Quality Assurance Supervisor

Europastry USA; New Brunswick (NJ); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Europastry USA is seeking an experienced Quality Assurance Lead to support daily food safety and quality operations in our New Jersey facility. The role supervises the QA team, assists the QA Manager/Director with regulatory and customer compliance, and serves as Backup SQF Practitioner.

The successful candidate will have strong experience in food manufacturing, SQF, HACCP, GMPs, documentation, employee training, and quality systems.

Qualifications

• 2+ years QA experience in food manufacturing.
• Supervisory or lead experience preferred.
• Knowledge of SQF, HACCP/HARPC, GMPs, allergen controls, sanitation, and food safety programs.
• HACCP training or certification required or able to complete training.
• Knowledge of SQF Food Safety Code.
• Experience with SQF, customer, regulatory, or third‑party audits preferred.
• Strong documentation, organizational, investigative, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Ability to work flexible hours as required by production and food safety needs.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Backup SQF Practitioner and cover SQF duties when primary practitioner is unavailable.
• Assist in development, implementation, verification, maintenance, and improvement of the SQF Food Safety Management System.
• Support audits by SQF, customers, regulators, and third parties.
• Supervise QA Technicians / QA Inspectors on daily activities.
• Ensure QA coverage for inspections, testing, sampling, documentation, and verification.
• Review production and QA records for accuracy and compliance.
• Verify CCP monitoring, metal detector and X-ray records.
• Review pre-operational and GMP inspections and allergen controls.
• Conduct internal audits, GMP inspections, and corrective-action follow-ups.
• Assist investigations, root-cause analysis, CAPA, customer complaints, and holds.
• Manage product disposition and nonconforming material documentation.
• Maintain OptiReg QA records and verification system.
• Lead employee training on GMP, food safety, allergen, and other programs via Alchemy.
• Maintain training completion records and overdue training follow-up.
• Train QA and production staff on procedures and documentation expectations.
• Support new SOPs, forms, programs and process changes.
• Coordinate environmental and laboratory testing and verification programs.
• Maintain calibration programs for equipment and safety devices.
• Promote Food Safety and Quality Culture across the facility.
• Communicate safety/quality concerns to cross-functional teams and management.
• Support QA projects, reports, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Quality leadership

SQF

HACCP

GMPs

Documentation

Employee training

Quality systems

Microsoft Office

Communication

Education

HACCP certification

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Quality Assurance Lead to support daily food safety and quality operations in our food manufacturing facility.

This position will supervise and support the QA team, assist the Quality Assurance Manager and Director with regulatory and customer compliance, and serve as the facility's designated Backup SQF Practitioner.

The successful candidate will have strong experience in food manufacturing, SQF, HACCP, GMPs, documentation, employee training, and quality systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the designated Backup SQF Practitioner and assume SQF Practitioner responsibilities when the primary practitioner is unavailable.
• Support the development, implementation, verification, maintenance, and continuous improvement of the site's SQF Food Safety Management System.
• Support preparation for SQF, customer, regulatory, and third-party audits.
• Supervise and provide daily direction to QA Technicians / QA Inspectors.
• Ensure QA coverage and completion of required inspections, testing, sampling, documentation, and verification activities.
• Review production and QA records for completeness, accuracy, and compliance.
• Verify CCP monitoring, including metal detector and X-ray records.
• Review pre-operational inspections, GMP inspections, sanitation verification, allergen controls, label verification, and other food safety records.
• Conduct and support internal audits, GMP inspections, Glass & Brittle Plastic audits, and corrective-action follow-up.
• Assist with investigations, root‑cause analysis, CAPA, customer complaints, product holds, and food safety incidents.
• Support product disposition decisions and ensure nonconforming product is properly identified, controlled, and documented.
• Manage and maintain OptiReg, the facility's digital QA record and verification system, including record review, completion, accuracy, and follow‑up.
• Lead and coordinate annual and ongoing employee training through Alchemy, including GMP, food safety, allergen, Food Defense, and other required programs.
• Maintain training completion records and follow up on overdue or incomplete training.
• Train QA and production employees on procedures, specifications, food safety requirements, and documentation expectations.
• Support implementation of new SOPs, specifications, forms, programs, and process changes.
• Coordinate environmental monitoring, laboratory testing, water testing, air testing, allergen verification, and other required testing programs.
• Maintain and verify calibration programs for thermometers, scales, production equipment, and food safety devices.
• Promote a strong Food Safety and Quality Culture throughout the facility.
• Communicate food safety or quality concerns to Production, Sanitation, Maintenance, Warehouse, and Management.
• Assist the Quality Assurance Manager with QA projects, reports, customer requests, and continuous‑improvement initiatives.

Backup SQF Practitioner Responsibilities

When acting as the Backup SQF Practitioner, the individual will:

• Provide continuity of the SQF Food Safety Management System during the absence of the primary SQF Practitioner.
• Have the authority to **escalate** food safety concerns and recommend or initiate product holds or production stoppages when necessary.
• Review critical food safety records and corrective actions.
• Support investigation and management of CCP deviations and significant food safety incidents.
• Participate in SQF certification and surveillance audits.
• Provide requested documentation and explain facility food safety programs and operational practices to auditors.
• Ensure required verification, validation, review, and follow‑up activities remain current.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of Quality Assurance experience in food manufacturing.
• Previous supervisory or lead experience preferred.
• Working knowledge of SQF, HACCP/HARPC, GMPs, allergen controls, sanitation, and food safety programs.
• HACCP training or certification required or ability to complete required training.
• Working knowledge of the applicable SQF Food Safety Code.
• Experience participating in SQF, customer, regulatory, or third‑party audits preferred.
• Strong documentation, organizational, investigative, and communication skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment.
• Ability to work flexible hours as required by production and food safety needs.

Skills We Are Looking For

• Strong leadership and coaching skills
• Attention to detail
• Food safety knowledge
• Problem‑solving and root‑cause analysis
• Audit readiness
• Effective communication
• Strong record‑keeping and documentation
• Ability to work collaboratively with Production, Maintenance, Sanitation, Warehouse, and Management

This position is an important leadership role within the Quality Assurance Department and directly supports the Quality Assurance Manager and Director in maintaining food safety, product quality, regulatory compliance, and SQF certification.

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