Overview
Quality Assurance Manager (food manufacturing) Jobs in Mobile, AL at MissionHires
Title: Quality Assurance Manager (food manufacturing)
Company: MissionHires
Location: Mobile, AL
MissionHires is seeking a Quality Assurance Manager for a dry-mix food manufacturing plant in Mobile, AL. This on-site role leads a team of 13+ across QA, Sanitation, and Housekeeping to ensure regulatory, customer, and GFSI/BRC compliance while driving a proactive food safety culture, continuous improvement, and audit readiness. The ideal candidate brings deep USDA/FDA knowledge, hands-on plant leadership, and strong auditing and HACCP/FSMA expertise. No beverage backgrounds.
How You'll Contribute
- Champion a proactive quality and food safety culture; partner with plant leadership for accountability and compliance
- Own audit readiness; establish internal audit patterns, corrective actions, and annual program reviews to GFSI/BRC/AIB and customer standards
- Prepare for and host third-party, customer, USDA, and FDA audits/inspections; act as primary regulatory contact
- Integrate HACCP and FSMA preventive controls into production processes; maintain risk-based programs
- Lead root cause analysis and preventive actions for customer complaints and production nonconformances
- Enhance sanitation and GMP programs; ensure housekeeping and sanitation standards are consistently met
- Oversee daily QA and lab activities, including microbiological, chemical, and organoleptic testing; facility inspections; inventory management
- Manage QA documentation and records (SSOP, SOP, HACCP, internal audits, chemical/micro)
- Hire, coach, schedule, and develop QA and Sanitation teams; drive performance management and accountability
- Establish and manage Quality department budget; monitor MBOs/KPIs and report performance
- Collaborate cross-functionally to implement continuous improvement and data-driven quality initiatives
- Maintain lab inventory and ensure availability of testing supplies
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Quality Assurance & Food Safety
What Makes You a Great Fit
- Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s preferred
- 10+ years of food industry experience with 5+ years in quality management within food manufacturing (dry mix preferred)
- Hands-on experience with GFSI schemes; BRC preferred (SQF or equivalent considered)
- Demonstrated USDA and FDA regulatory knowledge; experience hosting inspections
- Certified Internal Auditor with proven auditing experience
- Strong command of HACCP and FSMA preventive controls
- Proven people leadership managing 10+ team members across QA/Sanitation/Housekeeping
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, communication, and organizational skills
- Cross-functional collaboration experience and influence skills
- Experience with document management systems and supplier quality programs preferred
- Six Sigma certification (Green/Black Belt or equivalent) a plus
- Ability to work on-site in a plant environment, including exposure to allergens, odors, -30°F blast freezer and 100°F cook room; lift up to 15 lbs; prolonged computer work
- Willingness to travel up to 10%
- No beverage manufacturing backgrounds
