Quality Assurance Manager

Agri-Mark, Inc.; Cabot (VT); On-site; USD 96,000 - 106,000; Full time

Job summary

Agri-Mark, Inc. is seeking a QA Manager at Cabot MP to lead the quality and food safety systems for our dairy manufacturing plant. You will direct the QA team in a 24/7 operation, ensuring products meet customer specifications and quality targets.

Responsibilities include HACCP, SQF, GMP program oversight, audits, lab testing oversight, and regulatory compliance. Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills are essential for driving continuous improvement and customer

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a scientific field.
• 5+ years experience in a food manufacturing / dairy environment.
• Excellent understanding of microbiology, food science, HACCP, and SQF or equivalent experience
• HACCP, PQCI, and SQF certifications preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years in management and/or senior supervisory role.
• Excellent computer skills including Windows, Excel and Word.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Solid analytical and deductive reasoning skills along with attention to detail.
• Ability to interpret and implement regulatory rulings.
• Strong leadership skills that inspire team confidence and respect.

Responsibilities

• Lead the QA Supervisor and Plant Sanitarian with indirect supervision of lab staff.
• Oversee laboratory tests on raw milk, manufactured products, and plant samples.
• Maintain the Plant Lab including staffing, scheduling, testing, supplies, equipment and facilities.
• Ensure compliance with PMO, GMP, Food Defense, and Pest Control programs.
• Provide employee training on HACCP, SQF, and GMP.
• Lead audits and certifications including SQF, FDA, USDA, and Kosher/Halal.
• Serve as the site SQF Practitioner (backed up by QA Supervisor).
• Drive Food Safety Culture and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Manage product status programs (Hold, Release, Rework, Reject).
• Review production paperwork for regulatory compliance and responses.
• Develop and maintain QA documentation and recall procedures.
• Initiate mock recalls and traceability exercises.
• Manage consumer and customer complaint programs and CAPAs.
• Oversee Pathogen Environmental Monitoring and CAPA investigations.
• Maintain in-process and finished product testing records and trends.
• Collaborate with teams to improve KPIs and manufacturing metrics.
• Schedule and report regular plant inspections.

Skills

Leadership

Quality Assurance

HACCP

SQF

GMP

Microbiology

Problem solving

Communication

Team management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a scientific field

Tools

Windows

Excel

Word

Job description

How would we describe a career with Agri-Mark/McCadam/Cabot Creamery? More than 100 years of: Farmers, Family, Mission, Purpose, Sustainability, Respect, Integrity, Work Ethic, Teamwork, Pride in Award Winning Products, and Agriculture.

Cabot Creamery achieved B Corp certification in 2012 and became the world’s first dairy co-op to do so. This certification demonstrates our commitment to transforming the global economy to benefit all people, communities, and the planet.

Position Overview:

The QA Manager, Cabot MP, reports directly to the Quality Assurance Director and is responsible for the food safety and quality systems for the Cabot Manufacturing Plant. The QA Manager provides leadership and support for company growth and continuous improvement to ensure that all products manufactured by the plant meet customer specifications and achieve food safety and quality targets. Responsibilities include overall leadership of the QA team in a 24/7 operation while meeting high cheese and cultured product quality standards. The QA Manager will maintain, develop, evaluate, recommend and implement Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP), Safe Quality Food (SQF), and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) quality assurance, along with quality control, tests and guidelines. Excellent technical knowledge of cheese and cultured products is essential along with strong leadership, problem solving, communication and interpersonal skills.

• Manage the QA Supervisor and Plant Sanitarian directly, with indirect supervision of lab technicians.
• Oversee laboratory tests on raw milk, manufactured products, and plant samples in a timely and accurate manner to assure that Cabot quality standards are met.
• Responsible for maintaining the Plant Lab including staffing, scheduling, testing, supplies, equipment and facilities, and for maintaining a Certified State Lab for Producer Testing.
• Work in a safe manner following all required safety procedures including but not limited to wearing all required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Ensure that the team follows all safety rules and required training is completed.
• Responsible for the regulatory compliance of all Food Safety and Quality programs, including Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Food Defense, and Pest Control programs.
• Provide employee training to promote and ensure the hygienic handling of product and other sanitary requirements including HACCP, SQF, and GMP.
• Oversee all customer and regulatory audits and certifications including but not limited to SQF, FDA, USDA, State ratings, Kosher and Halal. Lead corrective action plans and responses.
• Serves as the site SQF Practitioner. (backed up by QA Supervisor)
• Lead, promote and help oversee the Food Safety Culture in the facility.
• Responsible for the product status program including management and maintenance of Hold, Release, Rework, and Reject programs for cheese and cultured products. Has direct authority and responsibility for final disposition determination.
• Review production paperwork to ensure that it complies with regulatory requirements and provide responses to inquiries on associated documentation.
• Develop, maintain and implement all QA documentation for the facility including policies and procedures. Update Plant Recall manual annually.
• Initiate and complete mock recalls and traceability exercises.
• Manage the consumer and customer complaint programs. Investigate root cause, track and trend data, and provide timely communications for all complaints.
• Maintain the plant’s Pathogen Environmental Monitoring program including investigation and CAPAs for any out of specification results.
• Manage all in process and finished product testing. Keep accurate and complete records of all tests performed and trend and report to management any results which do not meet Cabot quality standards.
• Work closely with team members to improve plant key performance indicators and manufacturing/operational metrics.
• Schedule, lead, and report regular plant inspections.
• Provide technical support and implement continuous improvement processes while working with interdepartmental teams.
• Perform miscellaneous duties and responsibilities as deemed necessary.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a scientific field.
• 5+ years experience in a food manufacturing / dairy environment.
• Excellent understanding of microbiology, food science, HACCP, and SQF or equivalent experience
• HACCP, PQCI, and SQF certifications preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years in management and/or senior supervisory role.
• Excellent computer skills including Windows, Excel and Word.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Solid analytical and deductive reasoning skills along with attention to detail.
• Ability to interpret and implement regulatory rulings.
• Ability to effectively work independently and/or in a team environment, and to handle multiple tasks simultaneously. Ability to work flexible hours when required.
• Strong analytical skills and experience with implementation and administration of Quality Assurance metrics and key performance indicators.
• Excellent problem solving and interpersonal communication skills are a must. Previous continuous improvement and/or project management experience is a plus.
• Strong leadership skills that inspire team confidence and respect, while motivating team members in a creative and effective manner, are required.
• Must have a desire for achieving excellence in customer satisfaction, process and product quality, and reliability.
• Working knowledge of sanitation operations, and current and developing sanitation techniques.
• Low physical effort. Requires the occasional lifting of objects weighing up to 45 lbs. Frequent sitting, standing, walking and some climbing, stooping, kneeling and crouching.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to walk; use hands to linger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to sit and climb or balance.
• Work may involve exposure to unusual elements, such as fluctuating temperatures and noise levels.

Salary Range for this position is $96k to $106k

Agri-Mark is an equal opportunity employer. The company is committed to the fundamental principle of equal opportunity and equal treatment for every qualified prospective and current employee. The company does not discriminate or allow discrimination on the basis of race (including traits historically associated with race including hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, religion, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, genetic information, sex (including pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, place of birth, crime victim status, age, physical or mental disability, a positive result from an HIV-related blood test, military or veteran status, or any other classification protected under applicable federal and/or state law.

Agri-Mark complies with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations.