Visalia, CA
The Quality Manager is responsible for establishing, maintaining and continuously improving the quality management system across the facility. This role ensures that all Vita-Pakt products meet internal quality standards, customer requirements, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices. The Quality Manager will lead the quality team, collaborate with operations, R&D, supply chain, and drive a strong quality culture throughout the organization.
Key Responsibilities
Develop, implement and maintain the quality management system (QMS) — including standard operating procedures (SOPs), quality plans, inspection programs, product quality specifications and controls.
Oversee incoming materials quality, in-process quality checks and finished product quality to ensure that the company’s products meet defined quality attributes (e.g., flavor profile, solids, pulp, oil content for juices; moisture, particle size, purity for dry peels). (Specific product types reflect Vita-Pakt’s product lines.)
Work with R&D and operations on new product introductions and process changes to ensure quality requirements are embedded from design through dispatch.
Lead, coordinate and perform internal audits of quality systems, production processes, packaging, labelling, supplier audits, and ensure corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs) are effective.
Ensure quality metrics are defined, monitored, and reported (e.g., non-conformances, scrap/rework ratios, customer complaints, supplier defects, audit findings).
Manage customer quality issues, complaints, non-conforming product investigations, root-cause analysis, and drive corrective/preventive action and continuous improvement.
Collaborate with the supply chain/procurement team to qualify suppliers of raw materials (fruit, concentrate, pulp, oils), packaging materials and ancillary inputs, and oversee vendor performance relative to quality.
Train, mentor and manage quality assurance and quality control personnel; develop a high-performance team and promote quality-first thinking; work cross-functionally with operations, maintenance, sanitation, food safety and logistics.
Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of regulatory requirements (e.g., domestic/international food manufacturing regulations, specifications for citrus ingredient processing) and industry standards. Ensure that product quality systems remain compliant with applicable standards.
Support the continuous improvement initiatives (lean, Six Sigma, root cause elimination) to reduce defects, improve yield, optimise processes, reduce variation and enhance product quality.
Participate in management reviews and help define quality policy, objectives and strategy for the site.
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