Quality Assurance Manager

PrideNow; Cabot (VT); On-site; USD 96,000 - 106,000; Full time

Job summary

PrideNow, a Pride Global light industrial staffing organization, seeks an experienced Quality Assurance Manager to lead food safety and quality systems in a 24/7 dairy manufacturing environment in Cabot, Vermont. You will oversee the QA team, ensure products meet customer specs and established standards, and drive continuous improvement.

The role requires strong dairy knowledge, leadership, analytical skills, and hands-on ability to implement HACCP, SQF, GMP, and regulatory programs, along with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a scientific field such as Food Science, Microbiology, Biology, or Chemistry.
• 5+ years in a food manufacturing or dairy environment.
• Minimum of 5 years of management or senior supervisory experience.
• Strong understanding of microbiology, food science, HACCP, SQF, and GMP.
• Experience with dairy, cheese, and/or cultured products.
• Experience implementing QA metrics and KPIs.
• Excellent problem-solving and communication skills.
• Ability to work in a 24/7 manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the overall Quality Assurance function within a 24/7 manufacturing operation.
• Oversee QA personnel and laboratory activities and staffing.
• Ensure compliance with HACCP, SQF, GMP, and regulatory programs.
• Lead customer, regulatory, and third‑party audits (SQF, FDA, USDA, state inspections).
• Develop and manage corrective and preventive action plans.
• Maintain Pathogen Environmental Monitoring and traceability programs.
• Report QA metrics and KPIs to management.
• Collaborate with production and other departments to improve quality.

Skills

Leadership

Microbiology

Food Science

HACCP

SQF

GMP

Regulatory compliance

QA metrics

KPIs

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in a scientific field

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Windows

Job description

Our client is seeking an experienced Quality Assurance Manager to lead food safety and quality systems within a 24/7 dairy manufacturing environment.

Quality Assurance Manager

Location: Cabot, VT 05647

Salary: $96,000–$106,000 per year along with benefits.

Employment Type: Full-Time

This position reports to the Quality Assurance Director and is responsible for ensuring that all products meet customer specifications and established food safety and quality standards.

The Quality Assurance Manager will provide leadership to the QA team while maintaining, developing, evaluating, and implementing HACCP, SQF, GMP, food safety, quality control, and regulatory compliance programs. The ideal candidate will have strong technical knowledge of dairy, cheese, and cultured products, along with proven leadership, analytical, problem‑solving, and communication skills.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the overall Quality Assurance function within a 24/7 manufacturing operation.
• Manage the QA Supervisor and Plant Sanitarian, with indirect oversight of laboratory technicians.
• Oversee laboratory testing of raw milk, finished products, and plant samples to ensure quality and regulatory compliance.
• Manage laboratory staffing, scheduling, testing, supplies, equipment, and facilities.
• Maintain compliance with food safety and quality programs, including PMO, GMP, HACCP, SQF, Food Defense, and Pest Control.
• Provide employee training on hygienic product handling, HACCP, SQF, GMP, and other sanitation requirements.
• Serve as the site's SQF Practitioner, with the QA Supervisor serving as backup.
• Lead customer, regulatory, and third‑party audits, including SQF, FDA, USDA, state inspections, Kosher, and Halal audits.
• Develop and manage corrective and preventive action plans resulting from audits, inspections, complaints, and testing.
• Lead and promote a strong Food Safety Culture throughout the facility.
• Manage product status programs, including Hold, Release, Rework, and Reject, and maintain authority for final product disposition.
• Review production documentation to ensure compliance with regulatory and quality requirements.
• Develop, maintain, and implement QA policies, procedures, programs, and documentation.
• Update the plant recall manual annually and conduct mock recalls and traceability exercises.
• Manage customer and consumer complaint programs, including root‑cause investigations, corrective actions, trending, and reporting.
• Maintain the Pathogen Environmental Monitoring Program, including investigation and CAPA implementation for out‑of‑specification results.
• Manage in‑process and finished‑product testing and analyze quality trends.
• Track and report QA metrics, KPIs, and manufacturing performance indicators to management.
• Schedule, lead, and document regular plant inspections.
• Provide technical support for quality improvement and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate with production, sanitation, engineering, operations, and other departments to improve product quality and manufacturing performance.
• Ensure all team members follow safety procedures, complete required training, and use appropriate PPE.
• Perform additional duties and responsibilities as required.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in a scientific field, such as Food Science, Microbiology, Biology, Chemistry, or a related discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in a food manufacturing or dairy environment.
• Minimum of 5 years of management and/or senior supervisory experience.
• Strong understanding of microbiology, food science, HACCP, SQF, and GMP.
• Strong knowledge of dairy, cheese, and/or cultured products.
• Experience with food safety systems, quality assurance programs, and regulatory compliance.
• Strong analytical skills and experience implementing and administering QA metrics and KPIs.
• Experience interpreting and implementing regulatory requirements.
• Strong knowledge of sanitation operations and current sanitation practices.
• Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and Windows.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent problem‑solving, deductive reasoning, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to work flexible hours when required in a 24/7 manufacturing environment.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate teams and build trust and accountability.

Preferred Qualifications

• HACCP certification
• PQCI certification
• SQF certification
• Experience with continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience leading customer, regulatory, and third‑party food safety audits.

This position operates within a food manufacturing facility and may involve exposure to fluctuating temperatures and noise levels.

The role requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, reaching, bending, stooping, kneeling, and crouching. Occasional climbing or balancing may be required. The position may require lifting objects weighing up to 45 pounds.

Appropriate PPE and adherence to all applicable safety procedures are required.

ABOUT US:

PrideNow is Pride Global's light industrial staffing organization, a distinguished division within the Pride Global umbrella.

Aligned with the overarching mission of Pride Global, we specialize in delivering top‑tier human resources and workforce solutions to the light industrial industry. Leveraging the strength of our global network, PrideNow is dedicated to empowering diversity, ensuring compliance, and driving unparalleled success for businesses. As part of the Pride Global family, we bring forth a commitment to excellence and a comprehensive approach to meeting the unique staffing needs of our clients worldwide. Welcome to PrideNow, where our local expertise seamlessly integrates into the global excellence of Pride Global, shaping a future of dynamic workforce solutions.

BENEFITS DISCLOSURE:

Pride Global and its affiliates - including Russell Tobin, Pride Health, and Pride Now - offer eligible employees comprehensive healthcare coverage (medical, dental, and vision plans), supplemental coverage (accident insurance, critical illness insurance and hospital indemnity), a 401(k)-retirement savings, life & disability insurance, an employee assistance program, identity theft protection, legal support, auto and home insurance, pet insurance, and employee discounts with some preferred vendors.

EEO STATEMENT:

As a certified minority-owned business, Pride Global and its affiliates - including Russell Tobin, Pride Health, and Pride Now - are committed to creating a diverse environment and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, pregnancy, disability, age, veteran status, or other characteristics.

PrideGlobal and it's affiliates are a Fair Chance employer. We consider all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with applicable state and local Fair Chance laws and ordinances, including, the California Fair Chance Act and all applicable local Fair Chance ordinances.

Accommodations

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, or to perform the essential functions of this role, please contact us.

Only applicable for San Francisco Candidates : Under the San Francisco Lactation in the Workplace Ordinance, we will provide written notice of lactation accommodation rights, and this notice will automatically be given upon hiring, any inquiry of parental leave or lactation accommodation.