Manager, Quality & Food Safety

Work Location: ​Forest Park​

Due to the highly interactive and team-based nature of this role, in-person attendance for most of the workweek (i.e., 3 days or more) is essential for: effective communication including during in-person meetings, strong supervision, real-time problem-solving, and participation in cross-functional initiatives.

Want to make an impact?

The Manager, Quality Assurance provides leadership, direction, and oversight to the plant facility.  This role exists to ensure the plant delivers the required and highest standards of quality and food safety according to Ferrara policies, procedures, and practices and to ensure all measures of Food Safety and Good Manufacturing Practices are in place. The Manager, Quality Assurance will also coordinate the implementation of quality activities on site through deployment of cross-functional methods of work. Monitor the performance of equipment and processes; identify, troubleshoot and resolve recurring problems, either with the quality of the product or the reliability of testing procedures.

Ways you will make a difference

•    Manages, trains, coaches, and develops direct quality staff
•    Creates and manages QA/Food Safety technical and compliance system to assure food safety by creating, maintaining, updating, evaluating, and auditing all programs and  policies. 
•    Ensures implementation and continuity of all key traceability, inspection, program management, vendor management, and microbial program metrics are established and delivered using established metrics and Key Performance Indicators.
•    Manage/lead quality upgrade of facilities to obtain compliance improvement as necessary.
•    Implement Standard Operating Procedures as required 
•    Implement raw material and finished product testing program
•    Develop vendor qualification programs
•    Conduct Food Safety Audits with third party inspectors as well as perform internal quality audits in all facilities and implement correction actions based on audit results
•    Manage lot traceability of raw materials
•    Mitigate risk associated with cross-contamination between production runs

Skills that will make you successful

•    Defining, establishing and providing clear directions and vision to team members
•    Demonstrated analytic, problem solving and decision-making skills
•    Strong written and verbal communication skills
 

Experiences that will support your success

•    Bachelor's Degree in Food Science, Microbiology, or other relevant degree and substantial experience in quality and food safety
•    5 plus years of relevant industry experience within food or pharmaceutical industry 
•    Strong computer skills including proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite
•    Team builder with ability to coach, mentor, and develop Supervisors and team members
•    Ability to build strong working partnerships with operations, corporate, and human resources partners
•    HAACP Certification preferred
•    FSSC Lead Auditor training preferred
•    Strong knowledge of manufacturing, sanitation practices, HACCP, BRC, GMP’s and SSOP’s.  
•    Strong working knowledge of Continuous Process Improvement principles
 

What We Offer

At Ferrara, we’re proud to support our employees by providing comprehensive benefits such as health insurance, dental insurance, a 401(k), and paid time off (PTO).  Eligible employees may also receive an annual bonus based on company performance. Learn more about our benefits at https://flimp.live/Ferrara-Candy-2025-OE-QR

Compensation

$102,075-142,905 annually