QUALITY CONTROL MANAGER

KENT WORLDWIDE; Columbus (MS); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Kent Worldwide is seeking a site Quality Leader to drive day-to-day QC operations, ensure testing and documentation accuracy, and manage product releases in a food manufacturing setting.

You will oversee investigations, root-cause analysis, and CAPA activities while coordinating across Operations and Sanitation to uphold GMP and regulatory compliance. This role demands strong leadership and QA expertise.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree is required or equivalent Quality experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of Quality Assurance or Quality Control in manufacturing.
• Minimum 2 years of supervisory/leadership experience preferred.
• Experience with laboratory testing, sampling, inspection, and process controls.
• Experience with GFSI-recognized Food Safety Management System.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and ability to communicate Quality data.
• Experience supporting audits (FDA, certification, customer, internal).
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and electronic Quality/ERP systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day leadership to site QC personnel and assign work.
• Coordinate QC activities with Operations, Maintenance, Warehouse, and Sanitation to ensure product quality and safety.
• Review production and QC records for compliance with specs and regulatory requirements.
• Lead investigations of nonconformances with root-cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Ensure corrective and preventive actions are completed and documented.
• Monitor Quality and Food Safety KPIs and communicate trends to leadership.
• Serve as site Quality lead for audits, inspections, and mock recalls.
• Support maintenance and improvement of Quality Management Systems and ERP systems.

Skills

Leadership

Quality assurance

Problem solving

Communication

CAPA

Root cause analysis

GMP compliance

ERP systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, Engineering

Tools

D365/Advanced Quality

SafetyChain

Job description

• Provides day-to-day leadership and direction to site QC personnel, including work assignments, scheduling, training, performance management, and development.
• Ensures QC personnel are properly trained and qualified to perform assigned testing, inspection, sampling, documentation, and product disposition activities.
• Coordinates QC activities with Operations, Maintenance, Warehouse, Sanitation, and other functions to ensure product quality, food safety, and process requirements are consistently met.
• Oversees review of production and QC records and product release activities to ensure compliance with approved specifications, procedures, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Leads QC investigations involving product, process, testing, or documentation nonconformances and ensures appropriate root-cause analysis and corrective actions are completed.
• Promotes a culture of Quality and Food Safety through effective coaching, communication, accountability, and continuous improvement.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides day-to-day leadership and direction to site QC personnel, including work assignments, scheduling, training, performance management, and development.
• Ensures QC personnel are properly trained and qualified to perform assigned testing, inspection, sampling, documentation, and product disposition activities.
• Coordinates QC activities with Operations, Maintenance, Warehouse, Sanitation, and other functions to ensure product quality, food safety, and process requirements are consistently met.
• Oversees review of production and QC records and product release activities to ensure compliance with approved specifications, procedures, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Leads QC investigations involving product, process, testing, or documentation nonconformances and ensures appropriate root-cause analysis and corrective actions are completed.
• Promotes a culture of Quality and Food Safety through effective coaching, communication, accountability, and continuous improvement.

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manages daily QC laboratory and production quality activities, ensuring timely and accurate inspection, testing, documentation, and reporting.
• Reviews and approves batch records and other required quality documentation and ensures products meet established specifications prior to release.
• Manages the identification, segregation, evaluation, and disposition of nonconforming materials and products, including appropriate escalation of significant quality or food safety concerns.
• Leads or supports investigations of internal nonconformances, process deviations, customer complaints, and quality incidents using appropriate root-cause analysis methodologies.
• Ensures corrective and preventive actions are appropriately assigned, completed, documented, and evaluated for effectiveness.
• Monitors and trends key Quality and Food Safety performance indicators, including nonconformances, customer complaints, internal defects, testing results, holds, and other applicable site metrics.
• Prepares and communicates routine Quality performance reports to site and Quality leadership, identifying significant trends, risks, and recommended actions.
• Serves as a site Quality lead for internal and external audits, regulatory inspections, customer audits, certification audits, traceability exercises, and mock recalls.
• Supports implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of the site's Food Safety and Quality Management Systems.
• Partners with Operations, Maintenance, and Sanitation to evaluate and improve process controls, sanitation effectiveness, GMP compliance, and preventive controls.
• Develops, reviews, and maintains QC testing, sampling, inspection, and monitoring procedures to ensure accurate and consistent execution.
• Ensures laboratory equipment and testing methods are properly maintained, calibrated or verified, as applicable, and suitable for their intended use.
• Establishes and maintains effective production-line quality checks and audit protocols to verify adherence to established process and product requirements.
• Conducts and/or coordinates GMP, process, and Quality System audits and ensures identified deficiencies are appropriately addressed.
• Investigates customer complaints and communicates findings, root cause, corrective actions, and trends to Quality leadership.
• Supports management of controlled Quality and Food Safety documentation in accordance with established document-control requirements.
• Ensures accurate and timely entry, review, and maintenance of Quality information within applicable electronic Quality Management and ERP systems.
• Supports implementation and effective utilization of electronic Quality systems, including D365/Advanced Quality, and SafetyChain, as applicable.
• Participates in risk assessments associated with changes to products, processes, equipment, raw materials, packaging, suppliers, specifications, or manufacturing procedures.
• Provides Quality input to continuous improvement, cost reduction, process optimization, and new product or process commercialization activities.
• Provides input into the QC department budget and identifies opportunities to improve Quality performance while effectively managing laboratory and inspection costs.
• Escalates significant Quality, Food Safety, Regulatory, or customer risks to site leadership and Quality leadership in a timely manner.
• Performs other Quality-related duties as assigned.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND/OR QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, Engineering, or a related scientific/technical discipline; equivalent relevant Quality experience may be considered.
• Minimum of 5 years of Quality Assurance or Quality Control experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably food or beverage manufacturing.
• Minimum of 2 years of supervisory or leadership experience preferred.
• Demonstrated experience with laboratory testing, sampling, inspection, and manufacturing process controls.
• Experience working within a GFSI-recognized Food Safety Management System.
• Working knowledge of GMPs, Preventive Controls, sanitation, traceability, nonconforming product controls, CAPA, and root-cause analysis.
• Experience supporting or leading regulatory (FDA), certification, customer, and internal audits.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret, trend, and effectively communicate Quality data.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively across Operations, Quality, R&D, & Regulatory.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, coach, and hold employees accountable.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and electronic Quality/ERP systems

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a scientific, technical, or Quality-related discipline.
• PCQI, BRCGS or similar Food Safety/Quality certification.
• Experience leading or supporting GFSI certification.
• Experience with ERP/eQMS systems such as Microsoft D365/Advanced Quality Management.
• Experience utilizing statistical analysis, trend reporting, and data visualization tools to drive continuous improvement.

TRAVEL EXPECTED:

• 0 – 10%, including occasional travel to other company facilities, suppliers, customers, or training events as required.