Quality Assurance Manager

Search Solution Group; Minnesota; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Search Solution Group is seeking a Plant Quality Assurance Manager in Minnesota to lead quality and food safety systems across the facility. You will partner with plant leadership, Operations, Regional QA, and R&D to uphold standards and drive improvements.

The role involves directing audits, corrective actions, staff development, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure product quality from raw materials to finished goods, including Kosher/Halal specifications.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, or a related field is required or equivalent experience.
• Strong leadership, team-building, problem-solving, and supervisory skills.
• Experience with quality systems, food safety practices, and FSMA compliance.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficiency with Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and ERP or related systems.
• Ability to travel up to 10%.

Responsibilities

• Lead plant quality and food safety systems, including SOPs, SSOPs, training, product specifications, first-time-right processing, and product containment.
• Maintain programs supporting HACCP, GMPs, SQF requirements, customer specifications, and applicable food safety regulations, including FSMA.
• Coordinate second-party and third-party audits, corrective actions, verification activities, and compliance schedules.
• Lead, train, and develop QA staff and supervisors while managing department budgets, costs, testing methodologies, and training plans.
• Analyze quality results and statistical trends to improve processing and product performance, reduce variation, and standardize methods.
• Oversee specifications for finished goods, processing, raw materials, and packaging, including Kosher and Halal requirements.
• Partner with Operations and regional and corporate teams to review complaints, resolve corrective actions, and drive continuous improvement.
• Represent plant or regional quality leadership at company or industry events as needed.
• Support compliance with safety, HR, food safety, quality, and applicable regulatory policies.

Skills

Leadership

Problem-solving

Project management

Interpersonal skills

Supervisory skills

Verbal and written communication

Travel readiness

ERP systems

Excel

Word

PowerPoint

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, or related field

Equivalent experience

Tools

ERP systems

Excel

Word

PowerPoint

Job description

The Plant Quality Assurance Manager leads the execution of quality and food safety systems across the facility. You’ll partner with plant leadership, Operations, Regional Quality Assurance, Technical Services, R&D, and other functional teams to maintain standards, strengthen processes, and support new products and projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead plant quality and food safety systems, including SOPs, SSOPs, training, product specifications, first-time-right processing, and product containment.
• Maintain programs supporting HACCP, GMPs, SQF requirements, customer specifications, and applicable food safety regulations, including FSMA.
• Coordinate second-party and third-party audits, corrective actions, verification activities, and compliance schedules.
• Lead, train, and develop QA staff and supervisors while managing department budgets, costs, testing methodologies, and training plans.
• Analyze quality results and statistical trends to improve processing and product performance, reduce variation, and standardize methods.
• Oversee specifications for finished goods, processing, raw materials, and packaging, including Kosher and Halal requirements.
• Partner with Operations and regional and corporate teams to review complaints, resolve corrective actions, and drive continuous improvement.
• Serve as the plant’s primary technical contact for new products, test runs, and processing projects, helping ensure product quality is maintained.
• Participate in budgeting, people planning, capital expenditure reviews, staff performance goals, and broader plant leadership activities.
• Support compliance with safety, HR, food safety, quality, and applicable regulatory policies.
• Represent plant or regional quality leadership at company or industry events as needed.

Must-Have

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• At least five years of management experience in Quality Assurance, Regulatory, Technical Services, R&D, or another food science-related field.
• Knowledge of quality systems, food safety practices, and applicable federal, state, and potentially local regulations, including FSMA.
• Strong leadership, team-building, problem-solving, project management, interpersonal, and supervisory skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficiency with Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and ERP or related systems.
• Ability to travel up to 10%.

Apply today to bring your quality leadership to a role where your work directly supports safe, consistent, high-quality products.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Search Solution Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where diversity is valued and respected. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status in our hiring process or employment practices. We believe that a diverse workforce brings unique perspectives and strengths, driving innovation and growth. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds to apply and contribute to our team.

Disclaimer

Please note that the job description provided is not exhaustive and is subject to change. Additional duties may be assigned as needed to meet the evolving needs of the organization and to ensure the successful completion of projects and objectives.