Quality Assurance Manager

Quality Assurance Manager

This position is responsible for developing, managing, and executing all quality, food safety, and regulatory programs, systems, and facilities at North Freeze Dry located in Little Falls, MN. Additionally, this position is responsible for the development and management of the quality assurance team. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated history of establishing, managing, and continuously improving plant food safety, quality, and regulatory systems to ensure compliance in producing premium pet food.

This position reports to the North Freeze Dry General Manager/Director of QA.

This position is responsible for developing, managing, and executing all quality, food safety, and regulatory programs, systems, and facilities at North Freeze Dry located in Little Falls, MN. Additionally, this position is responsible for development and management of the quality assurance team. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated history of establishing, managing and continuously improving plant food safety, quality, and regulatory systems to ensure compliance to produce premium pet food.

This position reports to the North Freeze Dry General Manager/Director of QA.

• Establish all facility food safety and quality objectives in conjunction with the General Manager.
• Manage the food safety and quality systems to meet the requirements of the SQF Food Safety Code for manufacturing.
• Manage the Food Safety Plan to ensure compliance with FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
• Create standard operating procedures (SOPs), food safety policies, procedures, and schedules. Ensure said procedures are implemented, maintained, and continuously improved.
• Create environmental monitoring and sampling/microbiological testing of finished product programs. Ensure said programs are implemented, maintained, and continuously improved.
• Coordinate process controls, product inspection and analytical testing of raw materials, in-process materials, and finished products.
• Manage and coordinate food safety audits and inspections.
• Manage customer communication and corrective actions surrounding customer complaints.
• Create and manage plant KPIs for all food safety and quality metrics.
• Manage export programs and associated documentation for the facility and the products.
• Build out and supervise a quality team at the facility.
• Develop and implement inspection, sampling, testing, and monitoring programs to assure all products are manufactured to meet customer specifications.
• Manage customer document requests and other quality related documentation.
• Drive quality project management as it relates to corrective action, non-conformances, process improvements, and customer compliance.
• Proactively identify opportunities to increase operational efficiencies and communication.
• Maintain compliance with all applicable domestic and international quality standards – internal, customer, certification body, regulatory.
• Develop and implement food safety and quality training program to instill a food safe production culture.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen the food safety culture across the organization.
• Act as the SQF Practitioner.
• Serves as the Preventative Control Qualified Individual (PCQI).
• Serve as a key point of contact for quality related questions as they arise.
• Up to 10% travel.

• Execute the North Freeze Dry Vision, Mission, and Values (VMV’s) at all times.
• Promote a positive, proactive environment where input from team members is valued and encouraged.
• Provide back‑up support for other roles, as necessary.
• Other duties as assigned by the manager/supervisor.

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field.
• Seven+ years of experience managing a comprehensive quality program at a food manufacturing facility, including five years of supervisory responsibility.
• Experience with meat processing or Pet Food Industry preferred.
• Experience in auditing, inspections, and quality assurance.
• Technical knowledge of food safety and quality systems.
• Self‑motivated with meticulous attention to detail and accuracy in work product.
• Demonstrate…