Benefits:

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Vision insurance

Job Title: Manager Quality Assurance

Job Location: Montezuma, GA 31063

Job Type: Contract to hire

We are seeking an experienced and proactive FSQA Manager to ensure compliance with Client's food safety, quality, and regulatory standards. They will drive food safety and quality culture, enhance compliance through process optimization, and strengthen leadership capabilities of their team. The ideal candidate will ensure maximum efficiency while at all times maintaining the highest standards of food safety and quality. They provide training and motivation to team members in a continuously improving environment.

Key Responsibilities

Oversee quality operations and equipment to ensure conformance to specifications and make or order necessary process or assembly adjustments.

Conduct and ensure daily and general audits of FSQA operational activities are carried out. Ensure FSQA continues to deliver and drive the highest standards possible. Serves as the key point of contact during pre-operational checks and day-to-day functions. Discuss inspection results with those responsible for products and recommend necessary corrective actions. Verify product quality and ensure product knowledge.

Ensure products are inspected, tested, and measured for conformance to specifications.

Manage HACCP and GMP Program to ensure hygiene and good manufacturing practices (GMP) are being used. Provide technical support for the cross-functional teams to ensure a high degree of compliance with company quality and safety policy.

Work closely with onsite USDA inspector.

Ensure that raw materials, packaging, labels, and final products that do not meet acceptance criteria are rejected or retained.

Establish, maintain, and promote good communications with all departments, levels of management, and external representatives as required.

Offer mentoring, coaching, and support to new team members, Associates, Team Leads, and Supervisors.

Responsible for creating and modifying team member work schedules, adjusting schedules, and granting time off, as appropriate, to ensure effective communications.

Responsible for verifying, recording, and driving compliance to Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Participate in Daily Management meetings with cross-functional representatives from Maintenance, Safety, and Production.

Ensure quality panel and testing are conducted regularly.

Effectively manage labor resources within the given budgets/targets.

Liaise with the Commercialization department on ‘product trials’ to ensure all appropriate people, IT equipment, and materials are available and that the trial is run effectively and efficiently.

Be aware of, and ensure others are aware of, inspections, tours, and visits and that all necessary preparation is carried out. Be the first point of contact for all external quality audits and Government / State agencies.

Responsible for the highest level of health and safety for the employees, agency employees, and the consumer. Required to report and complete ‘Accident / Incident’ forms and conduct any necessary investigation, taking measures to prevent additional problems or re-occurrence. Ensure proper training and re-training is conducted as needed.

Support transitions from manual and semi-automated compliance systems to engineering controls to enhance accuracy, efficiency, and real-time monitoring.

May be required to perform additional duties.

Qualifications

Minimum 5 years’ experience as a Food Safety and Quality Assurance Manager working in a USDA-FSIS regulated establishment

Experience working in a food manufacturing environment applying common processes, procedures, and equipment.

Experience with ready-to-heat, ready-to-eat, and/or ready-to-cook fresh food manufacturing business preferred. Experience working in a chilled environment preferred.

Knowledge of food safety regulations, GMPs, HACCP principles, and FSQA best practices

Experience managing FSQA teams and implementing standardized programs

Strong leadership and training skills to develop and upskill FSQA personnel

Strong data analysis skills to identify trends and opportunities.

Excellent cross-functional collaboration and communication skills

Experience / Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Safety, Food Science, or Culinary Arts

HACCP certificate required

PCQI and Intentional Adulteration training preferred