Quality Assurance Manager / Bakery Manufacturing
27 days ago
Vineland
Job DescriptionQA Manager – Food Safety & Quality Location: Vineland, New Jersey Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Work Location: On-site About Bridor USA Bridor is a North American leader in the development and manufacturing of premium European-style breads, pastries, and viennoiseries. As part of the global LE DUFF Group, Bridor combines traditional baking expertise with advanced manufacturing technology to deliver high-quality frozen bakery products throughout North America. Position Summary Bridor USA is seeking an experienced QA Manager – Food Safety & Quality to lead Quality Assurance, Food Safety, Quality Control, and regulatory compliance at its high-volume manufacturing facility in Vineland, New Jersey. We are looking for an established food manufacturing quality leader with significant experience in a large-scale production environment and strong working knowledge of BRCGS and GFSI food safety systems. This individual must be able to build strong partnerships with Operations while maintaining the independence and authority of the Quality function. The successful candidate will be comfortable making difficult decisions, challenging production when necessary, and standing firm when legitimate food safety or product-quality concerns exist. Key ResponsibilitiesQuality & Food Safety • Lead the facility’s Quality Assurance, Food Safety, and Quality Control programs, • Maintain and continuously improve the Quality Management System and Food Safety Management System, • Ensure compliance with FDA, FSMA, HACCP, GMP, BRCGS, customer, and Bridor requirements, • Oversee HACCP, Preventive Controls, Environmental Monitoring, Allergen Management, Food Defense, Traceability, Recall, Supplier Quality, and related programs, • Maintain a strong presence on the production floor and serve as the facility’s Quality and Food Safety subject-matter expert, • Make appropriate product hold, disposition, escalation, and production-related quality decisionsAudit & Regulatory Compliance, • Lead customer, regulatory, and third-party certification audits, • Maintain continuous BRCGS and regulatory audit readiness, • Coordinate audit preparation, corrective actions, documentation, and follow-up, • Lead mock recalls, traceability exercises, and investigations involving significant food safety or quality issues, • Ensure quality records, procedures, and supporting documentation remain accurate and currentOperations Partnership & Continuous Improvement, • Partner closely with Operations, Sanitation, Engineering, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and R&D, • Work collaboratively to resolve manufacturing issues without compromising food safety or quality standards, • Confidently challenge or escalate production decisions when food safety, regulatory compliance, or product integrity may be at risk, • Lead Root Cause Analysis and Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) activities, • Analyze quality trends, customer complaints, audit findings, and manufacturing data to identify improvement opportunities, • Support initiatives to reduce waste, improve process controls, and strengthen manufacturing performanceCustomer & Supplier Quality, • Support supplier qualification, approval, monitoring, and performance programs, • Lead investigations involving customer complaints, nonconforming products, deviations, and other quality concerns, • Ensure investigations are thorough, properly documented, and supported by effective corrective actions, • Support new product introductions, process changes, and commercialization activities from a Quality and Food Safety perspectiveTeam Leadership, • Lead, coach, mentor, and develop the facility’s Quality team, • Establish clear performance expectations, accountability, and employee development plans, • Build a knowledgeable and confident Quality organization capable of supporting a high-volume manufacturing operation, • Promote collaboration while ensuring Quality team members have the confidence to raise and escalate concerns when appropriateRequired Qualifications, • Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Microbiology, Chemistry, Biology, or a related discipline, • 10+ years of progressive Quality Assurance and Food Safety experience in food manufacturing, • Significant experience working within a large-scale, high-volume food manufacturing environment, • Demonstrated career progression and sustained responsibility within food manufacturing Quality functions, • 5+ years of experience leading and developing Quality teams, • Strong hands-on experience with BRCGS and/or comparable GFSI certification standards, • Experience leading customer, regulatory, and third-party certification audits, • Strong knowledge of FDA regulations, FSMA, HACCP, GMPs, Environmental Monitoring, Allergen Management, Sanitation, Root Cause Analysis, and CAPA, • Demonstrated ability to work effectively with Operations while maintaining appropriate Quality authority and independence, • Proven ability to make difficult decisions and confidently challenge or escalate production activities when food safety or product quality is at risk, • Strong leadership, communication, analytical, organizational, and decision-making skillsRequired Certifications, • HACCP certification, • Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) certification, • SQF Practitioner certification or comparable GFSI/BRCGS experiencePreferred Qualifications, • Experience within a BRCGS-certified food manufacturing facility, • Bakery, frozen foods, dairy, protein, beverage, or similar high-volume food manufacturing experience, • Experience with automated production and packaging operations, • Internal Auditor certification, • Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or comparable continuous-improvement experience, • ERP or electronic Quality Management System experienceWhy Join Bridor?, • Lead the Quality and Food Safety function for an established and growing U.S. manufacturing operation, • Influence facility strategy, product quality, regulatory compliance, and operational performance, • Partner directly with local and North American leadership, • Help shape the quality culture of a company recognized for premium bakery products and manufacturing innovation, • Participate in new product, process-improvement, and business-growth initiatives, • Develop professionally within an international organization that supports internal growth and career advancementBenefits, • Annual performance bonus opportunity, • Medical, dental, and vision insurance, • Company-paid life insurance, • Company-paid short-term and long-term disability coverage, • 401(k) retirement plan with company match, • Paid time off, • Paid holidays, • Employee referral program, • Career development and advancement opportunitiesWork Environment This position is based within a fast-paced food manufacturing environment and requires regular presence on the production floor. The QA Manager must be able to work safely around production equipment, ingredients, allergens, refrigerated or freezer areas, and varying temperatures. Occasional evening, overnight, weekend, or holiday support may be required for production needs, audits, customer visits, investigations, or other operational requirements. Relocation: Relocation assistance is not available for this position. Work Authorization: Candidates must be currently authorized to work in the United States. Bridor USA is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs without regard to legally protected characteristics.
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