QA Manager

Saicon; Toledo (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Saicon is seeking an experienced QA Manager to lead Quality Assurance, Food Safety, and Laboratory operations at a food manufacturing facility. The role focuses on HACCP, FSMA, and GMP compliance, with responsibility for audits, CAPA, and continuous improvement.

You will supervise QA/Lab staff and partner with Operations to ensure product safety and regulatory adherence. Ideal candidates bring 5–8+ years in QA/food safety within dairy or related manufacturing, strong analytical skills, and the

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a science field with related QA/food safety experience.
• Experience leading QA, food safety, and laboratory operations.
• Strong knowledge of GMPs, HACCP, FSMA, and regulatory requirements.
• Proven ability to drive CAPA, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions.
• Experience coordinating audits (customer/regulatory/third-party).
• Skilled in laboratory testing, environmental monitoring, and microbiology.

Responsibilities

• Lead QA, Food Safety, and Laboratory programs ensuring compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain audit readiness and support customer, regulatory, and third‑party audits.
• Manage HACCP, FSMA, PCQI, GMP, SQF, sanitation, and quality programs.
• Lead investigations of non-conformances and customer complaints; implement CAPAs.
• Oversee hold/release programs, change control, specs, and quality documentation.
• Oversee sanitation, SSOPs, pest control, and preventive maintenance in partnership with Operations.
• Coordinate internal and third‑party testing and review COAs.
• Track quality KPIs, analyze trends, and drive continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with Operations, Production, Maintenance, R&D, Laboratory, and Sanitation teams on initiatives.
• Support new product introductions and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Serve as the quality contact for customer inquiries and complaints.
• Maintain current quality systems, procedures, SSOPs, forms, and records.
• Lead, coach, and mentor Quality/Lab team members.

Skills

Leadership

Regulatory compliance

HACCP

FSMA

GMP / cGMP

Root cause analysis

Laboratory testing

Audit readiness

Communication

English proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in food science, Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, or related scientific field

PCQI certification

SQF Practitioner certification

Job description

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced QA Manager to lead Quality Assurance, Food Safety, and Laboratory operations at a food manufacturing facility. The ideal candidate will have strong experience in food/dairy manufacturing, food safety, quality systems, laboratory testing, regulatory compliance, and team leadership.

This role requires a hands-on, self-driven, collaborative leader who can identify problems, conduct root-cause investigations, implement corrective actions, and drive continuous improvement with minimal supervision.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the plant Quality Assurance and Food Safety programs and ensure compliance with company policies and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Maintain audit readiness and support customer, regulatory, and third-party audits.
• Manage and maintain HACCP, FSMA, PCQI, GMP, SQF, sanitation, preventive control, and quality programs.
• Lead investigations of non-conformances, customer complaints, quality issues, and food safety events; identify root causes and implement effective corrective/preventive actions.
• Manage hold/release programs, change control, specifications, manufacturing instructions, and quality documentation.
• Oversee sanitation, SSOPs, pest control, preventive maintenance, and food safety programs in partnership with Operations.
• Manage laboratory and analytical testing, including microbiology, yeast/mold, coliform, pH, Brix, water activity, fats/solids, and SPC/statistical analysis.
• Oversee Environmental Monitoring Programs (EMP) and investigate environmental monitoring failures.
• Coordinate internal and third-party laboratory testing, including product and environmental/pathogen testing; review/generate Certificates of Analysis (COAs).
• Track quality KPIs, analyze trends, and drive continuous improvement.
• Partner with Operations, Production, Maintenance, R&D, Laboratory, and Sanitation teams on quality and food safety initiatives.
• Support new/reformulated product introductions and ensure compliance with specifications and regulatory requirements.
• Serve as the quality contact for customer complaints and quality-related inquiries.
• Maintain current quality systems, procedures, SSOPs, work instructions, forms, and records.
• Lead, coach, mentor, and hold Quality/Lab team members accountable while maintaining a collaborative team environment.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, or related scientific field, or equivalent education/experience.
• 5-8+ years of Quality Assurance/Food Safety experience in a food, beverage, dairy, or similar manufacturing environment.
• Leadership, supervisory, or management experience; 1+ year of management experience preferred.
• Strong hands-on knowledge of food manufacturing GMPs/cGMPs.
• Experience with HACCP and FSMA.
• PCQI certification/experience preferred and may be required.
• SQF Practitioner experience/certification strongly preferred.
• Experience with GFSI/SQF and third-party/customer audits; BRC and SMETA experience preferred.
• Strong laboratory and food safety experience.
• Experience with environmental monitoring programs preferred.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, quality systems, regulatory compliance, and laboratory practices.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, documentation, and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently, make decisions, investigate problems, and implement solutions without requiring constant direction.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with Operations and other plant functions and hold teams accountable.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and quality/computer systems.
• Must be able to read, write, and communicate effectively in English.

Preferred Background

• Dairy or ice cream manufacturing experience is highly preferred. Candidates with backgrounds in food science, chemistry, biology, microbiology, food laboratory operations, and food safety are strongly encouraged to apply.