Quality Assurance Manager

Job Title: Quality Assurance Manager
Department: Quality & R&D
Location: Oak Creek, WI
Reports To: Vice President – Quality

Position Summary

Thrive Freeze Dry is seeking a Quality Assurance Manager who demonstrates and lives the company’s core values while leading and overseeing all quality systems within the production facility. This role is responsible for ensuring the consistent production of freeze-dried products that meet established standards, customer specifications, and production goals.

The Quality Assurance Manager will develop, implement, and maintain food safety, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance programs while supporting customer requirements and continuous improvement initiatives. This position plays a key role in maintaining compliance with all applicable food safety and regulatory standards and supporting both internal and external audits.

Core Values

The ideal candidate will demonstrate and embody the following Thrive Freeze Dry values:

Continuous Improvement • Accountability • Integrity • Personal Growth & Wellness • Teamwork • Work-Life Balance

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead and manage quality systems to ensure the consistent production of high-quality freeze-dried products.
• Ensure full compliance with FSMA, SOPs, HACCP, FDA, SQF, Organic, and Kosher requirements; review and update programs as needed.
• Develop, implement, and manage the organization’s food safety, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance programs.
• Establish performance standards, procedures, and audit controls that meet business and customer requirements.
• Partner with customers by combining technical product knowledge with application expertise to support product development and quality expectations.
• Lead internal audits as well as second- and third-party audits.
• Develop, document, and implement inspection criteria, quality procedures, and quality control processes.
• Analyze data and provide reporting to support continuous improvement initiatives.
• Manage multiple projects across multiple customers while maintaining strong organization and prioritization.
• Support continuous improvement of analytical, reporting, and quality control processes.
• Serve as a backup resource to ensure all food safety, quality, and SQF system requirements are met when leadership is unavailable.

Competencies

• Demonstrates and lives the Thrive Freeze Dry core values.
• Strong leadership and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal).
• Strong problem-solving and analytical abilities.
• High level of accountability and reliability.
• Commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Ability to motivate and develop team members.

Key Skills

• Audit preparation and execution (internal, second-party, and third-party)
• Regulatory and compliance management
• Continuous improvement and process development
• Critical thinking and data-driven decision making
• Documentation and record control
• Product inspections and product specification management
• Project management and prioritization
• Policy and procedure development
• Quality data analysis and reporting
• Proactive problem solving

Requirements

• Minimum of 10 years of quality assurance experience in food manufacturing
• Master's or Bachelor’s degree preferred (Microbiology, Food Science, or Chemical Engineering); a technical degree is required, or equivalent relevant work experience will be considered.
• Strong working knowledge of SQF, FSMA, and food safety/quality systems
• HACCP and PCQI certification required
• Ability to travel up to 20% as needed

Food Safety Responsibilities

• Maintain a strong focus on food safety, quality, and sanitation at all times.
• Ensure compliance with Thrive Freeze Dry food safety and sanitation policies.
• Hold self and team members accountable to all food safety and quality standards.
• Communicate any food safety concerns or opportunities for improvement immediately.
• Serve as a backup to ensure food safety, quality objectives, and SQF system requirements are met when needed.

Work Environment

This position is based in a food manufacturing environment in Oak Creek, WI. The role requires a combination of office work and plant floor presence.

Physical requirements include:

• Occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling
• Frequent walking and standing
• Some bending, stooping, kneeling, or crouching
• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds
• Ability to work in varying temperature environments