Quality Operations Lead

Glanbia Nutritionals, Inc.; Carlsbad, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff discounts

Health & dental plans

401(k)

Generous family leave policy

Job summary

Glanbia Nutritionals, Inc. in Carlsbad, CA seeks a Quality Operations Lead to guide QA technicians, lead audits, drive CAPA and quality-improvement initiatives, and ensure products meet regulatory standards.

This onsite role collaborates with Manufacturing and Product Development to resolve issues and maintain robust quality systems. Ideal candidates have a foundation in GMP, HACCP, and SPC, with leadership experience and a track record in food/nutrition environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or relevant quality assurance experience in food/nutrition environment.
• At least 2 years implementing or maintaining quality systems, including 1 year in QA in a food manufacturing setting.
• Experience with FDA current Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) in manufacturing.
• Experience designing, implementing, or improving quality systems.
• Experience supporting audits, investigations, root-cause analyses, CAPA, deviations, and customer complaint resolution.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and continuously improve quality systems (internal audits, change control, document control, CAPA).
• Provide day-to-day leadership to Quality Assurance Technicians and assist production coverage.
• Report and analyze quality metrics (process capability, control charts, measurement quality).
• Lead internal/external quality audits and develop audit responses and corrective-action plans.
• Perform root-cause analyses and problem-solving to identify corrective actions.
• Review and trend statistical data to evaluate quality system effectiveness.
• Review customer product specs to determine applicable quality requirements.
• Partner with customers, suppliers, Manufacturing, and Product Development to resolve quality issues and identify improvements.
• Manage customer quality complaints from information gathering to root-cause and corrective action.
• Maintain CAPA program and ensure timely corrective actions.
• Review and approve production deviations.
• Report quality issues, risks, and losses to management.
• Create/update technical docs (SOPs, product specs, safety data sheets, allergen/GMO statements, irradiation/ETO statements).
• Represent QA in cross-functional meetings to resolve issues.

Skills

Quality systems

CAPA

Root cause analysis

Audits

Statistical process control

FDA GMP

Education

Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Food Science, Biological Sciences, or related field

Job description

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert:

Join this dynamic team focused on delivering better nutrition for every step of life’s journey

The Opportunity

We are seeking a Quality Operations Lead to support the Production Quality Assurance team and maintain critical quality systems at our Carlsbad facility.

In this role, you will provide day-to-day leadership to Quality Assurance Technicians, support production coverage, lead audits and investigations, and drive improvements across the facility’s quality systems. This is an excellent opportunity for a quality professional who enjoys solving problems, improving processes, working cross-functionally, and helping ensure products consistently meet customer and regulatory requirements.

Essential Functions

• Maintain and continuously improve quality systems, including internal audits, change control, document control, CAPA, and other applicable programs.
• Provide day-to-day leadership and guidance to Quality Assurance Technicians and help address production coverage needs.
• Ensure the timely reporting and analysis of quality metrics, including process capability, control charts, and measurement quality.
• Lead internal and external quality audits and support the development of audit responses, corrective-action plans, and completion timelines.
• Perform root-cause analyses and other problem-solving activities to identify effective corrective actions and process improvements.
• Review and trend statistical data to evaluate the effectiveness of established quality systems and support sound product-quality decisions.
• Review customer product specifications to determine applicable quality requirements and responsibilities.
• Partner with customers, suppliers, Manufacturing, and Product Development to resolve quality issues and identify improvement opportunities.
• Manage customer quality complaints from initial information gathering and investigation through root-cause analysis, corrective action, and formal customer response.
• Maintain the CAPA program, ensuring corrective-action requests are completed on time and implemented actions effectively address identified issues.
• Review and approve deviations related to production issues.
• Report quality issues, trends, risks, and losses to management.
• Create and revise technical documents, including standard operating procedures, product specifications, safety data sheets, allergen statements, GMO statements, and irradiation or ETO statements.
• Represent the Quality department in cross-functional meetings to resolve quality, technical, and service-related issues.
• Perform other duties and provide additional departmental support as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Food Science, Biological Sciences, or a related discipline; significant relevant quality assurance experience may be considered in place of a technical degree.
• At least two years of experience implementing or maintaining quality systems, including at least one year in a quality position within a food manufacturing environment.
• Experience within the dietary supplement, nutritional product, food, or pharmaceutical industry is preferred.
• Previous supervisory, team‑lead, or informal leadership experience is preferred.
• Experience applying FDA current Good Manufacturing Practices in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience designing, implementing, or improving quality systems.
• Strong working knowledge of HACCP, statistical process control, inspection methods, quality‑control techniques, and related documentation.
• Experience supporting audits, investigations, root‑cause analyses, CAPA, deviations, and customer complaint resolution.

Where and how you will work

The opportunity will be based onsite at our Carlsbad facility.

Periodic domestic travel and some international travel may be required, approximately 10%.

Compensation

Compensation for roles at Glanbia varies depending on several factors, including the specific work location, responsibilities of the role, skills, and level of experience. Glanbia provides a reasonable compensation range for positions that may be hired in California. This range may not apply to other locations.

The annual salary range for California-based employees in this role is $85k -$95k plus a yearly bonus target.

What we would like to offer you!

The opportunity to develop your career on a global stage, continuous learning through an on-demand learning platform, and a competitive compensation package including staff discounts, a generous family leave policy, health and dental plans, competitive salary, and 401(k).

About Glanbia

Glanbia is a better nutrition company with three divisions: Performance Nutrition, Health & Nutrition, and Dairy Nutrition. Collectively and with our partners, we offer an incredible breadth of expertise in nutrition. We work with global food and beverage companies and sell our award-winning, market‑leading brands and ingredients in countries around the world.

At Glanbia, we celebrate diversity because we know our individual strengths make us stronger together. We welcome and encourage interest from a variety of candidates and will give your application consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, protected veteran status, or disability status.

At Glanbia, our culture celebrates individuality, knowing that together we are more.