Senior Manager, Quality Assurance

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Senior Manager, Quality Assurance based in the United States. This is a senior quality leadership role responsible for strengthening food safety, product quality, and quality management systems across a growing food organization. You will connect Quality with Supply Chain, R&D, Marketing, Sales, operations, and external manufacturing partners. The role spans the full product lifecycle, from concept and commercialization through production, distribution, and in-market performance. You will lead investigations, risk assessments, quality programs, supplier initiatives, and continuous improvement efforts. As a people leader, you will coach and develop Product Quality and Field Quality capabilities while influencing stakeholders across the business. The position offers a high level of autonomy in a fast-moving, purpose-driven, remote-first environment where sound judgment and collaboration are essential. Travel of up to 40% is expected to support co-manufacturing partners, supplier assessments, projects, and occasional company gatherings. Lead, coach, and develop the Product Quality and Field Quality team, allocating resources and strengthening technical capabilities across the function. Integrate food safety and product quality requirements across the product lifecycle, from innovation and commercialization through manufacturing and in-market performance. Manage quality risks, gaps, opportunities, and corrective actions across products, processes, systems, co-manufacturing partners, and supply chain operations. Deploy and oversee Quality Assurance programs across external manufacturing partners and functional teams while influencing Operations leadership on quality best practices. Partner closely with R&D, Marketing, Sales, Logistics, and manufacturing stakeholders to support consistent, sustainable product supply and quality improvement. Lead quality aspects of product launches, product trials, process baselines, quality attributes, specifications, and commercialization activities. Direct investigations into manufacturing, distribution, customer, and consumer quality incidents, identifying root causes and coordinating effective corrective and preventive actions. Support supplier and co-manufacturer onboarding, including facility assessments, equipment and process evaluations, sanitary design reviews, installations, testing, and commissioning. Develop and maintain the Quality Management System, including supplier approval, audit requirements, product development controls, FSMA compliance, HARPC plans, documentation, and Cost of Quality measures. Conduct food safety and quality risk assessments, support sampling programs, refine product specifications, and ensure requirements are consistently executed. Establish, track, and report Quality KPIs, using performance data to identify priorities and drive continuous improvement. Develop technical scorecards and quality standards while integrating engineering requirements and quality expectations into supplier and operational processes. Build strong cross-functional alignment around quality objectives and contribute to strategic decisions requiring independent judgment and business acumen. Requirements Bachelor's degree in Food Science or a related scientific discipline; an advanced degree is a plus. 7+ years of relevant food industry experience, preferably within consumer packaged goods (CPG), with strong exposure to product quality, food safety, and manufacturing environments. Previous leadership, management, or supervisory experience, with demonstrated ability to coach, develop, and influence teams. PCQI and/or HACCP certification, with expert knowledge of food safety, regulatory, and quality requirements. Strong understanding of plant production, food processing, quality systems, standards, policies, and continuous improvement methodologies. Demonstrated ab