Job Description

Quality Assurance Manager – Food Manufacturing Startup Facility

Williamsport, PA | On-Site

Build Something from the Ground Up

We are seeking a hands-on, high-impact Quality Assurance Manager to play a critical leadership role in launching and scaling a brand-new food manufacturing operation. This is a unique opportunity for someone who thrives in startup environments, enjoys building systems and teams from scratch, and wants to make a lasting impact on food safety, quality, and operational excellence.

In this role, you will lead all quality and food safety initiatives within the facility, overseeing QA operations across all shifts while partnering closely with production, sanitation, and plant leadership teams. You will be instrumental in establishing a culture centered around quality, accountability, continuous improvement, and compliance.

This position offers the opportunity to take ownership of the entire QA function in a fast-paced, growth-oriented manufacturing environment.

What You’ll Do

Lead the Quality Function

• Manage and oversee all quality assurance operations, including QA Leads and Technicians across multiple shifts
• Build, train, mentor, and develop a high-performing quality team
• Establish and maintain strong quality systems, SOPs, and compliance programs
• Drive a culture focused on food safety, operational excellence, and accountability

Food Safety & Compliance Leadership

• Ensure full compliance with HACCP, GMP, SQF, PCQI, FDA, USDA, Organic, and food safety standards
• Serve as the site SQF Practitioner and lead all SQF-related programs, validation, verification, and employee training initiatives
• Own all customer, third-party, FDA/USDA, organic, and SQF audits, including corrective action management
• Review and oversee all food safety and quality documentation and reporting

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with production, warehouse, and sanitation teams to maintain facility cleanliness and operational compliance
• Identify quality risks, implement corrective actions, and drive root-cause analysis initiatives
• Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on quality, efficiency, and operational performance

Operational & Consumer Quality Management

• Oversee consumer complaint investigations, trend analysis, and root-cause determination
• Serve as the lead decision-maker regarding product holds, releases, and recall coordination
• Utilize statistical analysis and data interpretation to improve product quality and process performance

What We’re Looking For

• 5–8+ years of Quality Assurance and Food Safety experience within a food manufacturing environment
• Prior leadership experience managing direct reports and cross-functional teams
• Strong technical knowledge of HACCP, GMP, food manufacturing, and quality systems
• Experience leading audits and regulatory inspections
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with experience performing root-cause analysis
• Proficiency working with spreadsheets, data analysis, and laboratory equipment
• Excellent communication, leadership, and organizational skills
• Knowledge of microbiology and food formulation is a plus

Education

• Bachelor’s degree preferred/not required

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

• Rare opportunity to help launch and shape a startup manufacturing facility
• High visibility and direct impact on operations and company growth
• Ability to build systems, processes, and culture from the ground up
• Collaborative, entrepreneurial environment with significant growth potential

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