Quality Assurance Manager

Quality Assurance ManagerDallas, TexasABOUT THE ROLEReporting directly to the Plant Manager, this position carries leadership responsibility over a dedicated QA team of 15 — spanning lab technicians, quality supervisors, and process improvement specialists. The Quality Manager also chairs the Quality Pillar within the Plant Leadership Team, with a strong focus on driving Continuous Improvement across operations.PRINCIPAL DUTIESManagement & LeadershipAccountable for production quality standards across the facilityOversee the Quality Department budget, including approval and reconciliation of expendituresCreate, maintain, and improve quality documentation for the facility and all productsAct as the facility's official point of contact for quality-related regulatory and government mattersLead a team of 15 quality professionals — including 11 technicians, 2 supervisors, and 2 process improvement specialists — through structured onboarding, development plans, and ongoing coachingCoordinate cross-functional communication between Marketing, Production, Technical Services, and Product DevelopmentSystems & MethodologiesOversee the consumer complaint process from investigation through resolutionBuild and refine quality programs aligned with the facility's Pure & Clean standardsChampion a culture of continuous improvement through education and performance dataEnsure Quality systems are fully integrated with other operational and high-performance work systemsDirect quality methodologies, systems coordination, and Statistical Process ControlMaintain and implement HACCP, HACQP, FSMA, and Food Defense plansTechnical SupportFunction as the facility's SQF Practitioner, with annual responsibility for system verification and validationEnsure Quality Technicians are properly trained, qualified, and consistently executing required testing protocolsCoordinate outside services including pest control, third-party lab testing, and equipment maintenanceAdminister the hold/release database for Finished Goods and Raw MaterialsEnsure plant and business initiatives remain aligned with all quality and compliance requirementsOffer technical expertise in support of both current product lines and new product developmentSQF RESPONSIBILITIESAs the designated SQF Practitioner for the facility, this role carries full authority and accountability to:Develop and implement the Food Safety Fundamentals, Food Safety Plan, and Food Quality PlanOversee the full lifecycle of the SQF System — development, implementation, review, and ongoing maintenanceSafeguard the integrity of the SQF System and take corrective action when neededEnsure all relevant personnel are informed and equipped to maintain effective SQF complianceScope includes Pre-Requisite Programs, Critical Control Points, Critical Quality Points, monitoring activities, sampling and analysis across raw materials, finished product, and work in progress, as well as scheduling and leading internal auditsQUALIFICATIONSB.S. or M.S. in Food Science, Dairy Product Technology, Food Microbiology, Chemistry, or a comparable technical discipline with relevant industry experience5–10 years in QA/QC within food manufacturing, with a track record of managing quality systemsEffective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to author technical documents and contribute to policy developmentBackground in GMP, SQF, TQM, HACCP, Six Sigma, or similar continuous improvement frameworks#JDP