Quality Assurance Manager

TruRoots; Chico (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

TruRoots is seeking a Quality Assurance Manager for its Chico, California facility. The role involves leading and improving the site's Quality and Food Safety Management System, ensuring compliance with regulations, and providing technical guidance to the Quality team.

The ideal candidate has a Bachelor's degree in Food Science or related field, along with significant experience in Quality Assurance within the food sector. A salary range of $90,000-$105,000 is offered, plus bonus eligibility.

Qualifications

• Five or more years of progressive Quality Assurance experience in food or beverage manufacturing.
• Three or more years of supervisory or management experience.
• Experience in a GFSI-certified manufacturing facility preferred.

Responsibilities

• Maintain compliance with GFSI-recognized food safety standards.
• Oversee the site's Quality Management System.
• Lead investigations into product complaints and nonconformities.

Skills

Knowledge of FDA regulations

Risk-based decision making

Conflict resolution skills

Strong communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science or related scientific discipline

Job description

Quality Assurance Manager

Hours: M-F; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Reports to: Senior Director of Quality

Salary Range: $90,000-$105,000 + Bonus Eligibility

Position Summary

The Quality Assurance Manager is responsible for leading, managing, and continuously improving the site's Quality and Food Safety Management System (QMS) at the Chico, California manufacturing facility. This position ensures compliance with corporate quality standards, customer requirements, and all applicable federal, state, and local regulations governing food manufacturing.

Working closely with the Senior Director of Quality, the QA Manager maintains compliance with GFSI-recognized food safety standards, FDA regulations, Organic and Kosher certification requirements, and customer expectations. The QA Manager provides daily leadership to the Quality team and serves as the site's technical resource for food safety, quality systems, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement initiatives. The successful candidate will lead with integrity, exercise sound technical judgment, and consistently place food safety, regulatory compliance, and product quality at the forefront of every decision.

Primary Responsibilities

Product Release & Product Disposition

• Serve as the site's primary authority for finished product release.
• Administer the plant hold and release program, including evaluation, risk assessment, documentation, and final disposition of nonconforming materials and finished goods.
• Conduct technical risk assessments and disposition recommendations in collaboration with the Senior Director of Quality.

Quality Management System

• Own the day-to-day administration and continuous improvement of the site's QMS.
• Maintain all quality documentation, procedures, records, verification activities, and validation records in an audit-ready state.
• Ensure compliance with BRCGS, FDA, Juice HACCP, Organic, Kosher, customer, and corporate requirements.

Food Safety Leadership

• Serve as the plant Quality & Food Safety leader.
• Lead regular cross-functional Food Safety, Food Defense, HACCP, and Change Management meetings.
• Provide technical leadership to Operations, Warehouse, Maintenance, and Production.

Operational Quality Oversight

• Conduct routine plant assessments to verify GMP compliance, process controls, and product quality.
• Audit and verify sanitation effectiveness executed by the Operations team, including pre-operational inspections and sanitation verification.
• Review production documentation and quality trends.

CAPA & Investigations

• Lead investigations involving complaints, deviations, environmental findings, and nonconforming products.
• Implement and verify effective corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs).

Audits & Regulatory Compliance

• Maintain the facility in a continuous state of audit readiness.
• Coordinate audit preparation, documentation, and internal audits.
• Serve as a key participant during FDA, customer, BRCGS, Organic, and Kosher audits while supporting the Senior Director of Quality as the primary external representative.
• Demonstrate the ability to perform robust product traceability exercises, mock recalls, and Quality Management System audits.

Leadership

• Supervise, coach, and develop Quality personnel.
• Promote accountability and a strong food safety culture.

Qualifications & Requirements

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Biology, or related scientific discipline.
• Five or more years of progressive Quality Assurance experience in food or beverage manufacturing.
• Three or more years of supervisory or management experience.
• Experience in a GFSI-certified manufacturing facility preferred.

Required Certifications

• Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI)
• Juice HACCP
• Better Process Control School (BPCS) preferred or ability to obtain within one year.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of FDA regulations, 21 CFR Parts 117 and 120, cGMPs, and GFSI standards.
• Strong working knowledge of BRCGS, Organic, Kosher, sanitation, environmental monitoring, and food defense programs.
• Demonstrated ability to make sound, risk-based product disposition decisions while balancing regulatory compliance, food safety, product quality, customer requirements, and business needs.
• Ability to maintain professionalism, composure, and sound technical judgment while working under pressure, managing competing priorities, and responding to high-consequence quality or food safety events.
• Ability to make timely decisions based on objective evidence, even in challenging or high-pressure situations.
• Strong conflict resolution and communication skills with the ability to effectively challenge decisions that could compromise food safety, product quality, or regulatory compliance.
• Demonstrates the highest standards of ethics, integrity, and professionalism in all business activities.
• Exercises independent judgment and consistently makes decisions based on food safety, regulatory compliance, product quality, and factual evidence.
• Demonstrates the courage to raise concerns, elevate issues when appropriate, and uphold company standards even when faced with conflicting business priorities.
• Builds trust through accountability, transparency, consistency, and respectful collaboration.

Working Conditions

• Regular presence in manufacturing, warehouse, laboratory, and sanitation environments.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
• Occasional lifting up to 30 pounds.
• Must be able to wear required PPE.
• Occasional travel (<10%).

Equal Employment Opportunity

TruRoots is an equal‑opportunity employer. We are committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, natural origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristics protected by applicable law.

In compliance with federal and state employment laws, TruRoots prohibits discrimination against employees and applicants based on these protective characteristics. This policy applies to all aspects of employment including recruitment, hiring, promotion, transfer compensation, benefits, training and termination.

We are dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment where all employees are treated with dignity, respect, and fairness. Our commitment to diversity extends beyond compliance with the law. It is integral to our culture and central to our success as an organization.