Quality Manager

Guided Search Partners; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Guided Search Partners is looking for a Quality & Food Safety Manager for a brand-new manufacturing facility in Indianapolis. In this critical role, you'll establish quality systems from scratch and ensure readiness for production launch. The ideal candidate will be a hands-on leader with strong SQF experience and a background in quality and food safety systems.

This position offers a unique opportunity to shape the quality culture and processes before production ramps. If you're excited about building something from the ground up, this is your chance!

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Qualifications

• Hands-on quality and food safety leader familiar with SQF.
• Experience in food packaging or food manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Lead site-level quality and food safety as the facility prepares for launch.
• Implement and drive site-level Quality Management Systems.
• Train new operators on quality standards and expectations.
• Support production launch readiness.

Skills

SQF experience

Strong leadership and training capability

Building process discipline

Ability to operate independently

Job description

Guided Search Partners (GSP) Guided Search Partners is an Executive Search firm built on Trust, Transparency, Specialization, and Long‑term Relationships. We connect high‑performing professionals with organizations that value people, performance, and growth—helping leaders find roles where they can make an impact and build meaningful careers.

About the Opportunity

We’re partnering with a brand‑new greenfield PET bottle manufacturing facility in Indiana seeking a Quality & Food Safety Manager. This is a ground‑floor opportunity to build quality and food safety systems before production launches. The plant is currently in start‑up phase, with production targeted for July and initial staffing already underway.

This is a strong fit for a quality leader who wants ownership, visibility, and the chance to shape quality culture from day one. You’ll help stand up SQF, train new employees, build process discipline, and create the standards that will guide the site as it grows.

What You’ll Do

You’ll lead site‑level quality and food safety as the facility prepares for launch and ramps production.

Key areas of focus include:

• Implement and drive site‑level Quality Management Systems
• Lead SQF implementation from the beginning
• Develop food safety and quality processes from scratch
• Train new operators on quality standards and expectations
• Establish plant quality culture and process discipline
• Build systems around product acceptance standards
• Support production launch readiness
• Work cross‑functionally with plant leadership
• Help create accountability around food safety and quality performance

Who You Are

You are a hands‑on quality and food safety leader who can operate independently and bring structure to a start‑up environment.

You enjoy building systems, teaching others, and creating clarity where things are still being developed. You are comfortable leading from the floor, setting expectations, and helping new employees understand what quality should look like.

You would do well here if you are confident with SQF, strong in plant‑level systems, and excited by the chance to build something from the ground up.

Preferred Experience & Attributes

• SQF experience required
• Strong quality and food safety systems background
• Experience implementing quality systems at the plant level
• Food packaging or food manufacturing experience strongly preferred
• PET or bottle manufacturing experience helpful, but not required
• Ability to operate independently in a start‑up environment
• Strong leadership and training capability
• Experience building process discipline and accountability
• Ability to support production launch readiness

Why This Role Matters

This role is critical because the site is being built from the ground up, and quality needs to be established before production ramps. The right leader will help create the systems, standards, and expectations that shape how the plant operates long term. With initial headcount expected to grow and additional business planned over time, this is a chance to make a lasting impact early. For someone who wants ownership, challenge, and the ability to build quality culture from day one, this is a meaningful opportunity.