The QA Manager oversees quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and food safety in a manufacturing plant, managing audits, complaints, and quality systems.
QA Manager Job Description
Purpose of the Position
Company ("the Company") is seeking a distinguished and accomplished QA professional with deep market experience operating in North America and a strong understanding of the U.S. regulatory environment. The QA Manager will be a key leader and strategic partner in the Nashua, NH plant, advising on Quality Management Systems, food safety and regulatory compliance, product testing and quality control, audits and inspections, and all other matters related to quality assurance.
Key Responsibilities
- Approve suppliers and review ingredient COAs, specifications, and audits.
- Manage vendor complaints and root-cause investigations.
- Ensure packaging suppliers meet performance and regulatory requirements.
- Investigate consumer and customer complaints (foreign material, taste, fill issues, etc.).
- Perform trend analysis and implement corrective actions.
- Lead or support root cause analysis using 5-Why, Fishbone, DMAIC, etc.
- Develop, maintain, and enforce the facility's Quality Management System.
- Maintain SOPs, quality manuals, HACCP plans, and process control documentation.
- Ensure effective document control, change control, and recordkeeping.
- Oversee HACCP, HARPC, FSMA Preventive Controls, and GMP compliance.
- Ensure facility meets regulatory requirements (FDA, state/local).
- Manage environmental monitoring programs, COA verification, and traceability systems.
- Ensure compliance with allergen, chemical, microbiological, and sanitation requirements.
- Oversee routine testing of:
- pH, Brix, carbonation, micro counts, allergens, sensory
- Incoming water, syrups, ingredients
- Packaging materials (caps, bottles, closures, labels)
- Establish sampling plans, test methods, and acceptance criteria.
- Lead internal audits, GMP audits, mock recalls, and risk assessments.
- Serve as point of contact for:
- FDA inspections
- Third-party audits (SQF/BRC/ISO/FSSC22000)
- Customer audits
- State/local regulatory reviews
- Implement corrective action plans (CAPA) and preventive action systems.
- Partner with Production and Maintenance to ensure:
- Correct fill volumes, closures, coding, temperature controls
- CIP/SIP validation
- Equipment calibration
- Manage process deviations and nonconformance events.
- Maintain an effective traceability system (one up, one down).
- Conduct mock recalls at least annually.
- Participate in crisis or contamination response plans.
- Supervise QA technicians, lab analysts, and quality inspectors.
- Train staff on GMPs, food safety, sanitation, quality standards, and test procedures.
- Conduct performance evaluations and staffing plans.
- Beverage experience required. Prefer direct exposure to aseptic filling.
- Proven track record of building/implementing FDA-compliant QA systems inside a manufacturing plant.
- Hands-on experience with SQF and AIB certifications; able to institutionalize plant-wide food-safety policies.
- Has set up or managed an on-site food-analysis laboratory; familiar with third-party testing vendors.
- Solid food-microbiology knowledge; relevant academic background a plus.
- Demonstrated growth mindset and learning agility.
- Partner with local legal on consumer complaints and crisis management; drive CAPA for plant-root-cause issues.
- Act as plant liaison for all FDA interactions (inspections, filings, follow-ups).
- Build and maintain the site food-safety management system.
- Lead and develop the plant QA team
Top Skills
Aib Certifications
Fda Compliance
Food Safety Policies
Fsma
Haccp
Quality Management Systems
Sqf
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