Quality Assurance Manager

Quality Assurance Manager 📍 Pico Rivera, CA (100% On-Site) 💰 $100,000–$115,000 annually (DOE) 🏢 Full-Time: Monday - FridayAbout the Role:Mixed Nuts, Inc. (established in 1986) is a food manufacturing and packaging company in Pico Rivera, CA specializing in nuts, dried fruits, and snack products for National and private-label brands. The QA Manager owns all food safety, quality assurance, and sanitation programs for the facility. This is a hands-on leadership role — roughly two-thirds on the production floor and one-third administrative. You'll manage a team of QA technicians and supervisor, lead third-party and internal audits, maintain the HACCP plan and GFSI certification (SQF), and serve as the go-to for customer quality inquiries. We need someone who takes ownership, drives continuous improvement, and holds the line on food safety without needing to be told.What You'll Do:Own and maintain the facility's HACCP plan, prerequisite programs, food safety SOPs, and GFSI-benchmarked certification (SQF)Manage day-to-day quality operations: floor inspections, CCP verification, receiving inspections, document review, and finished product releasePrepare for and lead third-party audits (SQF, Code of Conduct, customer). Conduct monthly internal GMP audits and mock recalls. Drive all corrective actions to closureOversee sanitation programs, environmental monitoring, pest management coordination, and equipment calibrationManage the approved supplier program — onboarding, risk assessments, documentation, and ongoing compliance monitoringHandle customer complaints from investigation through corrective action. Respond to customer requests for quality documentation, COAs, and product specsMaintain labeling and packaging compliance: master label binders, nutrition panels, ingredient/allergen statements, and regulatory formatting updatesTrain and develop QA technicians. Deliver GMP orientations, weekly food safety trainings, and annual training programs. Lead monthly food safety management review meetingsRequired Qualifications:Bachelor's degree (BS/BA) in Food Science, Biology, Microbiology, Chemistry, or related fieldPCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual) certification5 years of food safety and quality assurance experience in a food manufacturing environmentHands-on experience developing and managing SOPs and Product SpecificationsExperience implementing or managing SQF practices and facilitating auditsWorking knowledge of FDA regulations (21 CFR Part 117), FSMA, cGMPs, and GFSI standardsStrong leadership, communication, and organizational skillsPreferred:Bilingual English/Spanish (strongly preferred)SQF Practitioner, Lead Auditor, or HACCP certificationExperience in nut, dried fruit, snack food, or CPG manufacturingFamiliarity with allergen control programs, kosher certification, and Non-GMO verificationWork Environment:On-site food manufacturing facilityRequires standing/walking for extended periodsExposure to dust and allergens (tree nuts, peanuts)Occasional lifting up to 30 lbs