QA Manager, Food Safety & Bakery Operations
Overview
Own the Food Safety & Quality Management System (FSQMS) at the Richmond, CA bakery, ensuring full compliance with FDA, SQF/BRC, and customer standards. Lead the quality team, partner cross-functionally with Operations and Supply Chain, and drive a proactive food safety culture. This role places you at the center of brand integrity and business growth, with direct authority over product release and audit outcomes.
What You'll Do8
- 1Own and continuously improve the site FSQMS, including HACCP, FSMA Preventive Controls, GMPs, SQF/BRC, and allergen control, to ensure audit readiness and full compliance.
- 2Serve as primary contact for State, FDA, third-party, and customer audits; lead inspections, responses, and corrective action closure.
- 3Make final decisions on product release, holds, deviations, and disposition; oversee lab, environmental, and microbiological programs.
- 4Develop and lead the QA team through mentorship, accountability, strategic hiring, structured onboarding, and ongoing capability development.
- 5Establish KPIs and leverage data to drive risk reduction, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement.
- 6Lead supplier quality programs and own customer complaint management, including investigation and trend analysis.
- 7Partner with R&D and cross-functional teams to support new product launches and manage formulation, labeling, and process changes.
- 8Embed a strong food safety and quality culture across the plant; collaborate with Operations to improve process capability and reduce waste.
Requirements8
- 1Bachelor’s degree in food science, Microbiology, or related discipline
- 25+ years progressive experience in Quality or Food Safety leadership within a high-speed production bakery or similar processes
- 3Deep expertise in SQF/BRC, HACCP, and audit management
- 4Demonstrated success leading cross-functional initiatives and influencing stakeholders
- 5Experience working with regulators and public brand customers
- 6SQF Practitioner and/or PCQI certification preferred
- 7Experience in commercial baking (bread, buns, rolls) preferred
- 8Familiarity with digital quality management systems and tools preferred
Salary Insight
$120 - $138k per year
Location
Required Skills
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