QA MANAGER

The Quality Assurance Manager is responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining the facility’s quality and food safety systems to ensure compliance with regulatory, customer, and certification requirements. This role provides both strategic and tactical leadership to drive continuous improvement in food safety, product quality, sanitation, and regulatory compliance within a bakery manufacturing environment.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Quality Assurance Manager is accountable for the effective management of quality and food safety programs, including but not limited to the following:

Food Safety & Quality Systems

Develop, implement, review, and maintain the facility’s food safety and quality management systems in accordance with BRC, FSMA, HACCP, HARPC, and prerequisite programs

Serve as the site owner of the food safety management system and ensure ongoing compliance with certification and regulatory standards

Administer and maintain validation, verification, and documentation programs required by FSMA and BRC

Lead the BRC training program, including employee training, verification, and recordkeeping

Regulatory & Audit Management

Lead and coordinate BRC certification audits, customer audits, and regulatory inspections

Serve as the primary point of contact for regulatory and certification bodies, including FDA, AIB, and third-party auditors

Ensure timely completion of corrective and preventive actions resulting from audits, inspections, and internal findings

Monitor changes in regulations, customer requirements, and industry standards and communicate updates to leadership

Risk Management & Continuous Improvement

Identify conditions and practices that could result in food safety risks, injury, property damage, chemical release, business interruption, or regulatory non-compliance

Coordinate Management of Change (MOC) reviews for new or modified products, ingredients, equipment, and processes, including HACCP and risk assessments

Evaluate existing and proposed quality systems and risk mitigation strategies to ensure effectiveness and continuous improvement

Partner with manufacturing and operations teams to improve process efficiency, product quality, and food safety outcomes

Operational Support & Oversight

Provide direct support to operations, quality, and sanitation personnel to ensure consistent application of food safety, GMP, and sanitation requirements

Address sanitation and GMP deviations promptly and lead corrective action and employee retraining efforts

Oversee the customer complaint management program, including investigation, root cause analysis, and corrective actions

Conduct monthly self-inspections and internal audits; document findings and drive corrective actions to completion

Safety & Incident Management

Identify and report safety hazards and nonconformances

Partner with the HR Business Partner and Operations to investigate injuries and safety incidents, perform root cause analysis, and implement corrective actions

Participate in and support the facility’s Food Safety Committee and HACCP team meetings

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Quality Assurance Manager has direct supervisory responsibility for the Quality Assurance and Sanitation departments. This role is responsible for training, coaching, and developing employees, including onboarding, cross-training, and ongoing compliance training. The position regularly communicates with the Plant Manager and senior leadership regarding product quality, food safety, sanitation, inventory discrepancies, and regulatory compliance issues.