Quality Assurance Manager

dfa; Portland (ME); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

DFA seeks a seasoned Quality Assurance leader to manage the quality department, drive continuous improvement, and ensure regulatory compliance across plant operations. The role partners with operations and R&D to uphold food safety, lead audits, manage CAPA, and mentor staff while safeguarding customer specifications and FSMA requirements.

The candidate will oversee laboratory practices, EMP, QC data analysis, and hold-and-release programs, emphasizing root-cause investigations and proactive

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in food science or related field required.
• 5–8 years QA experience in food/beverage facility.
• GFSI/SQF experience preferred.
• Strong leadership and supervisory skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily quality and food safety operations, ensuring compliance with DFA policies and regulations.
• Maintain audit readiness and robust QA and sanitation programs.
• Lead investigations, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions for non-conformances.
• Review records and ensure completion for preventive controls, laboratory, sanitation, and verification checks.
• Manage KPIs and support plant budgeting and capital projects related to quality.
• Provide training on FSMA and regulatory compliance to plant personnel.

Skills

Leadership

Quality Assurance

GFSI/SQF

cGMP knowledge

Regulatory compliance

Data analysis

Communication

Team management

Education

Bachelor's degree in food science or related field

PCQI/HACCP/SQF (preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Quality Management System (QMS)

Regulatory tracking tools

Job description

Manage and lead a quality department and ensure effective quality execution, continuous improvement, and regulatory compliance. In conjunction with plant operations, maintain an effective culture of food safety and quality within the facility. Develop and/or maintain processes that ensure finished product is food safe and meets finished product specifications. Function as a highly organized and effective communicator with the ability to investigate and lead solution-based decision making in the plant.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ensure daily plant quality and food safety operations are compliant with DFA policies and procedures and local, state, and federal regulations
• Maintain audit readiness
• Maintain a robust food safety program and subsequent quality program
• Escalate non-conformance events to the quality director and plant manager
• Oversee plant sanitation to drive a robust sanitation program
• Ensure the plant pest control programs are current, followed, and utilized to enable proactive maintenance
• Manage the facility’s change control program to enable robust risk assessment and decisions
• Ensure compliance to specification, manufacturing instructions, and preventive maintenance programs. Partner with operations to ensure preventive maintenance program is robust and adhered to
• Collaboratively lead investigations relating to non-conforming events driving to root cause(s) and effective resolution
• Manage hold and release programs
• Review records daily to ensure all records are completed as required and review/approval is current for preventive controls, laboratory, sanitation, production, and verification checks
• Track and report on plant quality key performance indicators (KPIs)
• Participate in the annual plant budgeting process
• Partner with the plant manager on identifying key capital projects that support food safety and quality initiatives
• Provide training to the plant personnel concerning food safety, Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), and regulatory compliance
• Provide quality leadership during unplanned events or emergencies
• Provide visible leadership by participating in facility walk throughs and internal audits
• Engage and interact with all personnel on a regular basis assisting them with their challenges and questions concerning food safety
• Collaborate with R&D during new/reformulated product introduction to ensure compliance with already established specifications and regulatory requirements
• Serve as the point of contact for customer related issues, complaints, or inquires
• Manage plant complaint investigations ensuring a thorough, effective, timely and customer facing response
• Monitor compliance to customer expectation and specifications; communicate any issues/concerns
• Maintain plant preparedness for customer and regulatory visits
• Manage all analytical and micro activities performed at the facility
• Oversee the development of laboratory practices to ensure accurate and precise quality control (QC) results
• Perform data analysis to identify critical trends or find leading indicators to enable proactive decisions
• Coordinate the collection and evaluation of raw materials and finished products
• Ensure the Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP) is robust, and risk based with a search and destroy mentality applied. Determine root cause of failures and take the appropriate corrective action
• Escalate nonconformances to quality director and plant manager in a timely fashion
• Coordinate and supervise factory and external lab testing of samples; generate Certificate of Analysis (COA’s)
• Maintain the quality management system and ensure documents are up to date and comply to the food safety and quality (FSQ) policies and standards
• Prepare plant specific work instructions as needed
• Ensure SSOP documents are robust and adhere to the sanitation standard
• Ensure all forms and work instructions are reviewed, revised, and updated annually
• Perform management activities such as administering employee promotions and transfers; conducting ongoing performance conversations; mentoring, training, and coaching employees
• Follow all DFA good manufacturing practices (GMP) and work in a manner consistent with all corporate regulatory, food safety, quality, and sanitation requirements
• The requirements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employee, but is not a complete list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Other duties may be assigned as required
• Undergraduate degree in food science, biological sciences, or related curriculum (or equivalent combination of education and experience)
• 5 to 8 years of quality assurance or related experience in a food, beverage, or similar facility
• GFSI/SQF experience preferred
• Demonstrated leadership attributes, team leadership, or supervisory experience; 1+ year of manager experience preferred
• Certification and/or License – PCQI, HACCP, SQF Practitioner certifications preferred; may be required during course of employment

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Strong knowledge of both laboratory and plant current good manufacturing practices (cGMPs)
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and company computer systems
• Knowledge of principles and practices of supervision, training, and personnel management
• Skill in leadership and coaching
• Critical thinking, analysis, mathematical calculations, and statistical evaluations
• Able to organize and prioritize resources to achieve goals
• Able to multi-task; able to keep organized records; able to work with accuracy and attention to detail
• Able to translate accounting, financial, and KPI data into plant performance and determine steps to correct and improve
• Able to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing, for a diverse range of internal and external audiences
• Able to work in collaboration effectively and foster good teamwork
• Able to take appropriate steps to find solutions to complex problems
• Able to present options and ideas to current processes or procedures
• Able to handle challenging or conflict situations with tact and professionalism
• Able to respond courteously and efficiently to inquiries, complaints, and requests
• Able to interpret and apply company policies
• Able to adapt and manage to change effectively
• Must be able to read, write and speak English

An Equal Opportunity Employer including Disabled/Veterans