Quality Assurance Manager

Arps Dairy, Inc.; Defiance (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Arps Dairy, Inc. in Defiance, Ohio seeks an experienced Quality Assurance Manager to lead the Food Safety and Quality Management System at our Defiance plant. This full-time, on-site role ensures products, processes, and documentation meet company, customer, and regulatory requirements.

You will oversee QA team activities, audits, HACCP, SQF, FSMA programs, Grade A PMO compliance, lab and environmental monitoring, CAPA investigations, and partner with Production and Maintenance to resolve issues.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's in Food Science, Dairy Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or related field.
• 7+ years QA or food safety in FDA-regulated manufacturing.
• 3+ years supervisory/lead experience.
• Dairy/beverage or regulated food manufacturing background.
• Knowledge of HACCP, SQF, FSMA, GMPs, allergen control, sanitation, CAPA and monitoring.
• Experience with audits and corrective-action responses.

Responsibilities

• Lead and continuously improve the facility's Food Safety and Quality Management System.
• Maintain HACCP, FSMA Preventive Controls, allergen, GMP, SQF programs.
• Coordinate regulatory inspections and audit responses.
• Oversee CAPA, investigations, root-cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Lead laboratory testing, environmental monitoring and product release.
• Coach and develop QA staff; ensure audit readiness and documentation control.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Documentation

Problem solving

Team management

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Tools

HACCP

SQF

FSMA

GMPs

CAPA

LIMS/QMS

Environmental monitoring

Job description

Company Description: Arps Dairy, Inc. is a long-established dairy manufacturer in Defiance, Ohio, proudly serving the community since 1936. We are committed to producing safe, high-quality dairy products while maintaining strong standards for food safety, regulatory compliance, continuous improvement, and customer satisfaction.

Role Description: Arps Dairy is seeking an experienced Quality Assurance Manager to lead our Food Safety and Quality Management System at our Defiance, Ohio facility. This is a full-time, on-site leadership position responsible for ensuring our products, processes, documentation, and plant practices meet company, customer, and regulatory requirements.

The Quality Assurance Manager leads the QA team and oversees food safety programs, regulatory compliance, SQF/HACCP/FSMA systems, Grade A PMO compliance, laboratory and environmental monitoring, product hold and release, sanitation quality oversight, audits, corrective actions, documentation, training, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and continuously improve the facility's Food Safety and Quality Management System.
• Maintain HACCP, FSMA Preventive Controls, allergen, GMP, SQF and related food safety programs.
• Maintain Grade A PMO compliance and coordinate regulatory inspections, documentation and responses.
• Oversee Appendix N/ODA requirements and ensure findings, corrective actions and regulatory responses are completed within required timeframes.
• Lead FDA, ODA, customer and third-party audit preparation, response and corrective-action closure.
• Oversee laboratory testing, environmental monitoring, product hold/release and sanitation quality programs.
• Lead investigations, root-cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions (CAPA).
• Maintain quality systems, SOPs, documentation, training records and audit readiness.
• Lead, coach and develop Quality Assurance employees and ensure appropriate department coverage.
• Partner with Production, Sanitation, Maintenance, Warehouse, Human Resources and plant leadership to resolve quality and food-safety issues.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or a related field required.
• Minimum 7 years of progressive quality assurance or food safety experience in FDA-regulated food or beverage manufacturing.
• Minimum 3 years of supervisory, lead or management experience.
• Experience in dairy, beverage, frozen or other regulated food manufacturing.
• Working knowledge of HACCP, SQF, FSMA Preventive Controls, GMPs, allergen control, sanitation, CAPA, traceability and environmental monitoring.
• Experience supporting or leading regulatory, customer and third-party audits and corrective-action responses.
• Strong leadership, communication, organization, documentation and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Grade A PMO and dairy regulatory experience.
• SQF Practitioner, HACCP and/or PCQI certification, or ability to obtain required certifications within an established timeframe.
• Experience with microbiological and analytical laboratory testing, environmental monitoring, LIMS/QMS systems, supplier quality and customer complaint investigations.
• This is an on-site position in Defiance, Ohio within an active dairy manufacturing environment. Schedule flexibility and occasional off-shift presence may be required to support audits, inspections, investigations, production needs or urgent quality matters.