Quality Assurance Laboratory Manager

A leading food manufacturing company located in the City of Industry is in search of an experienced and dynamic QA Laboratory Manager to lead their Quality Assurance operations.

Position Objective: This role is at the heart of our commitment to excellence in the healthy snacks space. You'll not only manage laboratory operations but also play a key role in ensuring FDA regulatory compliance, handling labeling and artwork review, and steering supplier and ingredient assessments. Your role extends to collaborating with our innovation and R&D teams on new product development and spearheading the development of an internal microbiological laboratory. You'll be instrumental in maintaining our high standards of quality, food safety, and compliance, and propelling our microbiological analysis capabilities.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Laboratory Management and Quality Assurance: Oversee daily laboratory operations with a focus on precision and efficiency. Implement and enforce rigorous quality control standards and procedures.
• FDA Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all products and processes comply with FDA regulations. Stay updated on regulatory changes and lead FDA inspection and audit processes.
• Labeling and Artwork Review: Manage the review process for product labels and artwork, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.
• Supplier and Ingredient Review and Approval:
• Develop and manage a comprehensive supplier approval process, including conducting in-depth audits, quality checks, and risk assessments.
• Establish criteria for supplier selection based on quality, safety, and compliance standards.
• Act as a liaison between the QA department and the Supply Chain/Sourcing teams.
• Maintain close collaboration with suppliers to ensure continuous quality improvement and compliance.
• Innovation and R&D Collaboration:
• Act as a liaison between the QA department and the innovation and R&D teams.
• Provide regulatory insights during the new product development process, ensuring all products meet the highest quality and safety standards.
• Participate in cross-functional teams, contributing to the ideation and conceptualization of new products.
• Development of Internal Microbiological Laboratory:
• Lead the design, setup, and operationalization of an in-house microbiological laboratory.
• Select and procure state-of-the-art lab equipment and technology.
• Develop and implement SOPs for microbiological testing, ensuring reproducibility and accuracy of results.
• Train and build a competent team to operate the laboratory effectively.
• Team Leadership and Development: Mentor the QA team, fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Reporting and Documentation: Compile and maintain detailed records on quality metrics, supplier assessments, compliance issues, and laboratory development.

Job Qualifications/Skills:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or related field.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in QA management in the food industry, with an emphasis on FDA compliance, SQF, GMP, HACCP, and laboratory management.
• Knowledge of ISO 17025 Certification
• Expertise in developing and managing a microbiological laboratory.
• Strong background in supplier and ingredient evaluation, labeling, artwork review, and new product development.
• Demonstrated leadership and team development skills.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and analytical abilities.
• Proficient in Microsoft 365 software, Google Workspace Applications, and laboratory systems such as Connect Up.

Education

• Master's degree
• Bachelor's degree

Pay

• From $75,000 a year

Reports to: Head of Food Safety, Quality, and Regulatory

Shift: 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM (can vary based on company needs), Monday to Friday

Job type

• Full-time
• Exempt

Work Location: In person

Benefits

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance