Quality Manager

Open Gates Group is a family of companies based near Kalona, IA, dedicated to supporting our employees and enriching our community. Deeply rooted in commitment to local farmers, we started with a creamery and have since grown to include 10 additional food industry businesses. Today, we proudly help source, produce, sell, and transport high-quality Midwestern products to over 3,500 stores across the nation. Our Organic Milk comes from grass-fed cows on small, family-owned farms that prioritize sustainability. We pasteurize our milk at the lowest temperature allowed by law (never ultra-pasteurized or sterilized) and keep it non-homogenized with a rich, delicious cream top. Our farms are “Verified Regenerative” through Land to Market, meaning our cows are grazed in a way that enhances the environment rather than harming it. We’re looking for a Quality Manager to join our team!

Summary

The Quality Manager is responsible for leading and overseeing company-wide quality assurance and food safety programs. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of leadership in a food manufacturing environment, with expertise in SQF (Safe Quality Food), PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual), and HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) certification. This role is key to ensuring product safety, quality, and regulatory compliance while driving continuous improvement in a fast-paced production environment.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Quality Assurance Leadership: Lead and manage the quality assurance team, ensuring products meet or exceed established quality and food safety standards.
• Regulatory Compliance: Stay up to date with all relevant local, state, federal, and international regulations related to organic dairy production. Participate in regulatory audits and ensure the facility complies with FDA and organic certification standards.
• SQF, PCQI, and HACCP Implementation: Oversee the development, implementation, and ongoing management of the SQF system, as well as all PCQI and HACCP programs. Maintain certification standards and ensure compliance with internal and external audits.
• Product Quality Control: Monitor and assess product quality throughout the manufacturing process, from raw material receiving to finished product. Ensure that products meet specifications and perform regular internal quality inspections and audits.
• Data & Reporting: Oversee the collection, analysis, and reporting of quality data to identify trends and make data-driven decisions. Present reports to senior management/production leadership team as required.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with production, R&D, and supply chain teams to ensure seamless communication and alignment on quality and safety standards across all stages of production.
• Customer Complaints & Product Investigations: Lead investigations into customer complaints and product non-conformities, managing root cause analysis and corrective actions. Communicate findings and improvements to relevant stakeholders.
• Continuous Improvement: Drive a culture of continuous improvement by identifying and resolving quality-related issues, implementing corrective actions, and ensuring the success of ongoing quality initiatives.
• Team Development: Mentor, train, and develop quality assurance staff to ensure they have the necessary skills and knowledge to perform their roles effectively. Build a high-performance, customer-focused team. Foster an environment that encourages employee involvement and innovative ideas on process improvement.

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, Microbiology, or a related field preferred.
• 5 years of experience in quality management within the food manufacturing industry, with a focus on organic dairy or similar high-quality food products preferred.
• Track record of leadership in a food manufacturing environment, with expertise in implementing and managing quality systems, including SQF, HACCP, and preventive controls.
• Familiarity with organic certification requirements and compliance with FDA and other regulatory bodies.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a focus on data-driven decision-making.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment while maintaining a focus on quality.
• Leadership and team-building skills with a track record of driving results through cross-functional collaboration.
• Proficiency in Google Suite.
• Willingness to continually embrace personal and professional development.