The Krusteaz Company is looking for a Quality Assurance Manager to join our Manhattan, Kansas team! The Quality Assurance Manager is responsible for overseeing all plant-level quality efforts to ensure that products and processes meet or exceed company, customer, and regulatory standards for product quality and food safety. This role involves both leadership and hands-on involvement across the plant’s quality processes, including the quality lab and production floor. The manager will work closely with cross-functional teams, including Corporate QA, to ensure alignment with quality initiatives and goals. Additionally, this position plays a key role in building customer relationships and leading the resolution of quality-related issues.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage the Quality Assurance team, including hiring, training, performance management, and development.
• Oversee all foundational Food Safety and Quality programs.
• Develop and execute a site-specific strategic quality plan to meet business objectives.
• Facilitating change and leading improvement efforts.
• Collaborate with other plants’ quality teams and corporate QA to establish overall quality goals and standards.
• Align Quality department objectives with the overall plant’s goals and work closely with other departments such as Operations, Purchasing, Logistics, and R& D.
• Identify and implement quality improvement initiatives using data-driven approach within a collaborative environment.
• Ensure that food safety, security, and regulatory compliance are met through programs such as HACCP, GMP, microbial surveillance, and product protection.
• Manage plant-level quality programs, including pest control, sanitation, waste management, and chemical safety practices.
• Serve as a technical resource for internal teams, customers, and suppliers regarding quality and food safety.
• Oversee and manage plant inspections and audits (e.g., FDA, BRC, Kosher), implementing action plans as needed.
• Lead the plant’s response to quality complaints, including investigation and resolution.
• Proactively identify and mitigate food safety risks.
• Represent the Quality department in interactions with customers, sales teams, auditors, and regulatory agencies.
• Develops and monitors SOP’s for quality systems.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities may include conducting quarterly check-ins and annual reviews, interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Education and/or Experience Requirements:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals for qualified disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• B.S. in Food Science, related technical science degree, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in QA or quality-related function.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience leading quality programs in food industry preferred.
• Prior experience developing and managing critical food safety systems.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment:

This position requires working in both manufacturing and office environments. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, sit, talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone along with reaching. Specific vision abilities include close vision requirements due to computer work. Moderate noise, ability to work in a confined area, and ability to sit at a computer for an extended period of time are also included. Must be able to effectively communicate and work in a dynamic environment. You may also be on your feet for several hours a day and may be exposed to a variety of physical demands that require you to lift heavy objects, climb stairs, exert energy, bend, twist and squat and use tools and equipment in an indoor production environment that has a high level of food dust and limited climate control while wearing PPE.

• Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds regularly.
• Capable of bending, stooping, and climbing stairs and ladders as required.
• Manual dexterity for operating equipment and using tools in a manufacturing environment.
• Exposure to moderate noise, food dust, and temperature variations in a production setting while wearing PPE.

The policy of The Krusteaz Company is to hire, train, and promote all persons in all job groups in accordance with law, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital or military status, national origin, gender identity, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, genetic information, or any other status or characteristic protected by local, state, or federal law.

Get to know us:

• A people-focused company that cares: We're a 90-year-old company with the entrepreneurial spirit of a startup and a focused eye on the future. As a midsized, privately held company with a portfolio of beloved food and beverage brands, our people are the most important ingredient in our success.
• A valued and supported workforce: We place tremendous value in our employees and provide competitive pay and comprehensive benefits to ensure our employees can create the best life for themselves. Benefits include a top tier health insurance plan with lower-than-average employee cost share, generous PTO, 401(k) match, and more.
• An engaged and energized culture: At The Krusteaz Company, collaboration and ingenuity drive our fierce commitment to creating extraordinary product experiences that people love.
• A place to grow and make a difference: An entrepreneurial spirit has been at the core of our company since the beginning, attracting self-starters who are curious and love to learn and to share ideas.

Benefits: We are proud to offer generous benefits including comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance (starting at $60-$95/month for employee-only coverage on the PPO Plan or starting at $30- $45/month for employee-only coverage on the HDHP), 401(K) matching, 4 weeks of paid time off, 10 paid holidays, 1 paid personal holiday, company provided life insurance and disability insurance, flexible spending account, healthcare saving account, voluntary accident insurance, voluntary critical illness insurance, and tuition reimbursement.

We hope you'll take the time to get to know us! #KSjobs1

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.