Quality Area Manager

Quality Area Manager - Food Manufacturing - Base Salary to 100k/year - Knoxville, TN

• Our client, a well-established food manufacturing organization with more than 100 years of industry leadership, is seeking a Quality Area Manager to join its manufacturing operation in Knoxville, TN. Multiple openings are available on 2nd shift (3:00 PM – 11:00 PM) and 3rd shift (11:00 PM – 7:00 AM).
• In this role, the Quality Area Manager will lead food safety, quality assurance, sanitation, and regulatory compliance initiatives while partnering with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, and Supply Chain teams to ensure the production of safe, compliant, high-quality food products. This position will oversee quality systems, lead quality personnel, support continuous improvement efforts, and help foster a strong food safety and quality culture throughout the facility.

Responsibilities:

• Lead food safety, quality assurance, sanitation, and regulatory compliance programs throughout manufacturing operations.
• Ensure compliance with SQF, HACCP, GMP, FDA, customer, and internal quality standards.
• Lead investigations involving quality incidents, root cause analysis, corrective actions, preventive actions, and product disposition decisions.
• Monitor and maintain quality systems, process controls, sanitation programs, allergen control programs, documentation systems, and traceability processes.
• Analyze quality and production data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Support internal, customer, regulatory, and third-party audits while maintaining audit readiness.
• Oversee hold and release programs, documentation control, and product traceability activities.
• Drive initiatives focused on food safety, product quality, process capability, operational efficiency, and risk reduction.
• Lead cross-functional process improvement projects, validations, and quality system enhancements.
• Develop, coach, and mentor Quality team members while promoting accountability and professional growth.
• Collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, and Supply Chain teams to achieve food safety and quality objectives.
• Support staffing, scheduling, resource allocation, and workforce planning activities.
• Promote a culture of food safety, continuous improvement, compliance, and operational excellence.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in a technical or science-related discipline or equivalent industry experience.
• 5 years of experience in food manufacturing quality, food safety, quality assurance, quality control, or regulatory compliance.
• Working knowledge of SQF, HACCP, GMPs, FDA regulations, allergen controls, and food safety management systems.
• Experience leading food safety, quality assurance, sanitation, or regulatory compliance programs within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience conducting investigations, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and preventive action programs.
• Leadership experience with responsibility for coaching, developing, and managing team members.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Supply Chain, and other cross-functional teams.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a manufacturing environment.

Compensation:

• Base salary in the 94k - 100k/year range
• 30–35% annual bonus opportunity
• Company-funded pension
• 401k
• 4 weeks PTO
• Medical, dental, and life insurance