Quality Assurance Manager in Roanoke, Virginia at The Mennel Milling Company

Location: Mennel Milling Company – Roanoke, VA
Schedule: Full-Time, M-F, 7am-4pm; flexibility as required

At Mennel, we believe in doing right and bringing our best to our people who are helping to feed the world. We promote teamwork and recognize the individual contributions everyone plays in the overall success of the company.

In this role, you'll help sustain Mennel's tradition of excellence established in 1886 while supporting our food safety programs and mission to reliably deliver superior quality, uniformity, and service. If you're passionate about food safety, quality systems, regulatory compliance, and team leadership, this is your opportunity to make a significant impact on our operations and customers.

The ideal Quality Assurance Manager is a collaborative leader with a strong background in food safety, quality systems, regulatory compliance, and laboratory management. You are highly analytical, customer-focused, and committed to building a strong food safety culture while developing high-performing teams and driving continuous improvement.

As the Quality Assurance Manager, you will own the facility's Food Safety, Quality, and Regulatory programs while leading the Quality Assurance laboratory team. You will ensure products consistently meet customer specifications, regulatory requirements, and Mennel's high standards for quality and food safety.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading and managing the facility's Food Safety, Quality Assurance, and Regulatory programs
• Ensuring compliance with GMPs, HARPC, FSMA, GFSI, OSHA, sanitation requirements, and company food safety standards
• Maintaining an audit-ready facility and supporting customer, regulatory, corporate, and BRC audits
• Communicating critical quality, food safety, and security concerns to facility and corporate leadership
• Managing QA laboratory operations, testing programs, equipment validation, and quality data integrity
• Ensuring laboratory equipment is maintained, calibrated, and aligned with business needs
• Leading employee training, development, and performance management initiatives within the Quality organization
• Serving as leader of the Food Safety/HARPC, Recall, and Sanitation teams
• Supporting and enhancing training programs to improve employee engagement, learning, and performance
• Creating product specification cards and supporting product development activities
• Developing blending formulas to ensure products consistently meet customer specifications
• Leading root cause investigations, CAPAs, and corrective action programs through Quality Resolution Team activities
• Conducting statistical process control (SPC) analysis and monitoring quality trends
• Supporting customer communications related to quality observations, corrective actions, and product performance
• Maintaining confidentiality of customer information, specifications, and proprietary data
• Providing leadership support during the absence of key plant and quality personnel
• Executing quality and food safety strategies in partnership with the VP of Innovation & Regulatory Affairs
• Collaborating closely with Operations, Sales, Innovation, and other departments to achieve organizational goals
• Performing other duties as assigned

This position provides direct leadership and development for the facility's quality organization, including:

• Quality Supervisors
• Sanitation Supervisors
• Food Safety Coordinators
• Quality & Regulatory Operators (QROs)
• QA Technicians
• Laboratory Personnel

You will be responsible for building a strong quality culture, developing team capabilities, and ensuring accountability for food safety and quality performance.

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Cereal Science, Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Analytical Sciences, or a related field required
• Master's degree preferred

• Strong knowledge of food safety systems, quality assurance programs, and regulatory compliance requirements
• Experience leading quality and food safety programs in a food manufacturing environment
• Familiarity with flour, grain-based ingredients, milling by-products, dough systems, and related testing methods preferred
• Knowledge of cereal chemistry, analytical chemistry, food science, and statistical process control (SPC)
• Experience supporting customer audits, certification audits, and regulatory inspections
• Understanding of HARPC, HACCP, FSMA, GMPs, and GFSI requirements

• Strong leadership and employee development capabilities
• Excellent communication and customer service skills
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and root cause investigation skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and SPC software
• Strong organizational and project management abilities
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments and influence positive change
• Commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence

We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, well-being, and career growth:

• Competitive Pay
• Flexible Accrued Paid Time Off and Holiday Schedule
• Health & Wellbeing Benefits (medical, prescription, vision, dental, HSA, company-paid short-term disability, EAP, Local YMCA cost sharing, and more)
• Life Insurance
• Profit Sharing
• Career Advancement & Training Opportunities
• Rewards & Recognition Program
• Retirement Contributions (401k, etc.)
• Tuition Assistance

Apply today and help Mennel continue its tradition of delivering safe, high-quality products by leading food safety, quality, and regulatory excellence across our operations.