Quality Manager

Champion Foods LLC; Gaffney (SC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Champion Foods LLC is expanding and seeks a Quality Assurance leader to oversee QA programs, policies, and audits for our pizza products. You will design inspection and testing procedures, train lab staff, and investigate customer complaints while driving continuous improvement across QA activities.

The role requires a Bachelor's in a related field, 5+ years QA experience (7+ total), and strong collaboration with suppliers and internal teams. Domestic travel up to 30% may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in food science, biology, chemistry or related discipline.
• Minimum of five (5) years quality assurance experience in the food industry and a total of seven (7) years total quality assurance experience.
• Knowledge of food industry manufacturing practices and related regulations (FDA GMPs; OSHA lab standards).
• Ability to communicate effectively with franchisees, vendors and other departments.
• Evidence of ability to establish, document, update and track quality metrics through formal processes.
• Experience managing multiple, complex projects with a results-oriented approach.
• Computer proficiency (Microsoft Office, database, Internet and documentation software).
• Sensory abilities for product evaluation.
• Willingness to travel up to 30%.

Responsibilities

• Create and update policies, procedures and programs for product safety and quality.
• Identify and resolve supplier food safety and quality issues.
• Provide technical support and liaison with quality control to develop and maintain controls.
• Lead QA staff and train lab personnel in procedures and auditing techniques.
• Manage critical food lines and new laboratory procedures and instrumentation.
• Assist International department with manufacturing and problem resolution.
• Coordinate samples, sanitation audits and lab testing.
• Lead QA coaching, development and training of staff.
• Assist leadership in vendor policy creation, evaluation and audits.
• Maintain approved manufacturer list for regional vendors.

Skills

QA experience

Documentation

Communication

Problem solving

Travel ability

MS Office

Sensory evaluation

Attention to detail

Project management

Education

Bachelors in food science/biology/chemistry

Tools

MS Office

Lab equipment & testing

Database software

Job description

Baking a Better Future

Champion Foods, a pizza trailblazer, is expanding, and we're looking for dynamic talents to enhance our innovative and quality-driven team. We produce products cherished by families nationwide and pride ourselves on our entrepreneurial spirit, commitment to quality, and a warm workplace culture that feels like family. If you're passionate, eager to grow, and want to work for a company that values each voice and champions personal development, your next career adventure starts here. Join us, and let's craft great things together, one delicious slice at a time.

Job Summary

Lead and manage the quality assurance programs, policies and initiatives for company products. Responsible for developing inspection, testing and quality control procedures, design of quality training programs, investigation of customer complaint issues and facilitation of quality audits. Lead the quality assurance staff, including training food technologists in the lab procedures and auditing techniques.

Key Responsibilities

• Create and implement updated policies, procedures and programs that ensure product safety and quality, including updating product specifications and issue changes.
• Identifies and resolves supplier food safety and quality issues.
• Provides technical support and acts in a liaison role with the quality control function to develop and ensure controls are developed, executed and maintained.
• Manages critical food lines and implements new laboratory procedures and instrumentation and assist the International department with manufacturing and problem resolution.
• Communicates with staff, other departments and suppliers with product specifications and program changes as appropriate.
• Responsible for direct involvement in corporate product recalls and retrievals if required and maintains appropriate documentation. Administers mock recalls to distribution centers.
• Coordinates samples from distribution centers, sanitation audits and lab testing.
• Lead quality assurance staff, including coaching, development and required training.
• Assists leadership in policy creation for vendors, vendor evaluation and audits
• Maintains approved manufacturer list for regional vendors.
• Performs other duties as requested by Supervisor.
• May be responsible for management of others, including hiring and performance management.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Bachelor's degree in food science, Biology, Chemistry or related discipline.
• Minimum of five (5) years quality assurance experience in the food industry and a total of seven (7) years total quality assurance experience.
• Knowledge of the food industry manufacturing practices and familiar governmental regulations. (Exclusively for Domestic: including OSHA lab standards and Good Manufacturing Practices as defined by the FDA.)
• Ability to communicate effectively with franchisees, vendors and other departments, often communicating complex technical data to a variety of audiences.
• Evidence of the ability to establish, document, update and track quality metrics, preferable through standardized and accepted process control procedures.
• Experience in a previous position requiring accuracy, attention to detail and documentation of issues, resolutions and policy changes.
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills. Good interpersonal skills and ability to resolve conflicting points of view.Demonstrated ability to manage multiple, complex projects and initiatives simultaneously with a results-oriented approach.
• Computer proficiency (Microsoft Office, database, Internet and documentation software required.
• Sensory abilities for product evaluation.
• Ability to travel up to 30% of the time and to adhere to the company corporate travel policy.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• HACCP certification and foodservice sanitation certification.
• Experience with lab analysis and testing on products used in the pizza business.

Working conditions

• Office environment.

All items listed above are illustrative and not comprehensive. They are not contractual in nature and are subject to change at the discretion of Champion Foods LLC.

Champion Foods LLC is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to that individual's race, color, religion or creed, national origin or ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetic information, ethnicity, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The Company will strive to provide reasonable accommodations to permit qualified applicants who have a need for an accommodation to participate in the hiring process (e.g., accommodations for a job interview) if so requested.

This company participates in E-Verify. E-Verify and Right to Work.

PRIVACY POLICY