Contract Manufacturing Quality Manager (Club Store)

Patco Brands; United States; On-site; USD 110,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading beverage company in the United States is seeking a Contract Manufacturing Quality Manager. This role focuses on optimizing quality assurance protocols for canning and bottling operations, ensuring compliance with Club Store standards. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in food science, extensive experience in quality assurance, and excellent communication skills. This position offers a competitive salary range of $110,000 - $130,000 annually.

Qualifications

• 5–8+ years of quality assurance experience in CPG, Food, Beverage canning/bottling.
• 5+ years of experience in QA Management, Food Safety, or related field.
• Thorough knowledge of Food Safety and Quality Systems and quality auditing procedures.

Responsibilities

• Lead Beverage Quality Programs and improve quality assurance protocols.
• Ensure compliance with Club Retail standards for canned and bottled beverages.
• Conduct audits and maintain records for beverage production.

Skills

Quality assurance in CPG

Beverage canning/bottling experience

Excellent verbal and written communication

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in food science or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

NetSuite

SAP

Job description

Contract Manufacturing Quality Manager (Club Store)

This range is provided by Patco Brands. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range: $110,000.00/yr - $130,000.00/yr

Direct message the job poster from Patco Brands

Patco Brands is one of the fastest-growing beverage companies in the United States. Independently owned, Patco has established itself by using 100% Blue Weber Agave and a proprietary process to innovate within the fast-growing ready-to-drink spirits category.

Patco is a maker of margaritas, tequila, hard seltzers, Irish cream liqueur, and other spirits, under our own brands and for private labels. Our own brands and private labels, with nationwide distribution, include:

• Rancho La Gloria Ready to Drink Margaritas
• Kirkland Signature Tequila
• Dough Ball Whiskey

Patco products are sold in every major retailer, including Costco, H.E.B., Kroger’s, Target, Walmart, and Whole Foods Market, just to name a few.

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Summary:

The Contract Manufacturing - Quality Manager (Club Store Focused) will assume the duty of quality support to optimize key quality-related functions for MPL Brands. This role will have a deep expertise in managing outsourced manufacturing quality programs, with a strong focus on Club Store standards and expectations. This role ensures that all contract-manufactured products destined for Club store retailers meet stringent quality, regulatory, and compliance requirements.

• Lead Beverage Quality Programs: Drive the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of beverage-specific quality assurance protocols across all co-manufacturers producing canned products for Club Store. Emphasize parameters critical to canning/bottling, such as seam integrity, fill levels, carbonation consistency, and shelf‑life stability.
• Club Retail Compliance – Canned/Bottled Beverages: Ensure all canned and bottled beverage products and processes meet Club Retail establishments such as Costco and Sams Club stringent quality, regulatory, labeling, and testing standards. Support and lead quality-related components of Club Store audits and manage timely, thorough responses to QIPs (Quality Incident Processes), particularly where can and bottle integrity or product safety is involved.
• Canning/Bottling - Specific Supplier Audits & Qualification: Conduct risk‑based audits with a strong focus on canning/bottling line controls, sanitation practices, and process validation. Approve and maintain a vetted list of co‑manufacturers based on performance, quality metrics, and adherence to beverage canning/bottling standards.
• Product Release & Canning/bottling Specifications: Review and approve batch records, Certificates of Analysis (COAs), and technical specifications, ensuring all canned beverages meet internal standards and Club store‑specific criteria prior to release. Increased attention to attributes such as pH, Brix, dissolved oxygen, and pressure testing.
• Quality Issue Resolution – Canned Formats: Lead investigations of any quality deviations or consumer complaints specific to canned or bottled beverages (e.g., leaking cans, off‑flavors, visual defects). Conduct root cause analyses and drive effective CAPAs to prevent recurrence.
• Maintain complete, accurate records for canned/bottled beverage production including seam checks, microbiological testing, and traceability documentation. Generate detailed quality reports for internal teams.
• Cross‑Functional Canning/bottling Collaboration: Collaborate closely with Regulatory, R&D, Operations, and Sales to ensure canned beverage specifications, labeling (including recyclability and shelf‑life claims), and packaging formats are fully aligned and compliant for Club store distribution.
• Canning/bottling Quality Continuous Improvement: Identify and implement quality improvement initiatives tailored to canned/bottle beverages—such as reducing spoilage, improving line efficiency, and minimizing consumer complaints related to packaging or product consistency.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in food science or related field OR equivalent experience required.
• 5–8+ years of quality assurance experience in CPG, Food, Beverage canning/bottling.
• Experience in Beverage canning/bottling.
• 5 + years of experience in QA Management, Food Safety, or a related field.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Position requires excellent follow‑up, and a proactive skill set.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certifications in Food Safety Auditing, HACCP, SQF Practitioner, PCQI, Food Safety and Quality Systems, and Better Process Control School are desired.
• Thorough knowledge of Food Safety and Quality Systems, quality auditing procedures, FDA, and TTB Food Safety and Quality Regulations.
• Prior experience managing quality for Costco or other club retail channels is strongly preferred.
• Ability to lead, communicate, and enforce Patco Brands’ quality policies and procedures with contract manufacturers.
• Strong influencing and interpersonal skills with a team mindset.
• Strong analytical skills to process information, solve problems, and determine corrective actions with attention to detail.
• Knowledge of quality standards and regulatory requirements, with skills and abilities to communicate internally and externally and execute against requirements.
• Ability to effectively communicate with and manage key teams and management.
• General computer literacy required, with proficiency in Microsoft and NetSuite or other ERP systems such as SAP.

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