Quality Assurance Manager

The Krusteaz Company is looking for a Quality Assurance Manager to join our Manhattan, Kansas team! The Quality Assurance Manager is responsible for overseeing all plant-level quality efforts to ensure that products and processes meet or exceed company, customer, and regulatory standards for product quality and food safety.

This role involves both leadership and hands-on involvement across the plant’s quality processes, including the quality lab and production floor.

The manager will work closely with cross-functional teams, including Corporate QA, to ensure alignment with quality initiatives and goals.

Additionally, this position plays a key role in building customer relationships and leading the resolution of quality-related issues.

Key Responsibilities:


* Lead and manage the Quality Assurance team, including hiring, training, performance management, and development.


* Oversee all foundational Food Safety and Quality programs.


* Develop and execute a site-specific strategic quality plan to meet business objectives.


* Facilitating change and leading improvement efforts.


* Collaborate with other plants’ quality teams and corporate QA to establish overall quality goals and standards.


* Align Quality department objectives with the overall plant’s goals and work closely with other departments such as Operations, Purchasing, Logistics, and R&D.


* Identify and implement quality improvement initiatives using data-driven approach within a collaborative environment.


* Ensure that food safety, security, and regulatory compliance are met through programs such as HACCP, GMP, microbial surveillance, and product protection.


* Manage plant-level quality programs, including pest control, sanitation, waste management, and chemical safety practices.


* Serve as a technical resource for internal teams, customers, and suppliers regarding quality and food safety.


* Oversee and manage plant inspections and audits (e.g., FDA, BRC, Kosher), implementing action plans as needed.


* Lead the plant’s response to quality complaints, including investigation and resolution.


* Proactively identify and mitigate food safety risks.


* Represent the Quality department in interactions with customers, sales teams, auditors, and regulatory agencies.


* Develops and monitors SOP’s for quality systems.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws.  Responsibilities may include conducting quarterly check-ins and annual reviews, interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Education and/or Experience Requirements:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.

The requirements listed below are represen...