Quality Manager in Armada, Michigan at Blake's Orchard, Inc.

Who We Are & About This Role

Since 1946, Blake’s Orchard & Cider Mill has been a cornerstone of Michigan agriculture and agritourism: an 80-year family operation with deep roots in Armada and a genuine growth ambition. Our mission is to cultivate growth in our people, our community, and our business. Blake’s Beverage Company encompasses hard cider production across multiple facilities, alongside our sweet cider business, and we hold every product we make to the highest standard of quality, safety, and craft.

Blake’s is built on three pillars: Farm, Community, and Family. Every batch we produce is an expression of what this farm stands for. Quality is not a department function at Blake’s. It is a shared responsibility that runs from raw material intake to the moment a product reaches a guest’s hand.

The Quality Manager is the leader accountable for driving a consistent, rigorous quality and safety culture across our production facilities. You will build and maintain the systems, standards, and team capability that ensure every product we make meets or exceeds the expectations of our consumers and the requirements of our regulators. You will also lead our Environmental Health & Safety programs, with an unwavering belief that all accidents are preventable.

This role has the authority to stop production and halt product launches when quality standards are not met. That authority comes with full organizational support.

If you’ve built quality systems from the ground up, led teams through hard problems, and taken genuine ownership over a program’s outcomes, we want to hear from you.

Your Role With Blake’s: Key Responsibilities

Quality Management System:

You own the system. Achievement & Accountability means we build quality in, we don’t inspect it in. Do Not Accept, Build, or Ship a Defect is the operating standard.

• Lead the development, implementation, and maintenance of the National Quality Management System (QMS) across all production sites

• Establish and enforce common processes and systems across the organization to ensure consistency regardless of location

• Develop plant quality performance metrics and associated targets; track and report KPIs to leadership

• Lead the implementation of Built-In-Quality principles as part of a Lean Manufacturing System

• Own the quality business planning process for the company

Product Quality Assurance:

Every product that leaves our facilities needs to taste right, be safe, and hold up. You are the final word.

• Oversee the entire product lifecycle from raw material sourcing through final product release

• Ensure all products meet internal quality standards and all applicable external regulations

• Lead quality activities related to the design and manufacture of new products from concept through commercialization

• Partner with R&D and product development to support new product launches with rigorous quality standards at every stage

• Oversee the identification, investigation, and resolution of field product issues and recalls; ensure corrective actions are implemented swiftly and thoroughly

Safety Culture & EHS:

Safety is the number one operating priority. Integrity & Commitment means we enforce standards without exception and hold the belief, genuinely and operationally, that all accidents are preventable.

• Establish and sustain a company culture where safety is the top priority and every team member understands that all accidents are preventable

• Lead and implement Environmental Health & Safety programs across all facilities

• Ensure strict adherence to safety protocols, regulatory requirements, and environmental standards

• Foster a proactive safety awareness culture, not a reactive compliance posture

Team Leadership & Development:

You lead a national team across multiple facilities. Teamwork & Character is how this function operates: plant quality managers report to you, and you are responsible for their development, their standards, and their results.

• Lead quality assurance managers and technicians across all production facilities

• Establish a lean, focused quality team structure with clear accountability at every level

• Provide training, mentorship, and ongoing development to ensure adherence to best practices

• Instill a sense of urgency and analytical discipline across the team, elevating the quality mindset from reactive to proactive

Continuous Improvement & Problem Solving:

Blake’s is a growth business. Learning & Innovation is a core value here, and this role is expected to model it. We move away from assumption-based problem solving toward disciplined, structured root cause analysis.

• Establish a culture of rapid response and structured root cause analysis using 8D or equivalent methodology

• Develop and implement a disciplined, standardized problem solving process across all quality issues

• Lead the development of advanced problem solving capabilities including Shainin Red X and statistical engineering approaches

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives in product quality, process efficiency, and cost reduction

• Capture closed-loop learning and best practices to be implemented into future processes and product programs

Regulatory Compliance & Supplier Quality:

Trust & Communication extends to our regulators, our suppliers, and our customers. Compliance is not a checkbox. It is a commitment.

• Ensure all products meet applicable federal, state, and local regulations including food safety, labeling, and alcohol industry-specific standards (FDA, USDA, TTB, state alcohol control boards)

• Work closely with legal and compliance teams to stay ahead of industry changes

• Collaborate with sourcing and procurement on supplier quality audits and quality agreements for raw materials and ingredients

• Partner with marketing, sales, and customer service to address quality-related consumer concerns and maintain brand consistency

Data, Reporting & Consumer Experience:

The quality function communicates clearly and owns its numbers. Passion & Positivity means we take pride in the product and bring that energy to every review, every report, and every conversation about improvement.

• Analyze quality control data and produce clear, actionable reports for leadership on product quality trends and areas for improvement

• Present findings and recommendations with transparency and a solutions-forward mindset

• Serve as the impartial voice of the customer inside the organization: represent consumer expectations at every stage of production and launch

What Great Looks Like: Qualifications

This is a senior technical and leadership role. The right candidate has built systems, led teams through complexity, and taken real ownership over quality outcomes at scale.

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Engineering, Chemistry, or a related field

• 10+ years in quality assurance or quality control in the beverage or food industry

• At least 3 years as a plant quality manager

• At least 2 years as a corporate quality director

• At least 3 years of experience in manufacturing operations leadership (plant manager, assistant plant manager, or area manager)

• Proven ability to lead, motivate, and develop cross-functional teams across multiple locations

• Strong knowledge of quality control processes including statistical process control (SPC), root cause analysis, and corrective action methodologies

• Familiarity with food safety regulations (FDA, USDA), alcohol industry standards (TTB, state alcohol control boards), and relevant EHS standards

• Strong verbal and written communication skills across all levels of the organization

Preferred:

• Six Sigma, ISO 9001, HACCP, or equivalent industry certifications

• Experience with quality management software platforms

• Background in beverage production: cider, beer, wine, spirits, or juice

How You’re Rewarded: Compensation & Benefits

Competitive base salary, performance-based incentive, 401(k) with match, full health/dental/vision benefits, PTO, and all the perks of working at one of Michigan’s most beloved farms. Full details shared during the interview process.