Quality Assurance Manager - Food

Overview

Local candidates to Charlotte, NC area.

Privately held, further processor of poultry products, fresh and frozen supplying food service customers with a long-standing reputation for quality and reliability. This is a high-impact Quality/Food Safety leadership role reporting into the company President, with real influence on compliance, audits, sanitation, and continuous improvement.

• Ensuring all regulatory, customer, and company quality and food safety requirements are consistently met at the manufacturing facility. Partner with plant leadership to uphold compliance, drive continuous improvement, and foster a strong culture of food safety and operational excellence.
• Sanitation practices and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs).
• Establish internal audit patterns, develops corrective action plans, and monitors results reviews programs annually to ensure compliance with GFSI, BRC, AIB, and customer standards.
• Prepares the facility for third-party and regulatory food safety audits, ensuring readiness at all times.
• Integrates HACCP and FSMA principles into production processes, ensuring alignment with preventive controls and risk-based food safety programs.
• Conducts root cause and preventive action analyses for customer complaints and production failures, driving continuous improvement.
• Establishes and manages the Quality department budget and tracks performance metrics including MBOs and KPIs.
• Ensures the accuracy, efficiency, and timeliness of all QA procedures, including microbiological, chemical, and organoleptic testing, facility inspections, and inventory management.
• Leads the QA and Sanitation teams through coaching, performance management, and professional development to maintain high standards of performance and accountability.
• Acts as the primary contact for USDA and FDA inspections, maintaining open communication and positive relationships with regulatory representatives.

• BS/BA required.
• 5+ years of experience in the food industry in a quality management role.
• Strong understanding of food safety regulations and compliance requirements (FDA, USDA, FSMA, HACCP, GFSI).
• Any product experience in poultry, protein, Ready-to-eat (RTE), Produce, Seafood, Dairy, Frozen foods / IQF or Bakery / refrigerated desserts.
• Hands-on auditing experience.
• Hiring, leading, and developing high-performing teams.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, communication, and organizational skills.
• Experience with document management systems and supplier quality programs preferred.
• Base Salary range: $95-125K + 20% Annual Bonus, 401K, Company healthcare program, 2 weeks’ vacation, + PTO and company Holidays.

Base Salary range: $95-125K + 20% Annual Bonus, 401K, Company healthcare program, 2 weeks’ vacation, + PTO and company Holidays.