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Summary:
Our award-winning client is seeking a Quality Assurance Manager to join their team. As the Quality Assurance Manager for a leading multibillion-dollar food manufacturer in Indianapolis, IN, you will be a critical member of the plant leadership team.
You will champion food safety and quality across all operations, ensuring regulatory compliance, driving continuous improvement, and leading a dedicated QA team. This high-visibility role offers significant growth potential and the opportunity to impact iconic brands.
Responsibilities:
Food Safety & Quality Compliance: Ensure strict adherence to all internal quality policies, customer specifications, and federal/state food safety regulations throughout daily plant operations.
Audit & Certification Leadership: Spearhead the plant's HACCP, SQF, and FSMA programs, acting as the primary point of contact for all regulatory and third-party audits and inspections.
Team Leadership & Development: Effectively manage, mentor, and develop a team of QA professionals, fostering a culture of ownership and accountability for Food Safety & Quality at all levels.
Training & Onboarding: Develop and implement robust onboarding and ongoing training programs on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), Food Safety, and Quality standards for all plant personnel.
Continuous Improvement & Performance: Drive and track progress on key quality performance indicators (KPIs) such as complaint reduction, audit readiness, and the prevention of quality incidents. Lead the Food Safety & Quality pillar within the plant's continuous improvement systems.
Cross-functional Collaboration: Partner effectively with Operations, Maintenance, R&D, and Sales teams to ensure production quality, resolve customer quality concerns, and support the successful launch of new products.
Vendor Quality Management: Collaborate with the Corporate Quality Assurance team to monitor and address supplier performance, implementing effective corrective actions as needed.
Documentation & Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): Develop, implement, and maintain comprehensive plant and laboratory SOPs. Manage the departmental budget effectively.
Sanitation & Environmental Control: Ensure the implementation and effectiveness of strong sanitation, pest control, and environmental monitoring programs within the plant.
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science, Biology, or a related scientific field.
A minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in Quality Assurance within the Food or Pharmaceutical manufacturing industry.
Demonstrated experience in leading and developing teams.
Comprehensive understanding of HACCP principles, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), Safe Quality Food (SQF) Code, Food Allergens, Microbiology, and root cause analysis methodologies.
Familiarity with continuous improvement methodologies and their application in a manufacturing environment.