Quality Assurance Manager

Judge Direct Placement; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The Judge Group is seeking a Quality Assurance Manager for a rapidly growing food manufacturing operation in Pasadena, CA. This role leads all food safety and quality programs across the plant, ensuring compliance with SQF, HACCP, GMPs and regulatory expectations.

The ideal candidate will have a 5+ year track record in QA within food manufacturing, USDA-regulated exposure, HACCP and SQF Practitioner certification, strong leadership and cross-functional collaboration, and the ability to drive

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, or related discipline.
• 5+ years of progressive QA or food safety experience within food manufacturing.
• USDA-regulated processing environment experience required.
• HACCP certification and SQF Practitioner experience required.
• Strong understanding of USDA, FDA, GMPs and food safety regulations.

Responsibilities

• Lead all food safety and quality programs, including SQF, HACCP, GMPs, sanitation, allergen control, supplier management, and employee training.
• Oversee audit preparation and compliance for SQF, USDA, FDA, customer, and third-party inspections.
• Manage product quality initiatives, microbiological testing, investigations, and corrective action programs.
• Maintain SOPs, quality documentation, specifications, labels, formulations, and nutritional information.
• Act as the primary contact for regulatory agencies and certification organizations.
• Ensure calibration, sanitation, environmental compliance, and facility food safety standards are consistently met.
• Drive continuous improvement efforts and support operational excellence across the plant.
• Supervise QA personnel, provide coaching, and manage department performance.

Skills

Leadership

Quality assurance

Food safety

Audit readiness

HACCP

SQF

GMPs

Regulatory knowledge

Laboratory data review

Communication

Education

Bachelor's in Food Science or Microbiology

Tools

Microsoft Office

Quality Management System

Job description

The Judge Group is seeking a Quality Assurance Manager for a rapidly food manufacturing company located in the Pasadena, CA area!

Title: Quality Assurance Manager

Responsibilities

• Lead all food safety and quality programs, including SQF, HACCP, GMPs, sanitation, allergen control, supplier management, and employee training.
• Oversee audit preparation and compliance for SQF, USDA, FDA, customer, and third-party inspections.
• Manage product quality initiatives, microbiological testing, investigations, and corrective action programs.
• Maintain SOPs, quality documentation, specifications, labels, formulations, and nutritional information.
• Act as the primary contact for regulatory agencies and certification organizations.
• Ensure calibration, sanitation, environmental compliance, and facility food safety standards are consistently met.
• Drive continuous improvement efforts and support operational excellence across the plant.
• Supervise QA personnel, provide coaching, and manage department performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, or a related discipline.
• 5+ years of progressive QA or food safety experience within food manufacturing.
• Prior experience in a USDA-regulated processing environment required.
• HACCP certification and SQF Practitioner experience required.
• Strong understanding of USDA, FDA, GMP, and food safety regulations.
• Experience reviewing laboratory and microbiological testing data.
• Proven leadership skills with experience managing and developing teams.
• Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving abilities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and quality management systems.
• Bilingual English/Spanish skills preferred.