Job Description

Kelly Science & Clinical has an Exciting Opportunity for a Food Manufacturing Quality Assurance Manager for our growing client near St. Louis, MO

Full-time

Direct-hire

We’re looking for an experienced, forward-thinking Quality Assurance Manager to lead the charge in ensuring top-tier food safety and quality standards at our Central Kitchen. This hands-on, dynamic role is essential for maintaining compliance with industry regulations, fostering continuous product development, and driving excellence in everything from food safety to customer satisfaction.

How You’ll Make an Impact:

As the heart of our quality assurance team, your responsibilities will include:

Ensuring Food Safety Compliance:

• Lead the charge in maintaining cutting-edge food safety programs that meet and exceed federal and state regulations, including HACCP, HARPC, FSMA, GMPs, SOPs, and SSOPs.

• Keep our Food Safety Plan fresh, thorough, and effective, ensuring all required documentation (vendor certifications, hazard analysis, pest control, environmental monitoring, etc.) is always up-to-date.

• Own the responsibility of managing logs and records, ensuring compliance is maintained at all times.

Training and Development:

• Take pride in mentoring and educating Associates and Managers, ensuring food safety, quality, and sanitation are always top of mind.

• Play an integral role in onboarding new team members, delivering vital food-handling and safety education, and creating a culture of excellence.

Driving Product Quality & Development:

• Partner with Prepared Foods Managers to refine new recipes, ingredients, and production methods, taking an innovative approach to quality.

• Lead sensory taste panels, shelf-life studies, and recipe testing to ensure product consistency and the highest quality standards.

• Maintain detailed archives of testing and samples to drive data-backed improvements.

Executing Operational Standards:

• Collaborate with plant management to enforce best practices in quality assurance and sanitation.

• Investigate and resolve any food quality concerns, ensuring swift corrective actions and thorough documentation.

• Leverage systems like Eatec to maintain production efficiency and compliance.

• Audit finished products to ensure they meet our exacting standards for quality, weight, and presentation.

• Foster a work environment that embraces companies' core values, where innovation, collaboration, and inclusivity thrive.

What You Bring to the Table:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Biology, Chemistry, or a related field.

• 4+ years of experience in food service or manufacturing, with at least 2 years in a leadership or supervisory role.

• Expertise in food safety systems and regulatory frameworks (FSMA, HACCP, HARPC, GMPs, and sanitation).

• PCQI certification preferred but not required.

• A natural leader with exceptional interpersonal skills, able to coach, guide, and inspire your team.

• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to stay organized in a fast-paced, ever-evolving environment.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to work in diverse plant environments (from cold zones at 40°F to hot zones over 100°F).

• Flexibility in your schedule, with a focus on Monday to Friday, but willing to adapt during peak production periods.

Why Us?

We don’t just offer a job—we offer a chance to be part of something bigger. Here's why joining our team is an exciting opportunity:

• Comprehensive health and retirement benefits, including medical, dental, disability, and 401(k) with company match.

• Weekly pay to keep you on track financially.

• Paid time off for rest, relaxation, and those “life happens” moments.

• Employee Assistance Program to help you and your family navigate life’s challenges.

• Associate-only savings, free products, sweepstakes, bonus points, and more—because we love rewarding our team!

• Wellness initiatives, volunteer opportunities, and company events to keep you healthy, connected, and inspired.

• A culture of recognition, where your contributions and hard work are truly valued.

• Career growth and development opportunities that allow you to Grow Every Day —both professionally and personally.

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