key Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day leadership to the facility's Quality team, including supervisory, lead-hand, and technician-level employees.
• Manage plant-wide quality assurance and food safety activities, including HACCP, traceability, product specifications, sanitation-related quality requirements, and regulatory compliance.
• Maintain and continuously improve food safety and quality systems across manufacturing and packaging operations.
• Ensure compliance with applicable CFIA, SFCR, USDA, FSIS, FSEP and HACCP requirements.
• Coordinate regulatory, certification, and customer audits, including BRC and CFIA Regulatory System Audits, from preparation through corrective-action follow-up.
• Maintain audit readiness and ensure quality documentation and records remain complete, accurate, and current.
• Develop and deliver training related to HACCP, GMP, FSSC, food safety, and quality requirements.
• Investigate product quality concerns, customer complaints, deviations, and non-conformances; implement appropriate corrective and preventive actions.
• Manage product hold and release procedures and ensure non-conforming products are appropriately controlled.
• Oversee supplier food safety requirements and confirm incoming materials meet established regulatory and product specifications.
• Review product labels for technical and regulatory accuracy, including ingredient declarations, nutrition information, and claims.
• Provide quality leadership for product launches, production trials, shelf-life studies, and recall activities, updating HACCP plans as required.
• Partner with Production, Operations, Sales, customers, and other stakeholders to address quality concerns and strengthen food safety practices.
• Support ongoing development of the Quality Management System (QMS), controlled documentation, record retention, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Coach and develop Quality team members through regular feedback, performance reviews, and development planning.
• Promote accountability and consistent adherence to quality policies, procedures, and SOPs throughout the operation.

QA Manager – Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Engineering, or a related discipline required.
• Current HACCP certification required.
• 7+ years of progressive Quality Assurance experience within food manufacturing.
• Previous experience within meat, animal protein, or a related processing environment is strongly preferred.
• Minimum 2 years of people-management experience, ideally leading Quality or technical employees in a changing or fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of food safety systems, regulatory requirements, audit preparation, and compliance programs.
• Experience working with HACCP and regulatory frameworks such as CFIA, SFCR, USDA and FSIS.
• Strong investigative and problem-solving skills with experience managing corrective and preventive actions.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work effectively with production teams, senior leadership, customers, auditors, and regulatory representatives.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, drive accountability, and support continuous improvement within a manufacturing environment.

This role is well suited to a Quality leader who enjoys being close to the operation, developing people, and ensuring food safety and quality standards are embedded into everyday plant operations.