Quality Manager

New York Ag Connection; New York (NY); On-site; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

New York Ag Connection is seeking a Quality Manager to build and own a comprehensive Quality Management System across our supply chain. You will establish SOPs, manage CAPA, and maintain audit readiness with regulators and certifying bodies.

You will lead cross-functional teams including R&D, Marketing, and Legal to ensure compliant labeling, product specifications, and supplier qualification as the portfolio expands.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive Quality experience in VMS, dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, food, or consumer health manufacturing with meaningful time owning a QMS.
• Deep working knowledge of 21CFR Part 111 (cGMP for dietary supplements), FSMA/21CFR Part 117 where applicable, FTC labeling and claims requirements, and state regulations.
• Direct, hands-on experience working with contract manufacturers and auditing external partners against specifications.
• Comfortable on the plant floor, translating observations into SOPs and corrective actions.
• Track record of owning certification audits (NSF, Informed Sport, USP, Organic).
• Regulatory expertise spanning product, label, and packaging compliance across retailer and certifying bodies.
• Strong command of change control, CAPA, deviation management, document control, and supplier qualification.
• Clear, structured communicator capable of cross-functional collaboration.
• Bachelor’s degree in a scientific discipline; advanced QA certifications a plus.

Responsibilities

• Establish and build a QMS from the ground up, including SOPs and supporting infrastructure.
• Own change control, deviation management, CAPA, and ensure audit-readiness.
• Manage batch documentation, COAs, and product specifications for compliance.
• Lead testing plans, method validation, and data review with third-party labs and certify partners.
• Drive supplier and contract manufacturer qualification, audits, and performance management.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with R&D, Marketing, and Legal to ensure compliant labeling and claims.

Skills

Quality management

Communication

Regulatory knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in science

Advanced QA certifications (ASQ, CQE, CQM)

Tools

QMS software (NetSuite, TrackWise)

Job description

Quality Manager

The Quality Manager will establish and build a Quality Management System (QMS) from the ground up and serve as the senior owner and single point of accountability for product quality, compliance, and continuous improvement across our supply chain. This is a hands‑on, high‑ownership role for someone who has built or significantly matured a QMS inside a VMS, dietary supplement, or consumer health manufacturing environment, and who is energized by working closely with contract manufacturers, third‑party labs, R&D, and operations to ship products that meet the highest cGMP and certification standards.

This role sits at the intersection of compliance discipline and operational pragmatism. You will set the standard, write the playbook, and partner cross‑functionally to make quality a competitive advantage.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

QMS & Documentation Ownership

• Establish, build, and continuously improve Quality Management System (QMS) from the ground up, including all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), policies, and supporting infrastructure.
• Establish and manage change control, deviation management, and Corrective and Preventative Action (CAPA) processes.
• Build a scalable documentation architecture that supports rapid product expansion without sacrificing rigor.

Lot Release & Compliance

• Own all quality documentation, including batch records, Certificates of Analysis (COAs), and product specifications, ensuring audit‑readiness at all times.
• Conduct detailed batch documentation and testing review to approve, hold, or reject lots, guaranteeing compliance with cGMP (21CFR Part 111) and applicable certification standards.
• Maintain inspection‑readiness for FDA, state regulators, and third‑party certifying bodies.

Testing & External Partnerships

• Serve as the primary point of contact for third‑party labs (e.g., Light Labs) for testing plans, method validation, and data review.
• Manage ongoing compliance with certifications such as NSF Certified for Content, including annual audits, surveillance visits, and corrective actions.
• Evaluate and onboard new testing partners as the product portfolio grows.

Manufacturing Quality & Continuous Improvement

• Partner with contract manufacturers to monitor product quality, yields, and trends, and drive accountability for performance against specifications.
• Lead quality investigations (consumer complaints, deviations, OOS results) and ensure corrective actions are implemented, verified, and documented.
• Conduct supplier and contract manufacturer qualification, audits, and ongoing performance management.

Cross‑Functional Quality Leadership

• Collaborate with R&D on new product scale‑up, specification development, and validation.
• Partner with Marketing and Legal on compliance language, structure/function claims, and labeling review.
• Use consumer feedback (CX) and complaint data to drive continuous process and product improvements.
• Act as the internal voice of quality and compliance in cross‑functional decision‑making.

Salary: $100,000 – 120,000

Benefits Available

Requirements / Skills

• Experience: 5+ years of progressive Quality experience in VMS, dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, food, or consumer health manufacturing, with meaningful time spent owning a QMS.
• Regulatory fluency: Deep working knowledge of 21CFR Part 111 (cGMP for dietary supplements), FSMA/21CFR Part 117 where applicable, FTC labeling and claims requirements, and applicable state regulations.
• Contract manufacturing experience: Direct, hands‑on experience working with contract manufacturers (CMs/ co‑mans) is strongly preferred. You know how to set quality expectations with external partners, audit them, and hold them accountable to specifications without owning the line yourself.
• Manufacturing fluency: Comfortable in the plant, on the floor, and in the data; able to translate observations into specifications, SOPs, and corrective actions.
• Certifications experience: Track record of owning and successfully closing certification audits (NSF, Informed Sport, USP, Organic, or similar).
• Packaging & label regulatory expertise: Regulatory expertise spanning product, label, and packaging compliance. Able to independently validate packaging and labeling against retailer and certifying body requirements (e.g., WERCSmart, NSF Certified for Content, Prop 65, FDA labeling), and partner with R&D, Marketing, and Legal to keep claims, ingredient panels, and packaging artwork compliant as the portfolio expands.
• QMStoolkit: Strong command of change control, CAPA, deviation management, document control, and supplier qualification.
• Operating style: Pragmatic, builder mindset. You can write the SOP, run the investigation, and brief the CEO. You raise the bar without slowing the business.
• Communication: Clear, structured communicator who can translate compliance complexity for non‑technical partners across R&D, Marketing, Legal, and Operations.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in a scientific discipline (Chemistry, Biology, Food Science, Chemical Engineering, or similar). Advanced degree or QA/QC certifications (ASQ, CQA, CQE, CQM) a plus.

Nice to Have

• Experience in an early‑stage or high‑growth CPG/DTC brand.
• Exposure to gummies, powders, capsules, or functional beverage manufacturing.
• Familiarity with ERP/QMS software platforms (e.g., NetSuite, MasterControl, Greenlight Guru, TrackWise).
• Experience supporting international expansion and associated regulatory requirements (Health Canada, EU, etc.).

**If you’d like to hear more about this opportunity and others we are currently working on, please contact Mike Ribando at [e-mail].

JO: 6.10.26BMR
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