Quality & Safety Manager

This role manages and maintains the Enterprise Quality Management System, leads internal and external audits, supports certifications and regulatory readiness, and independently verifies that requirements are implemented effectively. Quality is the primary focus of the position, particularly food quality and food safety. The position has no direct reports and works through operational leaders, department leaders, the Quality Team, supervisors, committees, and external subject-matter experts.

Essential Functions

1. Manages and maintains VARC’s Enterprise Quality Management System across locations and business lines, including production, food-related packaging, Class I medical-device work, services, transportation, childcare, employment and day services, and other applicable functions.

2. Maintains the integrity of quality systems, standards, controlled documentation, records, and governance while ensuring document owners remain responsible for developing and updating their procedures.

3. Leads external customer, certification, and regulatory audits independently; coordinates audit readiness, responses, corrective actions, and follow-through.

4. Owns the internal audit program, personally conducts or leads internal audits, and coordinates trained internal auditors when appropriate.

5. Manages and maintains applicable ISO 9001 systems and supports enterprise standardization, using outside expertise for implementation, specialized interpretation, or system design when appropriate.

6. Provides oversight of applicable food safety, GMP, customer-specific, and Class I medical-device quality requirements; identifies gaps and coordinates specialized regulatory expertise when needed.

7. Owns governance of the customer complaint, quality incident, and corrective and preventive action processes. Determines when CAPA is required, coordinates and verifies investigations, identifies required actions and due dates, approves closure, and verifies effectiveness as appropriate. Operations remains responsible for determining root causes and executing corrective actions.

8. Provides quality oversight of supplier requirements and issues while Purchasing and Operations retain responsibility for supplier management.

9. Facilitates quality management review.

10. Ensures training and competency systems and documentation satisfy applicable SQF, ISO, food-safety, customer, and regulatory requirements. Monitors completion of required quality, food-safety, and related training while department leaders remain responsible for employee training and competency.

11. Has independent authority to place product or processes on hold when a quality, food-safety, regulatory, or safety concern warrants. Release of held product or processes requires joint agreement between Quality and the responsible operational leader, with unresolved disagreements escalated to executive leadership.

12. Prepares supporting information and recommendations for quality-related regulatory reports or notifications. Significant regulatory submissions require approval by the President/CEO or Chief Operating Officer.

13. Provides formal quality support for customer communication involving complaints, corrective actions, audit findings, and other significant quality matters. Sales and Operations remain the primary contacts for routine customer communication.

14. Oversees existing safety systems, tracks applicable requirements and obligations, monitors audits and corrective actions, identifies gaps, and escalates incomplete or inadequate follow-through. Operations leads safety incident investigations and corrective-action execution.

15. Participates in the Corporate Safety Committee and may serve on other assigned committees, focus groups, or improvement teams.

16. Coordinates effectively with General Managers, Operations Managers, department leaders, supervisors, the Quality Team, customers, auditors, regulators, suppliers, and external resources.

17. Travels among VARC locations as needed for audits, certification activities, system support, and issue response.

18. Accepts other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Exceptional attention to detail, organization, recordkeeping, and documentation skills.

• Ability to independently lead audits and professionally represent VARC with customers, certification bodies, regulators, suppliers, and external experts.

• Ability to interpret standards and translate requirements into practical, maintainable systems and expectations.

• Sound judgment regarding when an issue can be addressed internally and when specialized outside expertise is required.

• Ability to influence decisions, coordinate work, and drive accountability without direct supervisory authority.

• Strong written and verbal communication, analytical, planning, prioritization, and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to work independently while partnering effectively across multiple locations, functions, and levels of the organization.

• Bachelor’s degree in quality, food science, safety, engineering, business, or a related field preferred. An equivalent combination of applicable education, training, and practical experience will be considered.

• Relevant education or experience in quality, compliance, safety, auditing, food safety, manufacturing, regulated operations, or a related field.

• Experience working within a formal quality management system or audited environment preferred but not required.

• Food manufacturing or food-safety quality experience preferred but not required.

• Prior people-management experience is not required.

• No certifications are required at hire. The employee must obtain HACCP, PCQI, applicable SQF Practitioner training, and OSHA 30-hour training after hire within timelines established by VARC.

• Ability and willingness to travel among VARC locations as business needs require.

• Ability to embrace VARC’s mission and work effectively in an organization serving individuals with disabilities or other barriers.