Compliance & Quality Assurance Manager

Compliance & Quality Assurance Manager

Dark Star | Buffalo, NY | Full-Time | On-Site

Want to help ensure every product meets the highest standards of quality, safety, and compliance? Join Dark Star as our Compliance & Quality Assurance Manager!

Dark Star is a family-owned, women-owned New York cannabis edibles company rooted in more than 80 years of chocolate-making experience. We combine our passion for exceptional chocolate with the precision and care required to manufacture regulated cannabis products.

We’re looking for a detail-oriented, proactive Compliance & Quality Assurance Manager to oversee our quality systems, regulatory compliance, documentation, and product-release processes. This is a hands-on role for someone who understands the importance of getting the details right, can manage competing priorities, and is comfortable taking ownership in a growing manufacturing environment.

The ideal candidate brings experience in regulated manufacturing, quality assurance, or cannabis compliance and can turn regulatory requirements into clear, consistent processes that work on the production floor.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

Include but are not limited to

Regulatory Compliance

• Maintain compliance with applicable NYS cannabis regulations and requirements governing licensed cannabis processing operations.
• Monitor regulatory updates and communicate relevant changes to leadership and team members.
• Maintain required records, reports, registrations, and compliance documentation.
• Prepare for and support regulatory inspections, audits, and information requests.
• Identify potential compliance risks, recommend corrective actions, and ensure issues are addressed promptly.

Quality Assurance & Product Release

• Oversee quality assurance procedures throughout the manufacturing process, from incoming materials through finished-product release.
• Review batch production records, laboratory testing results, Certificates of Analysis (COAs), and supporting documentation for completeness and accuracy.
• Verify product specifications, labeling, packaging, batch information, and lot traceability before products are approved for release.
• Maintain appropriate procedures for product holds, recalls, deviations, investigations, and corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Coordinate with production and external laboratory partners to investigate discrepancies, resolve quality issues, and maintain consistent product standards.
• Support product quality initiatives and continuous improvement across manufacturing operations.

Documentation, Systems & Procedures

• Develop, maintain, and improve SOPs, work instructions, quality records, and compliance checklists.
• Maintain accurate, organized, audit-ready records and ensure required documentation is completed and retained appropriately.
• Oversee traceability and inventory documentation to support accurate tracking of materials, work in progress, and finished products.
• Manage quality and compliance calendars, deadlines, and recurring reporting requirements.
• Establish practical systems that help the team follow procedures consistently as the company grows.

Training & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Train and support team members on applicable quality standards, SOPs, documentation practices, and compliance procedures.
• Work closely with production, operations, leadership, and other departments to identify risks and resolve issues.
• Communicate quality concerns clearly and confidently, including escalating issues when necessary.
• Take ownership of open compliance and quality matters and follow through until they are resolved.
• Help build a culture where quality, accountability, and compliance are part of everyone's daily responsibilities.

What We're Looking For

• Experience in quality assurance, regulatory compliance, or quality management within a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to identify inconsistencies in records, labels, laboratory results, and production documentation.
• Excellent organizational and project-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Sound judgment and the confidence to escalate concerns or prevent a product from moving forward when requirements have not been met.
• A proactive, solutions-oriented mindset and the ability to work independently.
• Comfort working in a small, growing company where flexibility, collaboration, and ownership are essential.
• Proficiency with digital documentation, spreadsheets, and recordkeeping systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in New York State's regulated cannabis industry, particularly cannabis manufacturing or processing.
• Familiarity with cannabis seed-to-sale traceability systems, inventory controls, and batch-record management.
• Experience reviewing COAs, laboratory testing results, product labels, and packaging requirements.
• Knowledge of quality management systems, SOP development, deviation investigations, and CAPA.
• Experience supporting regulatory inspections, audits, or compliance reviews.
• Relevant education, certifications, or training in quality assurance, food science, manufacturing, or regulatory compliance.

Equivalent combinations of education and hands-on experience will be considered.

What Success Looks Like

In this role, success means our compliance records are accurate and organized, quality procedures are consistently followed, potential issues are identified early, and products move through the manufacturing process only when applicable requirements have been met. You'll help create reliable systems that protect our customers, our team, and the long-term growth of Dark Star.

Why Dark Star?

• Join a family-owned, women-owned New York company with deep roots in chocolate making.
• Make a meaningful impact on the systems, standards, and processes behind a growing product portfolio.
• Work directly with leadership and collaborate across production and operations.
• Help shape and improve the way a growing manufacturing business operates.
• Be part of a fun and dynamic team that cares about both the products we make and the people who make them.

Position Details

Job Title: Compliance & Quality Assurance Manager

Location: Buffalo, NY

Employment Type: Full-time, on-site

Compensation: $45,000–$55,000 annually, depending on relevant experience, qualifications, and the scope of the role.

Benefits:

• Paid time off and vacation.
• Opportunity to grow with a family-owned, women-owned New York company.
• Direct collaboration with leadership and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact as the company grows.
• Health insurance options are currently being explored as part of our ongoing benefits development.

How to Apply

If you’re detail-oriented, take pride in doing things the right way, and want to play a key role in maintaining the quality and compliance of a growing New York cannabis company, we’d love to hear from you!

Submit your resume and a brief introduction outlining your relevant experience and interest in the role.

Dark Star is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences who are excited to contribute to our team.