Quality Manager - Fairfield, CA

VetJobs

Fairfield (CA)

On-site

USD 102,000 - 143,000

Full time

8 days ago

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Job summary

Ferrara is seeking a Quality and Food Safety Manager for our Fairfield, CA, factory, the home of Jelly Belly. This hands-on role drives the site’s quality and food safety agenda from raw materials to finished product release and coordinates with operations, maintenance, and engineering to prevent issues.

You will lead investigations, ensure compliance with FDA/FSMA/HACCP, and drive RCCA/CAPA to prevent repeat failures while coaching a site FSQA team on a strict quality culture.

Qualifications

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.
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.

Responsibilities

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.
Serve as the site authority for product holds, risk assessments, escalations, and dispositions.
Ensure compliance with 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.
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.

Skills

Operational acumen

Collaboration

Communication skills

Detail-oriented

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

Job Description

Our organization works with partner companies to source qualified talent for their open roles. The following position is available to Veterans, Transitioning Military, National Guard and Reserve Members, Military Spouses, Wounded Warriors, and their Caregivers. Unless specifically stated otherwise, this role is "On-Site" at the location detailed in the job post. Due to the highly interactive nature of this manufacturing position, in-person attendance and flexibility are essential for supporting production schedules, effective communication and collaboration, real-time problem solving, and participation in cross-functional initiatives. Schedules may vary and are subject to change. 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

Site Leadership Partnership

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

Auto req ID

484489BR

Minimum Education Required

Bachelors

Additional Qualifications/Responsibilities

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.

Compensation

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

City*

Fairfield

State*

California

Job_Category

Management

Job Code

Manufacturing Manufacturing

Affiliate Sponsor

Ferrara