Quality Assurance Manager

Quality Assurance ManagerLocation: Cabot, VermontEmployment Type: Full-TimeWork Setting: Onsite The Quality Assurance Manager will provide strategic and operational leadership for food safety, quality assurance, laboratory operations, and regulatory compliance at the Cabot manufacturing facility in Cabot, VT. Reporting to the Quality Assurance Director, this role will lead the QA function within a 24/7 dairy manufacturing operation, ensuring that all cheese and cultured products consistently meet customer specifications, regulatory requirements, and established food safety and quality standards. The QA Manager will oversee QA personnel, laboratory activities, food safety programs, audits, regulatory compliance, product release and disposition, environmental monitoring, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives. The ideal candidate will bring strong experience in food manufacturing or dairy operations, along with deep knowledge of food microbiology, HACCP, SQF, GMP, sanitation, regulatory compliance, and quality systems. The Quality Assurance Manager is responsible for maintaining and continuously improving the plant's food safety and quality systems. This position will ensure compliance with HACCP, SQF, GMP, PMO, Food Defense, sanitation, pest control, laboratory, testing, traceability, and product release programs. The position serves as the site's SQF Practitioner and provides leadership for the QA team, laboratory operations, regulatory compliance, audits, quality metrics, and continuous improvement.Key ResponsibilitiesQuality Assurance & Food Safety

• Lead the plant's overall Quality Assurance and Food Safety programs.
• Maintain, develop, evaluate, and implement HACCP, SQF, GMP, and quality assurance systems.
• Serve as the site's SQF Practitioner, with the QA Supervisor serving as backup.
• Promote and strengthen the facility's Food Safety Culture.
• Ensure products consistently meet established customer, food safety, and quality specifications.
• Maintain product status programs covering Hold, Release, Rework, and Reject.
• Exercise authority over final product disposition decisions.

Team Leadership

• Directly manage the QA Supervisor and Plant Sanitarian.
• Provide indirect leadership and oversight to laboratory technicians.
• Manage staffing, scheduling, training, performance, and development of QA personnel.
• Promote accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement across the QA organization.
• Ensure employees complete required food safety, sanitation, quality, and safety training.

Laboratory Operations

• Oversee laboratory testing of raw milk, finished products, in-process materials, and plant samples.
• Manage laboratory staffing, scheduling, supplies, equipment, facilities, and testing procedures.
• Maintain the facility's Certified State Lab for Producer Testing.
• Ensure laboratory results are accurate, timely, documented, and appropriately trended.
• Oversee in-process and finished-product testing programs.

Regulatory Compliance & Audits

• Ensure compliance with applicable FDA, USDA, PMO, GMP, SQF, state, customer, Kosher, and Halal requirements.
• Lead customer, regulatory, certification, and third-party audits.
• Develop and manage corrective action plans resulting from audits or quality issues.
• Interpret applicable regulatory requirements and translate them into plant procedures.
• Maintain regulatory documentation and ensure production records meet requirements.

Environmental Monitoring & Sanitation

• Maintain the plant's Pathogen Environmental Monitoring Program.
• Investigate out-of-specification environmental monitoring results.
• Lead root cause investigations and CAPA implementation.
• Oversee sanitation programs and ensure compliance with current sanitation standards and techniques.
• Support pest control, food defense, hygiene, and sanitary operating programs.

Documentation, Traceability & Recall

• Develop, maintain, and implement plant QA policies, procedures, and documentation.
• Review production paperwork for regulatory and quality compliance.
• Maintain and annually update the Plant Recall Manual.
• Lead mock recalls and traceability exercises.
• Maintain accurate records for testing, quality events, corrective actions, and product disposition.

Complaints & Continuous Improvement

• Manage customer and consumer complaint programs.
• Investigate complaints, determine root causes, and implement corrective actions.
• Track and trend complaint data and communicate findings to appropriate stakeholders.
• Monitor quality and operational KPIs.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to improve plant performance and manufacturing metrics.
• Provide technical support for quality improvement and process optimization initiatives.

Safety & Operations

• Ensure all QA personnel follow required safety procedures and PPE requirements.
• Conduct and report regular plant inspections.
• Work collaboratively with manufacturing, operations, sanitation, maintenance, and other departments.
• Support continuous improvement, project management, and operational excellence initiatives.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Dairy Science, Chemistry, Biology, or another related scientific field, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of experience in food manufacturing, dairy manufacturing, or a closely related food production environment.
• 5+ years of management or senior supervisory experience.
• Strong knowledge of:
  • Food microbiology
  • Food science
  • HACCP
  • SQF or equivalent food safety systems
  • GMP
  • Sanitation
  • Food safety and quality systems
• Experience with regulatory compliance and interpretation of applicable regulations.
• Experience managing laboratory testing and quality control programs.
• Strong knowledge of quality assurance metrics and KPI management.
• Strong analytical, deductive reasoning, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Windows, and related computer systems.
• Ability to work independently and effectively in a cross-functional team environment.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing operation.
• Ability to work flexible hours when required, including supporting a 24/7 operation.

Preferred Qualifications

• HACCP certification.
• SQF certification or SQF Practitioner experience.
• PQCI certification.
• Dairy or cheese manufacturing experience.
• Experience with cultured dairy products.
• Experience leading FDA, USDA, SQF, customer, Kosher, Halal, or state audits.
• Experience with environmental pathogen monitoring programs.
• Experience with CAPA and root cause analysis.
• Continuous improvement or project management experience.
• Experience with product release, hold, rework, reject, and final disposition programs.
• Experience with recall and traceability programs.

Recruiter Submission Template Full Legal Name: Highest Education (Institution, Degree & Graduation Year):HACCP Certified: Yes / NoSQF Certified / SQF Practitioner: Yes / NoPQCI Certified: Yes / No Does the candidate have 5+ years of experience in food manufacturing, dairy manufacturing, or a closely related food production environment? Does the candidate have at least 5 years of management or senior supervisory experience in Quality Assurance, Food Safety, Laboratory, or a related function? Does the candidate have strong hands-on knowledge of HACCP, SQF or equivalent food safety systems, and GMP? Does the candidate have strong knowledge of food microbiology and food science, preferably within a dairy or food manufacturing environment? Does the candidate have experience with food safety regulatory compliance, including FDA, USDA, PMO, state requirements, or equivalent regulations? Has the candidate led or supported SQF, FDA, USDA, customer, state, or other food safety/quality audits? Does the candidate have experience overseeing laboratory operations, food/product testing, environmental testing, or quality-control testing? Does the candidate have hands-on experience with root cause analysis, corrective and preventive actions, and quality improvement initiatives? Is the candidate comfortable supporting a 24/7 manufacturing operation and working flexible hours when required? Motivation / Reason for Interest in this Position: Contact Number: Email ID: LinkedIn Profile URL: Current Location (City, State): Full Address (Street, City, State, ZIP Code): Notice Period / Earliest Available Start Date: Current Work Authorization Status: Expected Salary: Is the candidate willing to relocate on own expenses and work fully onsite in Cabot, Vermont? (Yes/No):