QA Manager

SUMMARY

Northline Seafoods is a growing seafood processing company seeking an experienced and motivated Quality Assurance Manager to oversee all day-to-day food safety, quality, and compliance activities at our Arrowac Production Facility in Bellingham, WA. This facility specializes in head and gut processing, and the QA Manager will play a key leadership role in ensuring all operations meet regulatory standards and company expectations for product quality and safety.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversee and enforce all food safety and quality policies, procedures, and programs for the Arrowac facility.
• Supervise and support the QA team, including training, scheduling, and performance management of QA Technicians.
• Serve as an active member of the BRCGS and HACCP teams, ensuring compliance with certification and regulatory requirements.
• Manage and maintain HACCP plans, including monitoring, verification, and documentation for the head and gutting line.
• Act as the primary contact for regulatory officials, auditors, and third-party inspectors; lead responses to non-conformances and corrective actions.
• Oversee water quality programs, including monthly sampling, reporting, and coordination with external labs.
• Identify and drive continuous improvement opportunities in food safety, product quality, and production processes.
• Maintain inventory and vendor relationships for QA-related supplies including chemicals, labels, testing equipment, and lab services.
• Ensure QA staff operate safely and efficiently with a strong focus on zero-accident safety culture.
• Manage and document all required safety and compliance training, ensuring adherence to local, state, federal, and Coast Guard requirements.
• Collaborate closely with production leadership to ensure smooth, compliant operation of the head and gut line.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support operational and food safety goals.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 1–2 years of QA experience in a regulated food processing environment; seafood or protein processing experience strongly preferred.
• HACCP certification (or ability to obtain within 4 months of hire).
• Demonstrated ability to organize and maintain QA records and documentation.
• Prior experience working with regulatory agencies (FDA, USDA, or similar) highly desirable.
• Strong computer skills, including proficiency with QA documentation systems.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English; bilingual English/Spanish is a plus.
• Working knowledge of GMPs, sanitation standards, and food safety regulations.
• Proven ability to lead, train, and support a small team of QA Technicians.
• Strong problem-solving skills and sound judgment in fast-paced, high-volume environments.
• Positive, collaborative, and hands-on leadership style.

PHYSICAL REQUIRMENTS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms.

The employee is frequently required to climb or balance.

The employee is regularly required to sit; stoop, kneel, crouch, and talk or hear.

The employee moves objects regularly up to 10 pounds and frequently up to 25 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to distinguish shades of color to identify abnormalities and/or defects in food products.

DISCLAIMER

The above is not intended to list all possible essential functions or requirements as they are subject to change. The employer reserves the right to revise or change this description. This description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each of the above essential duties and meet the physical demands. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to meet these requirements.

Northline Seafoods is an Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, national origin, veteran or disability status.