Job Description

Job Title:Food Safety/Quality Manager

Location: Sunnyyside, WA - onsite

Duration: fulltime

Salary and Other Compensation:

The hourly rate for this position is between $130k .00/yr- $135k .00/yr .

Factors which may affect pay within this range may include geography/market, skills, education, experience, and other qualifications of the successful candidate.

• Supervise laboratory operations including staffing, equipment calibration, and testing accuracy. Maintain full authority to shut down production lines, reject raw materials, or hold products if quality or regulatory standards are compromised. Support R&D initiatives and cross-functional improvement projects in partnership with plant leadership.
• Prepare and deliver reports to corporate stakeholders regarding plant quality trends, compliance risks, and improvement initiatives.
• Act as primary site contact during audits and manage compliance for third-party certifications including SQF, Kosher, Halal, and others. Collaborate with vendors and customers on quality issues, audit results, and resolution plans.
• Drive continuous improvement and enforce best-practice manufacturing behaviors across teams.
• Must-Haves Bachelors degree in Dairy Science, Food Science, or related Scientific field.
• 3-5+ years of hands-on quality assurance experience in food or beverage manufacturing (strong preference for dairy manufacturing; cheese experience highly preferred).
• 3-5+ years of leadership experience in a plant or production environment. Demonstrated knowledge of GMPs, HACCP compliance, and food safety regulatory frameworks. Experience with dairy process controls, sanitation programs, and laboratory testing.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to halt operations when needed.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional leadership skills. Proficient with digital process controls and general PC systems.
• Plusses SQF Practitioner or similar food safety certification.
• Experience with facility expansions, modernization efforts, or operational transitions. Prior cheese manufacturing QA oversight experience (preferred but not required).
• Experience supporting Halal, Kosher, Organic, or specialty certifications.
• Must Have: Mission Darigold is seeking an experienced Senior Quality Assurance Manager to lead, improve, and oversee all plant quality and food safety systems at its Sunnyside, WA facility.
• This leader will ensure all products— specifically dairy and cheese—meet standards as well as all regulatory, compliance, and industry certifications.
• The role acts as the primary decision-maker on product release, compliance enforcement, quality investigations, and food safety strategy, while serving as a strategic partner to Plant Operations and Corporate Quality.
• Day-to-Day Lead, manage, and mentor plant QA and laboratory teams.
• Oversee sanitation initiatives and report findings with recommendations for corrective action.
• Implement, audit, and maintain all plant quality programs including GMPs, HACCP, Appendix N, pest control, weight control, master sanitation schedules, and regulatory quality systems.
• Ensure adherence to federal, state, and local food safety regulations (FDA, USDA, SQF, etc.).
• Supervise laboratory operations including staffing, equipment calibration, and testing accuracy. Maintain full authority to shut down production lines, reject raw materials, or hold products if quality or regulatory standards are compromised.
• Support R&D initiatives and cross-functional improvement projects in partnership with plant leadership.
• Prepare and deliver reports to corporate stakeholders regarding plant quality trends, compliance risks, and improvement initiatives.

Benefits:

The Company offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements: medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, life insurance, long-term disability insurance, short-term disability insurance, paid parking/public transportation, (paid time , paid sick and safe time , hours of paid vacation time, weeks of paid parental leave, paid holidays annually - AS Applicable).

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