Quality Manager

Ferrero SpA; Fairfield (CA); Hybrid; USD 102,000 - 143,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Paid time off

Benefits

Job summary

Ferrara in Fairfield, CA, is seeking a Quality and Food Safety Manager to lead the site quality and food safety program from raw materials through finished product release. This hands-on role drives execution, builds capability, and sets the pace for the Fairfield operation.

You will own the site quality agenda, ensure compliance with FDA FSMA and GFSI standards, guide investigations, CAPA, and cross‑functional collaboration with operations, maintenance, engineering, and supply chain to protect

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Engineering, Microbiology, or related field required; advanced degree preferred.
• Strong GMP, HACCP, sanitation, environmental monitoring, SPC and process control knowledge.
• Experience driving cultural and operational transformation initiatives.
• Experience with SAP and quality management/specification systems preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the site FSQA team with clear decision rights and accountability.
• Own the site quality and food safety agenda from raw materials to finished product release.
• Ensure GMPs, food safety, allergen control, and product quality standards.
• Lead site readiness for internal audits, regulatory inspections, customer audits, and corporate assessments.
• Drive RCCA/CAPA to prevent repeat failures and strengthen controls.

Skills

Operational acumen

Collaboration

Communication

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science/Engineering/Microbiology or related field

Tools

SAP

Quality management systems

Specification systems

Laboratory systems

Manufacturing data systems

Job description

At Ferrara, Ferrero, Fox’s Burton’s, and The Fine Biscuits Company, we’re loved by people of all generations for the joy we bring—and that joy is crafted by our people. Join us and explore a whole world to discover, where your passion will find its place.

Today, Ferrara is the #1 sugar confectioner in the U.S, with global sales in more than 40 countries. Ferrara boasts a passionate team of over 9,000 employees around the world who deliver and create hundreds of iconic and beloved products.

In the U.S., more than 67 million households annually enjoy our popular brands like NERDS®, Brach’s®, Jelly Belly®, SweeTARTS®, Laffy Taffy®, and Trolli®. In Brazil, Dori has become a household name with snacking products that include brands such as Dori, Gomets, Pettiz, and Yogurte 100. And, in France, Carambar & Co have earned generations of loyal customers through the timeless appeal of iconic candy and chocolate brands such as Carambar, Lutti, Krema, Poulain, Vichy and Terry’s. A privately held company, Ferrara Group is headquartered in Chicago. Ferrara boasts a network of over 30 locations in North America, South America, Europe and Asia Pacific that includes manufacturing, distribution, sales, and R&D facilities.

Want to make an impact?

The Quality and Food Safety Manager is accountable for setting the standard for quality, food safety, regulatory compliance, and consumer protection at Ferrara's Fairfield, CA, factory – the home of Jelly Belly. This hands‑on, floor‑based position drives execution, builds capability, and sets the pace for the Fairfield operation.

This leader owns the site quality and food safety agenda from raw materials through finished product release, ensuring that systems and processes are not only documented, but consistently lived on the production floor. The role requires strong technical judgment, operational urgency, and the ability to influence manufacturing, maintenance, sanitation, planning, warehousing, and leadership teams to make the right decisions in real time.

This role is responsible for creating a culture where quality is non‑negotiable, issues are escalated quickly, root causes are understood, and corrective actions are sustained. This leader must be comfortable challenging the status quo, stopping production when necessary, and coaching teams to prevent repeat failures.

Ways you will make a difference

Factory Quality & Food Safety Leadership

• Lead the Fairfield quality and food safety agenda from raw materials through finished product release
• Maintain daily presence on the production floor to verify standards, coach behaviors, and drive accountability
• Set clear expectations for GMPs, food safety, sanitation, allergen control, foreign material prevention, and product quality

Product & Systems Compliance

• Serve as the site authority for product holds, risk assessments, escalations, and dispositions
• Ensure compliance with company policies, FDA requirements, FSMA, HACCP/HARPC, GFSI standards, customer requirements, and regulatory expectations
• Lead site readiness for internal audits, regulatory inspections, customer audits, and corporate assessments
• Ensure traceability, mock recall, document control, change management, calibration, pest control, and product release systems are effective

Problem Solving & Continuous Improvement

• Lead investigations for consumer complaints, foreign material events, micro failures, labeling concerns, process deviations, and other site risks.
• Drive disciplined RCCA and CAPA to eliminate repeat failures and strengthen controls.
• Partner with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Continuous Improvement to solve issues at the source.
• Use site metrics to improve holds, complaints, right‑first‑time, sanitation performance, audit results, release cycle time, and repeat deviations.

Team Leadership & Capability Building

• Lead and develop the site FSQA team with clear decision rights, shift coverage, and accountability
• Build technical capability through coaching, training, floor‑based verification, and practical problem solving
• Strengthen FSQA partnership with operators, supervisors, mechanics, sanitation teams, and site leaders
• Create a high‑ownership team culture focused on prevention, execution, and consumer protection
• Act as a key member of the Fairfield site leadership team
• Bring strong food safety and quality perspective to operational decisions, capital projects, new product launches, commercialization, line trials, and improvement initiatives
• Challenge decisions when product safety, compliance, quality, or consumer trust may be at risk

Skills that will make you successful

• Strong operational acumen
• Collaboration skills and ability to influence cross‑functional teams
• Strong communication skills with the ability to present, coach, and deliver information to employees at all levels
• Detail‑oriented with ability to manage competing priorities

Experiences that will support your success

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Engineering, Microbiology, or related field required; advanced degree preferred
• 7+ years of progressive manufacturing quality leadership experience within food or consumer packaged goods manufacturing; minimum 3 years in plant quality management
• Strong expertise in GMPs, HACCP, sanitation, environmental monitoring, SPC, and process controls
• Experience driving cultural and operational transformation initiatives
• Experience with SAP, quality management systems, specification systems, laboratory systems, and manufacturing data systems preferred

What We Offer

At Ferrara, we're proud to support our employees with comprehensive benefits that enhance health, financial wellness, and include paid time off (PTO). Eligible employees may also receive an annual bonus based on company performance. Learn more about our benefits at https://flimp.live/Ferrara-Benefits-Resource-Center

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $102,075-142,905 annually.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees, employment decisions and opportunities at Ferrara will be based on merit, qualifications, and abilities, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital or civil union status, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, military or veteran status, disability, handicap, genetic information, pregnancy (childbirth or related medical condition), or on any other basis prohibited by law. This policy governs all aspects of employment, including selection, job assignment, compensation, discipline, termination, and access to benefits and training.

Nearest Major Market: Sacramento
Nearest Secondary Market: Fairfield