Quality Manager

The Role:  
We are seeking an experienced and driven Quality Manager to lead our Quality efforts at our state-of-the-art food manufacturing plant in Thornton, CO. This individual will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of quality across our 24/7 operations, including fermentation, food production, and packaging. The Quality Manager will manage a team of quality technicians and play a key leadership role in maintaining food safety, regulatory compliance, and product integrity.

Responsibilities:

• Develop, implement, and maintain robust Quality Management Systems (QMS) aligned with industry best practices and regulatory standards (FDA, USDA, SQF, GMP, HACCP, etc.).

• Provide hands-on leadership to a team of Quality Technicians across all shifts; ensure adequate QA coverage for 24/7 operations.

• Monitor and analyze production and quality data to identify trends, drive continuous improvement, and ensure product specifications are met.

• Own and oversee all internal and third-party audits; drive corrective and preventive action (CAPA) processes.

• Collaborate closely with Production, Sanitation, Maintenance, and R&D teams to ensure cross-functional alignment on quality initiatives.

• Maintain current knowledge of food safety regulations and ensure compliance with all relevant federal, state, and local laws.

• Support and improve traceability, lot control, and documentation systems to enable rapid response to any quality or recall events.

• Investigate and resolve customer complaints and non-conformance issues with a focus on root cause analysis.

• Train, coach, and develop quality team members and broader staff on food safety and quality practices.

• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent experience, in Food Science, Microbiology, Biology, Chemistry, or a related field

• 5+ years of progressive quality experience in a food manufacturing environment, with at least 2 years in a leadership role.

• Strong knowledge of fermentation processes is highly preferred.

• Experience in food packaging quality and compliance.

• Proficient in GMP, HACCP, SQF, FSMA, and food safety audits.

• Familiarity with data-driven decision-making, SPC, and quality metrics tracking.

• Excellent communication and leadership skills with the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, round-the-clock production environment.

• Ability to build trust and influence cross-functional teams toward quality goals.

Preferred Qualifications:

• HACCP and PCQI certification.

• Experience with root cause analysis tools (5 Whys, Fishbone, etc.).

• Hands-on experience with lab testing, sensory evaluation, or microbiological analysis.

• Lean Six Sigma or other continuous improvement training a plus.

**Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Meati™ we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.** 
 

Compensation:  
The base salary range for this role is $100,000 - $130,000 annually, dependent on skills and experience.