About this opportunity
Island Creek Oysters lists this Quality Assurance Manager opportunity in new bedford, Massachusetts. Review the employer’s description below for duties, qualifications and application requirements.
Job description
Island Creek Oysters (ICO) is a mission-driven company working to redefine the role of aquaculture in our global food system. We grow thriving coastal communities, and through innovation and education, we connect people to bold boundary-pushing seafood. We live by our values, work hard, and have fun doing it. We believe in what we do– and we say thank you.
We’re seeking an experienced Quality Assurance Manager to lead food safety, quality and regulatory compliance efforts across our cannery, hospitality, and distribution operations. This role is critical to ensuring every product that leaves our facility and every experience delivered to our guests and customers meets the highest standards of safety, consistency, and quality. The ideal candidate has strong food safety expertise, is comfortable managing compliance across multiple business lines, and can build a culture of quality from the production floor to the point of service.
The Quality Assurance Manager will be primarily based in New Bedford, MA, at the Cannery. However, the role extends to Duxbury MA, where there are additional work sites, facilities and hospitality outlets. Occasional travel is needed to Portland ME and New York NY for additional oversight of facilities located in both locations.
The Quality Assurance Manager reports directly to both the Director of Operations and the CEO.
The Role:
Quality Systems & Compliance
Develop, implement, and maintain the Quality Management System (QMS) across canning, hospitality, and distribution operations
Ensure compliance with FDA, USDA, HACCP, SQF/BRC/GFSI, and applicable local health department regulations
Maintain and update all facility HACCP plan, including hazard analysis, critical control points, and verification activities
Lead internal and third-party audits; manage corrective action and preventive action (CAPA) processes
Ensure proper labeling, allergen control, and traceability systems are in place and functioning
Cannery/Production Oversight
Oversee incoming raw material inspection, in-process quality checks, and finished product testing
Monitor thermal processing, seal integrity, and can/container quality per FDA 21 CFR Part 113 (low-acid canned foods) requirements
Manage retort operations documentation and ensure the facility's process authority approvals and records are current and compliant.
Investigate quality deviations, non-conformances, and customer complaints; drive root cause analysis
Hospitality & Food Service Quality
Establish and audit sanitation, food handling, and temperature control standards across hospitality/food service locations
Train front-of-house and back-of-house staff on food safety practices and quality expectations
Ensure consistency of guest-facing food and beverage quality standards
Distribution & Cold Chain
Monitor storage and transportation conditions to ensure product integrity through the supply chain
Oversee quality checks at distribution points, including receiving, warehousing, and outbound shipping
Manage recall readiness and mock recall exercises
Leadership & Team Management
Partner with Operations, R&D, Purchasing, and Sales to align quality standards with business goals
Develop and deliver food safety and quality training programs for all staff levels
Prepare and present quality metrics, trends, and reports to senior leadership
Other Responsibilities as assigned.
Requirements:
Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Quality Assurance, or related field (or equivalent experience)
5+ years of QA/food safety experience, with at least 2 years in a supervisory or management role
Working knowledge of HACCP, GMPs, and regulatory requirements for food manufacturing
Strong understanding of canning/thermal processing standards (or willingness to obtain certification)
Excellent problem-solving, documentation, and communication skills
Ability to work across multiple sites/business units and adapt standards to different operational contexts
HACCP Certification and/or Better Process Control School (BPCS) certification
SQF Practitioner or similar GFSI-recognized certification
Familiarity with warehouse management systems (WMS) and cold chain logistics
PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual) certification
Ability to walk/stand for extended periods in production, warehouse, and kitchen environments
Ability to work in varying temperature environments (cold storage, retort/processing areas)
Capacity for regional travel, estimated at a minimum of 20%
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Worksite address
new bedford, MA, 02746, US
Who can apply
Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.