Job Title: Quality Assurance Manager – Food Manufacturing
Location: Mount Holly, NC
Department: Quality Assurance / Food Safety & Quality
About the Role
We are seeking an exceptional Quality Assurance Manager to lead food safety and quality systems at our food manufacturing facility. This is a hands-on leadership role for a high-agency professional who will own the full scope of quality and food safety, drive continuous improvement, and ensure we consistently deliver safe, high-quality products that exceed customer and regulatory expectations.
As QA Manager, you will be the guardian of our brand’s reputation while enabling efficient, scalable production. You will build and strengthen a true culture of quality across the organization and lead the QA team to deliver outstanding results.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and continuously improve the site’s Food Safety and Quality Management Systems, including HACCP, SQF (or BRC), GMP, SSOP, Preventive Controls (FSMA/PCQI), and all relevant regulatory programs (FDA, USDA, etc.).
- Own all internal and external audits, ensuring consistently high scores and audit-readiness at all times.
- Develop, implement, and verify robust quality control procedures for raw materials, in-process, and finished products.
- Drive proactive risk identification and prevention — lead root cause analysis and implement effective corrective/preventive actions.
- Build and mentor a high-performing QA team; hire, develop, and coach quality technicians and supervisors to raise the overall performance bar.
- Collaborate closely with Production, Operations, Maintenance, R&D, and Supply Chain to embed quality into daily operations and support new product launches.
- Monitor key quality metrics, analyze data/trends, and drive measurable improvements in defect rates, customer complaints, and process efficiency.
- Manage supplier quality programs, including approvals, audits, and performance monitoring.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for regulatory agencies, customers, and third-party auditors on all quality and food safety matters.
- Champion continuous improvement initiatives (Lean, Six Sigma principles) to reduce waste, enhance consistency, and strengthen the overall quality culture.
What We’re Looking For – The A-Player Profile
- Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or a related field (Master’s preferred).
- 7+ years of progressive experience in food manufacturing quality assurance, with at least 4–5 years in a QA leadership role (Manager level or above).
- Proven expertise in GFSI schemes (SQF or BRC preferred), HACCP, PCQI, and strong working knowledge of FDA and USDA regulations.
- Track record of successfully leading facilities through rigorous audits with excellent results.
- Demonstrated ability to build high-performing teams and foster a strong food safety and quality culture.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills with a data-driven approach.
- Excellent communication and influencing skills — able to work effectively across all levels of the organization.
- High ownership mindset: proactive, resilient, and results-oriented under pressure.
- Hands-on leader who is comfortable being in the plant and rolling up sleeves when needed.
Preferred Qualifications:
- SQF Practitioner
- PCQI certification
- Experience with allergen control, sanitation programs, and environmental monitoring
- Lean/Six Sigma or continuous improvement experience
What Success Looks Like in This Role
- Zero major audit findings and consistently high GFSI scores
- Significant reduction in quality incidents and customer complaints
- A motivated, skilled QA team that operates with minimal supervision
- Strong cross-functional partnerships and visible quality leadership across the plant
- Proactive improvements that enhance both compliance and operational efficiency
