JK Executive Strategies
Quality Assurance Manager
North Kingstown, RI
JK Executive Strategies is proud to partner with a leading producer of fresh-cut fruits and vegetables and prepared foods in search of a Quality Assurance Manager to join its team! The Quality Assurance Manager is a critical leadership role responsible for ensuring strict compliance with all food safety and quality standards to protect public health, exceed customer expectations, and meet regulatory and company requirements. As a practitioner of SQF, the QA Manager will champion a culture of continuous improvement, food safety, and quality throughout the facility, partnering closely with Sanitation and cross-functional teams. This hands-on leader will train, mentor, and manage QA staff, lead internal audits, respond to customer concerns, and drive compliance with all relevant programs including HACCP, GMPs, and microbiological testing.
Responsibilities
Salary Range
JK Executive Strategies is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of JK Executive Strategies to provide equal opportunity in employment and conditions of employment to all individuals regardless of age, race, color, religious beliefs, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, veteran or military status, disability, pregnancy-related condition, predisposing genetic characteristics, genetic information, marital status, familial status, prior arrest, domestic violence victim status, non-job related convictions, participation in lawful activities outside of our workplace, or any other status protected by law.
North Kingstown, RI
JK Executive Strategies is proud to partner with a leading producer of fresh-cut fruits and vegetables and prepared foods in search of a Quality Assurance Manager to join its team! The Quality Assurance Manager is a critical leadership role responsible for ensuring strict compliance with all food safety and quality standards to protect public health, exceed customer expectations, and meet regulatory and company requirements. As a practitioner of SQF, the QA Manager will champion a culture of continuous improvement, food safety, and quality throughout the facility, partnering closely with Sanitation and cross-functional teams. This hands-on leader will train, mentor, and manage QA staff, lead internal audits, respond to customer concerns, and drive compliance with all relevant programs including HACCP, GMPs, and microbiological testing.
Responsibilities
- Lead, train, and mentor QA Technicians and supervisory staff in GMPs, CCP monitoring, and food safety best practices.
- Manage and resolve all customer complaints, acting as a key liaison to customers and quality stakeholders.
- Oversee the Test & Hold Program, microbiological sampling, shelf-life documentation, and trend analysis.
- Write and maintain product, raw material, and customer specifications.
- Conduct internal facility audits and ensure compliance with regulatory and third-party audit requirements.
- Lead annual mock recalls and support traceability standards in line with customer expectations.
- Manage the pest control program and coordinate with external service providers.
- Monitor and continually improve GMPs, Food Safety Programs, and quality assurance systems.
- Support and, when necessary, act on behalf of the Director of Food Safety & QA.
- Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Biology, Chemistry, Ag Business/Crop Science, or equivalent experience (minimum 8 years in food manufacturing QA).
- Formal HACCP and PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual) training.
- SQF certification and experience promoting food safety culture.
- Lean Six Sigma Green or Black Belt certification preferred.
- Deep knowledge of HACCP, GMPs, pest control, food sanitation, and regulatory requirements (FDA & USDA).
- Demonstrated experience with customer complaint resolution and specification management.
- Proven success developing and implementing microbiological testing programs, SOPs, audits, and food safety protocols.
- Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Access; working knowledge of Good Laboratory Practices (GLP).
- Strong oral and written communication skills; bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.
- Comfortable enforcing safety and PPE policies in compliance with OSHA standards.
Salary Range
- $120-125k
JK Executive Strategies is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of JK Executive Strategies to provide equal opportunity in employment and conditions of employment to all individuals regardless of age, race, color, religious beliefs, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, veteran or military status, disability, pregnancy-related condition, predisposing genetic characteristics, genetic information, marital status, familial status, prior arrest, domestic violence victim status, non-job related convictions, participation in lawful activities outside of our workplace, or any other status protected by law.