Senior Quality Manager

Ultra Pouches; Frankfort (KY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k)

Equity options

Access to Ultra pouches

Job summary

Join Ultra Pouches as a Senior Quality Manager to define and oversee quality systems from suppliers to consumers. You’ll build an audit program, manage consumer complaints, and ensure compliance with dietary supplement regulations.

The ideal candidate has a Bachelor’s in a scientific field and 5-7 years of relevant experience. The role offers a competitive salary ($90K–$115K), equity, and benefits including medical, dental, and vision coverage.

Qualifications

• 5–7+ years in quality roles within dietary supplements, food, pharmaceutical, or consumer products.
• Experience with building audit programs and supplier qualification systems.
• Knowledge of 21 CFR Part 111, GMP, CAPA, and complaint-handling requirements.

Responsibilities

• Own quality systems across the entire supply chain.
• Develop and execute a risk-based audit schedule covering all co-manufacturers.
• Build and own an end-to-end system to manage consumer complaints.

Skills

Quality management systems

Root-cause analysis

GMP compliance

Supplier qualification

Complaint management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a scientific discipline

Tools

Quality certifications (CQA, CQM, ASQ)

Job description

Ultra™ | Nicotine-Free Functional Pouches

Ultra™ is already the #1 brand of nicotine-free pouches in the world and we only launched one year ago—we’re just getting started. Our mission is to build the category-defining brand of functional pouches for people who want enhanced performance without the crash, addiction, or long-term downsides. ULTRA doesn’t just make a pouch that’s somewhat “better for you” than Zyn—we make functional performance products that are actively good for you.

The market shift is massive: nicotine pouch sales are up 3,000% since 2019 and projected to reach $20B by 2026. Consumers are adopting the pouch form factor at scale, and many are now seeking nicotine-free functional benefits. Ultra is positioned to lead that wave.

Backed by some of the best investors, founders and athletes in the world, including:

• CAVU Consumer Partners (Once Upon A Farm, Poppi, Farmer’s Dog, Oatly, Vital Proteins, Whoop, Recess)
• Left Lane Capital (Blank Street, Olipop, Holy)
• Sugar Capital (Grüns, Feastables, Lucky Energy)
• Athletes & Creators: Joe Burrow, Dak Prescott, Henrik Lundqvist, Jakob Chychrun + more
• Founders & Operators: Chad Janis (Grüns), Harpreet Singh (Oura Ring), Jeff Raider (Harry’s), Vinay Menda (Blank Street) + more

Learn more: takeultra.com

The Role

As Senior Quality Manager at ULTRA, you’ll own quality systems across the entire supply chain—from raw material suppliers through co-manufacturers and distributors to the end consumer. You’ll build and run the external audit program, stand up the consumer complaint management system, and establish the supplier qualification standards that ensure every pouch meets specification and regulatory requirements under 21 CFR Part 111.

This is a build role. You won’t be maintaining someone else’s systems—you’ll be standing them up from scratch. If you thrive on creating structure where there is none and want to define quality for the fastest-growing pouch brand in the market, this is your opportunity.

What You’ll Own

Co-Manufacturer Auditing

• Develop and execute a risk-based audit schedule covering all co-manufacturers.
• Conduct on-site and remote audits assessing GMP compliance, sanitation, documentation practices, and batch record integrity.
• Issue audit reports, track corrective and preventive actions (CAPA), and verify closure within defined timelines.
• Maintain audit readiness for internal facilities, including The ULTRA Compound (R&D lab).

Consumer Complaint Management

• Build and own an end-to-end system to capture, categorize, track, investigate, and respond to consumer complaints.
• Establish triage criteria, investigation workflows, and escalation paths for adverse events and product quality issues.
• Lead root-cause investigations and drive CAPA through to resolution.
• Generate trend analyses and reporting to surface systemic issues and inform formulation, process, and labeling decisions.
• Manage regulatory reporting obligations for serious adverse events.

Supplier Qualification

• Define and administer the supplier qualification and approval program for raw materials, excipients, and packaging.
• Review Certificates of Analysis, specifications, and identity testing requirements, including botanical extract identity under 21 CFR Part 111.
• Conduct supplier risk assessments, approve or disapprove suppliers, and maintain the Approved Supplier List.
• Manage supplier change controls, requalification, and ongoing performance monitoring.

Quality Systems & Compliance

• Maintain and continuously improve the quality management system (SOPs, specifications, batch records, deviation and change control).
• Ensure compliance with 21 CFR Part 111 and applicable dietary supplement regulations.
• Partner with Product Development on specification setting, stability, and release testing.

Why You’re a Fit

• Bachelor’s degree in a scientific discipline (Chemistry, Food Science, Microbiology, or related); advanced degree a plus.
• 5–7+ years in quality roles within dietary supplements, food, pharmaceutical, or consumer products; 1–3+ years in a leadership or management capacity a plus.
• You’ve built or run audit programs and supplier qualification systems—not just maintained them.
• You have working knowledge of 21 CFR Part 111, GMP, CAPA, and complaint-handling requirements.
• You’ve stood up complaint management or quality tracking systems from scratch.
• You’ve got strong investigation and root-cause analysis skills.
• Bonus: Experience with oral pouch, buccal, or similar delivery formats.
• Bonus: Quality certifications (CQA, CQM, ASQ, or equivalent).
• You embody ULTRA’s values: Move fast. Be data-driven. Take ownership. Build with intention. Compete to win.

Why You Should Join ULTRA

• Build It from Zero. You’re not inheriting a quality system—you’re building it. Audit programs, complaint management, supplier qualification—all yours to architect.
• Category-Defining Brand ULTRA is creating an entirely new category of functional pouches. You’ll define the quality bar for the brand setting the standard.
• High-Performance Culture Join a team that plays to win—resourceful, detail-obsessed, and relentlessly focused on results.
• Real Ownership Full responsibility over quality systems end-to-end—from supplier to consumer. Your decisions directly impact what ships.
• Aligned Incentives Competitive base ($90K–$115K), equity, and a benefits package built for a team that’s going the distance.

Benefits and Perks

Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage, HSA access, a 401(k), equity, and all the Ultra pouches you could ever want.

Equal Employer Opportunity

Ultra is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, disability, or veteran status.

We comply with all applicable employment laws, including the NYC Fair Chance Act, and provide reasonable accommodations as required by law.