QA Manager in Lubbock, Texas at Red River Commodities

Red River Commodities is a leading processor of sunflower seeds and specialty grains, specializing in high-quality, nutritious food products. We pride ourselves on our sustainable practices, innovation, and commitment to delivering superior products to our customers. Our team shares core values focused on quality, innovation, responsibility, and community. We work hard, play harder, embrace authenticity, and always support one another to achieve our goals.

Location: 212 NE Loop, Lubbock, TX 79403

Position Summary

Red River Commodities is seeking an experienced and driven Quality Assurance Manager to lead food safety and quality programs across our Wild Bird Food production facilities in Lubbock, TX and Fargo, ND. This role will be based in Lubbock and serve as the primary quality leader for both locations, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, customer expectations, and company quality standards.

The Quality Assurance Manager will oversee quality systems, lead food safety initiatives, manage audits and certifications, develop quality personnel, and partner closely with Operations leadership to drive continuous improvement. The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader who thrives in a manufacturing environment and has a passion for food safety, quality management, and team development.

Key Responsibilities

Quality & Food Safety Leadership

• Develop, implement, and maintain comprehensive quality assurance and food safety programs across both wildlife production facilities.
• Lead HACCP, Preventive Controls, GMP, sanitation, and regulatory compliance programs.
• Ensure adherence to all applicable FDA, FSMA, OSHA, and customer-specific requirements.
• Maintain and continuously improve quality management systems and documentation.
• Champion a culture focused on food safety, product quality, and continuous improvement.

Multi-Site Oversight

• Provide leadership and support for quality teams in both Lubbock, TX and Fargo, ND.
• Establish consistent quality standards, procedures, and expectations across both facilities.
• Travel regularly between locations to conduct audits, provide training, and support operational initiatives.
• Collaborate with facility leadership to identify opportunities for quality and process improvements.

Audit & Regulatory Management

• Lead internal audits, mock recalls, regulatory inspections, customer audits, and third-party certification audits.
• Serve as the primary contact for food safety and quality-related audits.
• Ensure corrective and preventive actions are identified, implemented, and sustained.
• Maintain readiness for regulatory inspections and customer visits.

Quality Systems & Continuous Improvement

• Monitor quality metrics and KPIs to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
• Investigate customer complaints, product defects, and non-conformances.
• Lead root cause investigations and corrective action programs.
• Partner with Operations, Maintenance, Procurement, and Supply Chain teams to improve quality performance and product consistency.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, coach, and develop quality personnel across both facilities.
• Conduct training related to food safety, GMPs, HACCP, quality standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Provide mentorship and professional development opportunities for quality team members.
• Foster accountability, engagement, and collaboration within the quality organization.

Supplier & Customer Quality

• Support supplier qualification and raw material quality programs.
• Review supplier performance and incoming material quality trends.
• Resolve customer quality concerns and communicate effectively with customers regarding corrective actions.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Biology, Chemistry, Agriculture, Quality Management, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years of Quality Assurance experience in food manufacturing, agriculture, seed processing, or related industry.
• Minimum of 2 years of leadership experience managing quality personnel.
• Multi-site quality management experience preferred.

Technical Knowledge

• Strong understanding of:
  • HACCP
  • FSMA
  • Preventive Controls (PCQI)
  • GMPs
  • Root Cause Analysis
  • Regulatory Audits
  • Quality Management Systems
• Experience managing customer, third-party, and regulatory audits.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and quality management software.

Certifications Preferred

• PCQI Certification
• HACCP Certification
• SQF Practitioner Certification
• Certified Quality Auditor (CQA) or related certification

Physical & Travel Requirements

• Ability to work in a manufacturing and warehouse environment.
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to walk production floors, climb stairs, and conduct facility inspections.
• Travel between Fargo, ND and Lubbock, TX facilities is required, approximately 20-30% of the time.