Quality Assurance Manager

Aseptic Quality Manager

We’re partnering with a respected and growing Central NY food & beverage manufacturer to identify an Aseptic Quality Manager.This is a high-visibility leadership role where you’ll shape and elevate quality systems across aseptic operations—driving strategy, ensuring compliance, and making a real impact on plant performance. In this role you will play a pivotal role in leading quality strategy and execution across aseptic operations, ensuring best-in-class systems, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement within a fast-paced manufacturing environment.This is an opportunity to join a stable organization with strong infrastructure while making a meaningful impact on the future of the business.

Location: Greater Syracuse area

Job Responsibilities:

• Serves as the primary liaison with FDA and other regulatory bodies, as well as the processing authority for all aseptic programs and compliance requirements.
• Provides leadership and direction to the quality team, driving performance through clear goal setting, training, collaboration, and professional development.
• Partners closely with Operations and Manufacturing to ensure adherence to quality standards and proper execution of aseptic processing parameters.
• Oversees compliance with aseptic processing and packaging standards, including critical control points such as time, temperature, pressure, CIP, data integrity, and product/package verification programs.
• Owns the development, implementation, and enforcement of site-specific food safety and HACCP programs within aseptic operations.
• Applies technical expertise to support equipment calibration, troubleshooting, and issue resolution across processing and laboratory environments.
• Establishes and monitors finished product specifications, including weight compliance and verification programs in alignment with regulatory requirements.
• Acts as the subject matter expert for aseptic quality systems, laboratory testing methodologies, and quality procedures.
• Ensures proper maintenance, calibration, and validation of laboratory equipment through preventive maintenance and performance verification activities.
• Reviews and evaluates product quality data to determine release eligibility in accordance with internal standards and regulatory expectations.
• Demonstrates strong microbiological knowledge, including experience with gram staining, microbial enumeration, and dairy-related microbiology principles.
• Analyze and trend aseptic processing data to ensure products meet established specifications, driving corrective and preventive actions when needed.
• Maintain a high level of professionalism, fostering a collaborative and respectful work environment across teams.
• Coordinate sterile sampling and documentation for product shipments, ensuring proper handling and compliant shipping practices.
• Oversee and sustain SQF certification standards, including development, documentation, and adherence to site procedures and policies.
• Actively contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, identifying opportunities to enhance quality, efficiency, and overall performance.

Required Skills/Qualifications:

• Associate degree (AS/AAS) required; Bachelor’s degree in a scientific discipline (e.g., Biology, Food Science, Chemistry, Dairy Science) strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in dairy or aseptic beverage manufacturing environments required.
• Prior leadership or supervisory experience (2 years) is preferred.
• Completion of Better Process School is preferred; must be completed upon hire if not already obtained