Quality Assurance Manager

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Senior Manager, Quality Assurance based in the United States. This is a senior quality leadership role responsible for strengthening food safety, product quality, and quality management systems across a growing food organization.

• Lead, coach, and develop the Product Quality and Field Quality team, allocating resources and strengthening technical capabilities across the function.
• Integrate food safety and product quality requirements across the product lifecycle, from innovation and commercialization through manufacturing and in-market performance.
• Manage quality risks, gaps, opportunities, and corrective actions across products, processes, systems, co-manufacturing partners, and supply chain operations.
• Deploy and oversee Quality Assurance programs across external manufacturing partners and functional teams while influencing Operations leadership on quality best practices.
• Partner closely with R&D, Marketing, Sales, Logistics, and manufacturing stakeholders to support consistent, sustainable product supply and quality improvement.
• Lead quality aspects of product launches, product trials, process baselines, quality attributes, specifications, and commercialization activities.
• Direct investigations into manufacturing, distribution, customer, and consumer quality incidents, identifying root causes and coordinating effective corrective and preventive actions.
• Support supplier and co-manufacturer onboarding, including facility assessments, equipment and process evaluations, sanitary design reviews, installations, testing, and commissioning.
• Develop and maintain the Quality Management System, including supplier approval, audit requirements, product development controls, FSMA compliance, HARPC plans, documentation, and Cost of Quality measures.
• Conduct food safety and quality risk assessments, support sampling programs, refine product specifications, and ensure requirements are consistently executed.
• Establish, track, and report Quality KPIs, using performance data to identify priorities and drive continuous improvement.
• Develop technical scorecards and quality standards while integrating engineering requirements and quality expectations into supplier and operational processes.
• Build strong cross-functional alignment around quality objectives and contribute to strategic decisions requiring independent judgment and business acumen.

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science or a related scientific discipline; an advanced degree is a plus.
• 7+ years of relevant food industry experience, preferably within consumer packaged goods (CPG), with strong exposure to product quality, food safety, and manufacturing environments.
• Previous leadership, management, or supervisory experience, with demonstrated ability to coach, develop, and influence teams.
• PCQI and/or HACCP certification, with expert knowledge of food safety, regulatory, and quality requirements.
• Strong understanding of plant production, food processing, quality systems, standards, policies, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to lead quality programs, develop documentation and procedures, establish KPIs, and implement sustainable quality systems.
• Experience influencing innovation and commercialization processes, including food safety assessments, product specifications, process baselines, and quality requirements.
• Strong knowledge of Statistical Process Control, Design of Experiments, and process capability studies.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, organizational, communication, and decision-making skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong business acumen and the ability to translate quality considerations into broader supply chain, operational, commercial, and business priorities.
• Proven ability to influence stakeholders without direct authority while remaining assertive, collaborative, and solutions-oriented.
• Experience managing external partners and working cross-functionally with manufacturing, suppliers, R&D, Marketing, Logistics, and Operations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and common professional collaboration platforms such as Outlook and Slack.
• A proactive, adaptable mindset and the ability to thrive amid ambiguity while exercising sound judgment and maintaining high standards.
• Passion for improving childhood nutrition and contributing to a purpose-driven organization is highly valued.
• Must be based in the United States; visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 40%, including visits to co-manufacturing and supplier locations and occasional company or departmental gatherings.

• Salary: $140,000–$150,000 annually, with the final offer based on skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
• Additional compensation: Annual bonus, with certain positions also eligible for other compensation, stipends, equity, or role-specific perks.