Job Title: QA Manager
Position Type: Full Time
Job Location: Wilbraham, MA 01095
Industry: Food Manufacturing Dairy Required
About the Opportunity
We are seeking a highly motivated Quality Assurance (QA) Manager to lead our QA function within a well-established dairy manufacturing facility renowned for its strong culture, teamwork, and long-tenured workforce. This is an exciting role for a hands-on leader who enjoys collaboration, values servant leadership, and thrives in an environment where QA and production operate as one cohesive team.
If you are passionate about food safety, dairy science, continuous improvement, and overseeing quality systems that keep delicious products safe from ice cream cakes to sundae cups to 3-gallon containers this role is for you.
Work hours are primarily Monday Friday, 8 AM 5 PM, with the expectation of availability for questions when needed.
What Makes This Role Great
- A people-first culture where QA and Production support each other
- A fun, collaborative environment where team members have been here for years
- Leadership that values transparency, respect, and servant leadership
- A plant that is highly connected to quality not just compliant, but committed
Primary Responsibilities:
Quality & Food Safety Leadership
- Manage plant-wide QA and Food Safety operations ensuring compliance with federal, state, and corporate policies
- Maintain audit readiness and oversee programs including HACCP, FSMA, SQF, SMETA, and BRC
- Lead root-cause investigations, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives
- Manage sanitation and pest control programs, ensuring proactive, documented compliance
Systems, Documentation & Compliance
- Maintain the Quality Management System, SSOPs, work instructions, records, and preventive controls
- Manage hold-and-release programs, customer complaint response processes, and COA documentation
- Track, analyze, and report key quality KPIs and trends
Testing & Laboratory Oversight
- Manage in-house testing including:
micro testing (yeast, coliform, mold, SPC) and dairy analytics (brix, pH, water activity, fats & solids) - Oversee external lab testing of products and environmental swabs
- Ensure environmental monitoring programs are robust and risk-based
Collaboration & Leadership
- Partner closely with Operations and R&D during new product introductions
- Provide food safety, regulatory, and GMP training to plant personnel
- Demonstrate servant leadership guide, support, hold accountable, and welcome other viewpoints
Required Experience & Qualifications
- Bachelor s degree in Food Science, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, or related field (or equivalent experience)
- 5 8 years of QA experience in a food or beverage manufacturing environment
- Dairy manufacturing experience is mandatory
- Hands-on lab and food safety experience, including HACCP and SQF
- Leadership or supervisory background; management experience preferred
- PCQI, HACCP, and SQF certifications preferred (or willingness to obtain)
Key Skills & Attributes:
- Strong knowledge of cGMPs, QA systems, and regulatory compliance
- Exceptional communication skills confident, honest, personable
- Self-starter and problem solver not afraid to take initiative
- Highly organized with attention to detail and process documentation skills
- Collaborative mindset values teamwork over hierarchy
- Able to handle challenges professionally, respectfully, and with a solutions mindset
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