Job Description
Crescent Foods, the leading premium halal poultry and beef producer in the US, is hiring a Quality Assurance Manager to oversee its comprehensive QA operations at the Chicago manufacturing facility. The company specializes in antibiotic-free, hormone-free, vegetarian-fed poultry and grass-fed Angus beef, all hand-cut and halal-certified.
Role Overview
Lead the QA department as a hands-on manager overseeing supervisors, leads, and technicians to ensure food safety, sanitation, and regulatory compliance across all plant operations.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and manage comprehensive training programs ensuring staff competency in food safety practices and product legality compliance
- Handle customer service coordination and cross-departmental complaint resolution
- Establish and manage incoming material inspection criteria and verification procedures
- Conduct daily SQF (Safe Quality Food) monitoring including verification, validation, internal audits, and detailed record-keeping
- Schedule and lead food safety and HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) team meetings with cross-departmental participation
- Oversee sanitation procedures, develop and manage the master sanitation schedule
- Manage the QA microbiological testing program and coordinate with external laboratories
- Supervise and lead all QA team members at every organizational level
- Direct pest control activities and monitoring programs throughout the facility
- Provide training to plant-wide employees on GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices), HACCP procedures, and allergen control
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree (required)
- Minimum 5 years of supervisory experience with direct report responsibilities
- 5+ years of QA management experience in food industry (preferred)
- SQF Practitioner Certification and completed HACCP training (required)
- Mandatory background in poultry or meat handling
- R&D experience required
- Strong analytical, communication, and leadership capabilities
- Proficiency with standard business office software