Job Details: Job Location: OKC - Headquarters - OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, Position Type: Full Time, Education Level: 4 Year Degree, Salary Range: Undisclosed, The Quality Assurance Manager is responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining the facility’s quality and food safety systems to ensure compliance with regulatory, customer, and certification requirements. This role provides both strategic and tactical leadership to drive continuous improvement in food safety, product quality, sanitation, and regulatory compliance within a bakery manufacturing environment.   ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES   The Quality Assurance Manager is accountable for the effective management of quality and food safety programs, including but not limited to the following:   Food Safety & Quality Systems   Develop, implement, review, and maintain the facility’s food safety and quality management systems in accordance with BRC, FSMA, HACCP, HARPC, and prerequisite programs   Serve as the site owner of the food safety management system and ensure ongoing compliance with certification and regulatory standards   Administer and maintain validation, verification, and documentation programs required by FSMA and BRC   Lead the BRC training program, including employee training, verification, and recordkeeping   Regulatory & Audit Management   Lead and coordinate BRC certification audits, customer audits, and regulatory inspections   Serve as the primary point of contact for regulatory and certification bodies, including FDA, AIB, and third-party auditors   Ensure timely completion of corrective and preventive actions resulting from audits, inspections, and internal findings   Monitor changes in regulations, customer requirements, and industry standards and communicate updates to leadership   Risk Management & Continuous Improvement   Identify conditions and practices that could result in food safety risks, injury, property damage, chemical release, business interruption, or regulatory non-compliance   Coordinate Management of Change (MOC) reviews for new or modified products, ingredients, equipment, and processes, including HACCP and risk assessments   Evaluate existing and proposed quality systems and risk mitigation strategies to ensure effectiveness and continuous improvement   Partner with manufacturing and operations teams to improve process efficiency, product quality, and food safety outcomes   Operational Support & Oversight   Provide direct support to operations, quality, and sanitation personnel to ensure consistent application of food safety, GMP, and sanitation requirements   Address sanitation and GMP deviations promptly and lead corrective action and employee retraining efforts   Oversee the customer complaint management program, including investigation, root cause analysis, and corrective actions   Conduct monthly self-inspections and internal audits; document findings and drive corrective actions to completion   Safety & Incident Management   Identify and report safety hazards and nonconformances   Partner with the HR Business Partner and Operations to investigate injuries and safety incidents, perform root cause analysis, and implement corrective actions   Participate in and support the facility’s Food Safety Committee and HACCP team meetings   SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES   The Quality Assurance Manager has direct supervisory responsibility for the Quality Assurance and Sanitation departments. This role is responsible for training, coaching, and developing employees, including onboarding, cross-training, and ongoing compliance training. The position regularly communicates with the Plant Manager and senior leadership regarding product quality, food safety, sanitation, inventory discrepancies, and regulatory compliance issues. Qualifications: Extensive knowledge of food safety and quality systems, including BRC, HACCP, HARPC, FSMA, and prerequisite programs   SQF Certification required   Strong understanding of FDA regulations, third-party audit standards, and customer quality requirements   Knowledge of food laboratory testing methods, environmental monitoring programs, and statistical process control techniques   Demonstrated ability to lead and sustain a strong food safety and quality culture   Strong analytical, problem-solving, and root cause analysis skills   Effective written and verbal communication skills for training, reporting, and regulatory documentation   Self-motivated and results-oriented, with the ability to manage priorities independently   Strong collaboration and team leadership skills   EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE   Education:   Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Microbiology, Chemistry, or a related field required   Experience:   Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in food manufacturing quality assurance or food safety   Prior experience leading plant audits and inspections, including customer, third-party, and regulatory audits   Computer Skills:   Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and quality management systems   LANGUAGE SKILLS   Ability to read, write, and communicate effectively in English for safety, regulatory, reporting, and documentation purposes.   MATHEMATICAL SKILLS   Ability to perform basic arithmetic using whole numbers and decimals. Working knowledge of units of measure including grams, ounces, and pounds. Ability to calculate and manage time intervals in days, hours, and minutes.   PHYSICAL DEMANDS (ADA COMPLIANCE)   The physical demands described are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.   This position is primarily sedentary with frequent walking throughout the facility. The employee may be required to stand, walk, reach above shoulder level, climb, squat, kneel, or bend on an occasional basis. Lifting or carrying up to 10 pounds may be required occasionally.