Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods® was founded in 1994 with the mission to create nutritious and convenient frozen food that tasted so delicious, it would make it easier to help people adopt better eating habits. While the world has changed since the business started, Dr. Praeger’s remains true to its founders’ vision. We’re grounded in using real, recognizable ingredients to make great-tasting products that families love.
We are passionate about food and fueled by our desire to make healthier living more delicious. Our mission is pioneering to increase veggie consumption by making it easy to choose crave-able, veggie-forward food.
The Quality Assurance (QA) Manager is a critical leadership role responsible for overseeing and driving all aspects of food safety, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance across the facility. This individual ensures full alignment with company policies, industry standards, and external regulatory requirements, including SQF, HACCP, and GFSI standards. The QA Manager drives a strong food safety culture, leads continuous improvement efforts, and strengthens CAPA systems. A hands-on, strategic leader brings a proven track record in quality performance, system optimization, and regulatory compliance.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Culture Development:
Champion a culture of food safety, quality, and accountability at all levels of the organization.
Lead, develop, and mentor QA staff and cross-functional teams to uphold quality and regulatory standards.
Promote employee engagement through training, coaching, and consistent reinforcement of quality practices.
Proactively escalate significant non-conformities and lead resolution efforts to maintain food safety and compliance.
Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance
Serve as the SQF Practitioner and lead the HACCP Team, ensuring compliance with SQF, HACCP, FDA, and customer requirements; maintain all food safety programs as current, verified, and validated.
Conduct internal audits to assess compliance and identify areas for improvement.
Facilitate HACCP/Food Safety meetings, including agenda preparation, minutes, and follow-ups.
Program & Process Management
Own and manage the Food Safety and Quality Management System, ensuring documentation and records meet audit and regulatory requirements.
Lead internal and external audits, including timely corrective action response and closure.
Oversee programs for traceability, recall readiness, and product release/hold protocols.
Corrective & Preventive Action (CAPA)
Lead investigations into non-conformances, complaints, and deviations, ensuring timely and thorough resolution.
Apply root cause analysis tools (e.g., 5 Whys, Fishbone) to drive effective CAPA and prevent recurrence.
Track and trend incidents, complaints, and KPIs to identify risks and support continuous improvement.
Continuous Improvement & Performance Management
Drive cross-functional quality and process improvement initiatives aligned with business objectives.
Analyze quality data to guide decision-making and performance optimization.
Ensure alignment with company-wide quality goals and strategic direction.
Training & Development
Develop and deliver training programs on FSQA policies, HACCP, GMPs, sanitation, and allergen control.
Evaluate training effectiveness and adjust content to maintain compliance and improve employee competency.
Qualifications For Skills & Experience
Minimum bachelor’s degree in food science, Food Technology, or related field.
Minimum 5 years of progressive QA experience in a food manufacturing environment.
Certified in HACCP and SQF Practitioner (required), PCQI is plus.
Proven experience leading 3rd-party audits, regulatory inspections, and customer audits.
Strong working knowledge of CAPA systems, root cause analysis tools, and continuous improvement frameworks (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma).
Proficient in Microsoft Office; experience with QA/QC software systems is a plus.
Bilingual (Spanish/ English) is a strong asset.
Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills with a proactive, solution-oriented mindset.
Physical Requirements
Must be able to work in a cold, hot, and high-moisture environment.
Ability to stand, walk, lift, bend, and twist for extended periods; ability to lift 50 lbs.
Availability for weekends, holidays, and overtime as needed.
Disclaimer: Employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily, and, if requested, reasonable accommodation will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.
