Quality Assurance Manager

Winland Foods is seeking a results-driven Quality Assurance Manager to lead food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance programs within our fast-paced private label manufacturing environment. This role is responsible for ensuring products consistently meet customer specifications, regulatory requirements, and company quality standards while fostering a culture of continuous improvement. The Quality Assurance Manager will partner closely with Operations, Supply Chain, and Customer teams to drive food safety initiatives, manage audits and inspections, oversee quality systems, and lead a team dedicated to delivering safe, high-quality products to consumers. The ideal candidate is a collaborative leader with strong technical expertise in food manufacturing, proven experience managing quality programs, and a passion for excellence in a customer-focused environment. Employee Type: Full time Location: IL Elk Grove Job Type: Quality Job Posting Title: Quality Assurance Manager Job Description: Schedule: Primarily days, but must be flexible. This position supports a 24/7 plant operation. Work Location: 1325 Chase Ave, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 Salary, based on experience and other qualifications: $93k - $138k with additional bonus potential Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k) with match, STD/LTD/AD&D/Life, HSA, FSA, EAP, Hospital indemnity, Accident Insurance, Identity and Fraud Protection Plan, Legal, and Critical Illness. Essential Functions, Duties and Responsibilities: • Develop and manage processes and procedures for plant quality improvements. • Oversee day to day activities and manage quality department. • Develop metrics to measure effectiveness/progress in production quality procedures. • Review and summarize data to understand trends and issues and to make decisions related to product safety and quality in areas of assigned responsibility. • Assure the accurate reporting of all relevant department data and activities • Provide support and decision making in managing situations and issues relative to quality and/or food safety as necessary. • Assure that direct reports are adequately trained to conduct their jobs • Leads FDA, BRC and customer audits • Coach and counsel direct reports in their performance and professional development. • Conduct internal audits of Quality and Food Safety programs • Maintain and communicate knowledge of current regulations on appropriate product technology. • Responsible for reporting any food safety issues to supervision. • Safely and accurately perform all duties as required for this position to ensure the safety and quality of our products. • All other duties as assigned. Knowledge and Critical Skill Requirements: • Bachelor of Science in Food Science or related field. • 7+ years of food industry experience in QA • 3-5 years of department leadership • Knowledge of food safety, food manufacturing processes, technologies or other relevant area of responsibility • Knowledge of FDA and USDA specification regulations and documentation requirements. • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal) • Knowledge of thermal processes • Understanding of food safety and allergens Preferred: • Contract Manufacturing experience • TPM experience​ • SAP experience Physical Demands: • Must be able to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. • Must be able to perform the following: standing, climbing, pulling, and or pushing, carrying, grasping, reaching, twisting, turning and stooping. • Ability to walk and/or stand for extended periods of time. • Good physical condition with the ability to lift up to 50 lbs frequently. • Good hand/eye coordination, motor skills, 20/20 corrected vision and hearing within the normal range. Environmental, Health and Safety Requirements: • Must wear all required personal protection equipment associated with specific manufacturing work environment and job duties as stated in the Employee Handbook, posted policies, or as assigned by leadership personnel. • Maintain clean and safe working environment and follow all safety policies and procedures, such as lock out/tag out, safe lifting techniques, and all others as instructed. • Inform Management of any food safety or quality issues or of any processes which become noncompliant with specified requirements. Food Safety: • Notify supervision of any repairs or adjustments that are required. • Understand, observe, and comply with the handling and usage of the color-coded container policy while in the Production Areas. • Perform all duties necessary to meet Company, Customer and/or Government requirements/standards as prioritized by the Company. • Ability to initiate action to prevent the occurrence of nonconformities relating to Food Safety and the Quality of the product, processes, quality system, or safety system. • Identify and record any problems relating to Food Safety and the Quality of the ingredients, processes, quality system, or safety system. • Controls further processing or delivery of nonconforming product in terms of Food Safety and Quality issues until the deficiency or unsatisfactory condition has been corrected. EEO Statement: Winland Foods seeks to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool, and as a global company we believe our success is enhanced by fostering equity and inclusion in the workplace. Therefore, Winland Foods is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military or veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law.