Quality Assurance Manager

The Quality Assurance Manager is responsible for providing strategic leadership and full oversight of all food safety, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, sanitation, and documentation systems at Trinidad Seafoods Ltd.

Job Description: Quality Assurance Manager

Position Title: Quality Assurance Manager
Department: Quality Assurance & Sanitation
Reports To: Plant Manager
Supervises: QA Supervisor, Senior Sanitation Worker, Sanitation Team
Location: Freeport

Job Summary

The Quality Assurance Manager is responsible for providing strategic leadership and full oversight of all food safety, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, sanitation, and documentation systems at Trinidad Seafoods Ltd. The role ensures the effective development, implementation, monitoring, and continuous improvement of the Food Safety and Quality Management System in compliance with HACCP, GMP, GFSI standards, regulatory requirements, and customer expectations.

The Quality Assurance Manager has final authority for quality-related decisions, including product release, corrective actions, R&D approvals, specifications, labeling, and audit readiness. This role works closely with Production, R&D, and Management to ensure consistent compliance and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Quality System Leadership

• Develop, implement, maintain, and continuously improve the Food Safety and Quality Management System.
• Establish, update, and enforce HACCP plans, GMP programs, prerequisite programs, SOPs, and quality policies.
• Ensure full compliance with all regulatory, certification, and customer quality requirements.

Certification & Audit Management

• Lead preparation and execution of GFSI certification (SQF, BRC, or FSSC 22000).
• Plan, manage, and lead internal, customer, and regulatory audits.
• Review, approve, and verify corrective actions and ensure timely closure of audit findings.

Oversight of Daily QA Operations

• Review and verify all monitoring records and documentation submitted by QA Supervisors and Officers.
• Ensure documentation accuracy, completeness, and compliance with approved systems.
• Approve product release decisions and escalate deviations where required.
• Analyze trends, identify risks, and implement preventive measures.

Research & Development (R&D) Final Approval

• Review and approve or reject new product specifications, trials, and formulations.
• Ensure regulatory compliance for product labels, packaging, ingredients, and claims.

Sanitation & Environmental Oversight

• Oversee sanitation programs, environmental monitoring systems, and pest control programs.
• Approve sanitation procedures, verification activities, and corrective actions.

Reporting & Traceability

• Prepare and submit accurate weekly and monthly QA performance reports.
• Oversee traceability systems and conduct mock recall exercises in line with regulatory requirements.

Training & Team Leadership

• Train, mentor, and supervise QA and sanitation personnel.
• Maintain competency standards, performance expectations, and continuous development of the QA team.

Customer Complaint Management

• Investigate customer complaints and conduct root cause analysis.
• Implement corrective and preventive actions and communicate findings to the Plant Manager and relevant departments.

Qualifications & Experience

• Proven track record of successfully certifying a food manufacturing facility under a GFSI standard (SQF, BRC, FSSC 22000, or equivalent) mandatory requirement.
• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Biology, Chemistry, or a related discipline.
• HACCP Level 2 or higher certification.
• Minimum of 5–7 years’ experience in Quality Assurance within a food manufacturing environment.
• At least 5 years’ supervisory or managerial experience in food manufacturing.
• Strong working knowledge of HACCP, GMP, sanitation systems, and regulatory compliance.
• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Excel.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Achievement of GFSI certification within the approved timeline.
• Zero major audit non-conformances.
• 100% compliance with HACCP, SOP, and GMP documentation requirements.
• Timely closure of all corrective and preventive actions.
• Full regulatory compliance of all approved product specifications and labels.
• Zero sanitation-related non-conformances.
• Zero critical pest control findings.
• Successful completion of mock recalls within two hours.
• 100% accuracy in QA performance reporting.
• Timely investigation and closure of all customer complaints.

REF: J.C