Sr Manager Quality Assurance

Del Monte Fresh Produce Company Inc. is a global leader in fresh fruits and vegetables, delivering quality products from farm to table. With a strong commitment to safety, sustainability, and operational excellence, we take pride in supporting our people and investing in the teams that keep our operations running safely and efficiently every day.

Benefits We Offer Include:

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Employer‑paid life & disability insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• 7 Company Paid Holidays
• 24/7 Telemedicine & Employee Assistance Program
• Optional voluntary benefits (legal, accident, identity protection)
• Eligibility on the first of the month following your hire date

Purpose of Position:

The Senior Quality Assurance Manager is responsible for providing leadership, oversight, support, and coordination of food safety, quality assurance and technical activities for the Plover facility and the Rochelle, IL distribution center. This role supports full compliance with company policies and procedures, food safety modernization requirements, regulatory standards, customer requirements, and internal quality systems.

The Senior Quality Assurance Manager serves as a key member of the plant leadership team and works closely with operations, maintenance, sanitation, warehousing, customer service, supply chain, and corporate quality teams to support food safety, quality systems, sanitation, audits, product disposition, traceability, training, and continuous improvement efforts. This position reports to the Senior Director of Food Safety and Quality.

Accountabilities:

Food Safety & Quality Systems

• Lead quality assurance and safety programs for the Plover facility and Rochelle Distribution Center.
• Coordinate implementation of company quality standards, food safety programs, and technical services requirements.
• Maintain compliance with local, state, federal, customer, and company food safety and quality requirements.
• Oversee HACCP, FSMA, GMP, sanitation, allergen, food defense, traceability, and recall programs.
• Manage product hold, disposition, corrective action, root cause investigation, and complaint resolution processes.
• Review and approve quality procedures, specifications, forms, records, and work instructions.
• Lead plant quality system reviews and monitor progress against quality objectives and action plans.
• Facilitate internal audits, customer audits, regulatory inspections, and third-party audits including BRCGS, SQF, AIB, and customer-specific standards.
• Coordinate mock recalls, traceability exercises, annual quality reviews, and audit readiness activities.
• Monitor non-conformances, quality alerts, food safety incidents, and corrective action follow-up.
• Review label copy, packaging graphics, and specification documentation for accuracy and compliance.
• Support supplier quality, co-pack quality, private label requirements, and vendor compliance activities.
• Partner with operations teams on product launches, process changes, commissioning activities, and new equipment validation.
• Maintain current product specifications, grading standards, quality metrics, and documentation systems.
• Coordinate and supervise warehouse staffing levels to support operational requirements and budget targets.

Leadership and Supervision

• Lead, coach, and develop a high‑performing FSQ team, ensuring strong technical capability, accountability, and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Provide clear direction and daily leadership to FSQ supervisors, specialists, and technicians to ensure consistent execution of food safety and quality programs across all shifts.
• Build a proactive, ownership‑driven culture by empowering teams to identify risks, escalate issues early, and drive corrective and preventive actions.
• Partner closely with Operations, Sanitation, Maintenance, and Supply Chain leaders to align priorities, resolve issues, and strengthen cross‑functional collaboration.
• Oversee staffing, training, and competency development to ensure the FSQ team is audit‑ready, compliant, and capable of supporting a fast‑paced manufacturing environment.
• Model strong leadership behaviors-communication, integrity, decision‑making, and calm under pressure-while fostering a safe, inclusive, and high‑trust work environment.

Continuous Improvement and Compliance

• Drive continuous improvement efforts related to food safety, product quality, sanitation, audit readiness, and customer satisfaction.
• Identify trends, analyze data, and develop action plans to reduce complaints, defects, holds, and non-conformances.
• Support implementation of Del Monte Production Systems (DMPS) and other lean manufacturing initiatives.
• Monitor key performance indicators and communicate results to plant leadership.
• Participate in plant startup, commissioning, capital project, and process improvement activities.
• Maintain current knowledge of food safety regulations, industry trends, audit standards, and emerging quality risks.
• Support training programs related to GMPs, HACCP, food safety, sanitation, quality systems, and regulatory compliance.
• safe operation of powered industrial equipment and warehouse machinery.

Minimum Skills Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Biology, Chemistry, Agricultural Sciences or a related field.
• Strong knowledge of GMPs, HACCP, FSMA, GFSI, BRCGS, SQF, AIB, sanitation, allergen control, traceability, and food defense programs.
• PCQI certification required or ability to obtain.
• Strong understanding of food manufacturing quality systems, audits, regulatory compliance, and customer requirements.
• Ability to lead, coach, motivate, and develop employees in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong communication, organizational, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively with all levels of employees, leadership, customers, vendors, auditors, and regulatory agencies.
• Strong analytical and decision-making skills with the ability to identify trends, solve problems, and drive corrective actions.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Familiarity with SAP, specification systems, traceability systems, and quality management software.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English effectively.

Preferred:

• 7-10 years of quality assurance experience in a food manufacturing environment.
• Better Process Control School certification preferred.
• Previous leadership experience within quality assurance, food safety, or regulatory functions.
• Experience supporting distribution centers, warehousing, and finished goods quality programs.
• Experience with product disposition, complaint management, audit leadership, supplier quality, and specification systems.
• Familiarity with co-pack operations, private label programs, and customer-specific quality requirements.
• Experience with lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and cross-functional project leadership.
• Please note: This position does not qualify for relocation expenses. *

Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. is a global leader in the production, distribution, and marketing of fresh and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables. Our diverse product portfolio also includes prepared fruits and vegetables, juices, beverages, snacks, and desserts-available in over 80 countries worldwide. With operations spanning more than 35 countries, we've proudly been nourishing families for over 135 years.

We are committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Fresh Del Monte and its affiliates do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We also participate in E-Verify* where applicable, to ensure employment authorization eligibility. Driven by our core values-Excellence, Care, Passion, Trust, and Creativity-we invite you to explore our career opportunities and join our FRESH team.