https://lairdsuperfood.com/pages/about 

IT ALL STARTED WITH A CUP OF COFFEE

MEET LAIRD & GABBY

CLEAN, UNIQUE INGREDIENTS

You can only tackle life's biggest waves when your body and mind are fueled with the most vitalizing ingredients on earth. That’s why every product we make is loaded with natural plant-powered goodness including functional mushrooms, adaptogens, minerals and more.

Quality Assurance Manager

Laird Superfood was founded in 2015 in partnership with the world’s most prolific big-wave surfer, Laird Hamilton. Since then, Laird’s passion project to perfect his personal regimen has evolved into a dynamic, innovative brand with a purpose-driven and people-focused mission. We believe better food leads to a better world. We seek to provide great-tasting, high-quality, plant-based products that are healthy, convenient, affordable, and available to all. 

The Quality Assurance Manager is accountable for the efficient operation of the QA function at Laird Superfood to ensure the highest quality raw materials and finished products. They will be adept in directing and monitoring QA/QC processes at co-manufacturers and contributing with hands-on execution. The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience working cross-departmentally to develop, document, and monitor procedures and processes to ensure the manufacture of safe, high-quality products. The QA Manager will also have the opportunity to help make company decisions associated with Food Labeling Regulations and new product formulations based on food and supplement regulations. This is an outstanding opportunity to be a leader in a growing organization with significant growth potential!

Responsibilities: 

• Oversees contract manufacturers, safety, supply chain, and E-Commerce compliance.
• Ensures behaviors, practices, and the work environment support a food-safe workplace by enforcing good manufacturing and food safety practices and sanitation rules and principles.
• Performs audits to ensure that contract manufacturers are following documented procedures.
• Works with various departments to help ensure that company policies and practices are appropriate to support the Food Defense, HACCP, and SQF programs.
• Creates and maintains the training program for all employees, contract manufacturers, and fulfillment partners that work within shipping and production areas for the company.
• Establish and perform a sensory analysis program for each lot/run to ensure that product expectations are met regarding formulation taste, appearance, and smell.
• Participates in non-conformance incident investigations and makes final recommendations for affected products, including reviewing, investigating, and analyzing trends in customer complaints working in conjunction with the Customer Service department.
• Approves vendors, ingredients, and materials for use by the company.
• Creates and maintains ingredient, packaging material, and finished product spec sheets. 
• Manage sample submissions to outside labs and evaluate test results.
• Perform analytical tests on raw materials and finished products.
• Organize and maintain records of all sampling and testing. 
• Review lab results for compliance with specifications and enter data into specified forms.
• Responsible for the development of weight statements, ingredient statements, allergen declarations, descriptions, nutrition facts panels, and claims compliant with government requirements and standards of identities. This includes ensuring compliance with all label-related health and wellness claims.
• Work cooperatively with external vendors, and internal staff to ensure that packaging and marketing content meets the needs of all business units and regulatory requirements.
• Evaluate regulatory issues and provide accurate and timely recommendations, as needed, to management.

Required Qualifications:

• 5 years QA experience in food, beverage, or related manufacturing environment; 2+ years’ supervisor/leadership experience 
• Bachelor’s degree in food science or related field preferred
• SQF, HACCP, and PCQI certifications preferred.
• Demonstrated understanding of GMP and FSMA principles
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Superior organizational, leadership, and critical thinking skills
• Skilled at showing initiative and understanding when urgency is needed.
• Exceptional ability to act creatively and demonstrate flexibility when problem-solving.
• A passion for Laird Superfood’s vision and mission!

Physical Demands Required:

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distant vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust and focus.
• Ability to follow verbal and written work instructions.
• Occasionally required to stoop or kneel.
• Standing, walking, and sitting for much of the time.
• Use hands and arms to touch, lift, reach, grip, and grasp.
• Talking and hearing frequently
• Lifting and/or exerting up to 10 lbs. of weight/force frequently and up to 50 lbs. of weight/force occasionally.
• Frequently exposed to production floor elements such as noise, dust, fumes, odors, and heat.
• Occasional to frequent travel required.

Job Type: Full-time

Schedule:

• 8-hour shift
• Monday to Friday
• Hybrid Schedule – We offer three days in the office, and two days remote.

Compensation and Benefits:

• $91,000 to $106,000 salary range
• The offered rate will be based on the candidate’s knowledge, skills, abilities, and/or experience.
• This position is eligible for our benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life, and 100% employer-sponsored life/AD&D insurance. We also offer a 401(k) plan with company match, company-paid holidays, and PTO.

Laird Superfood is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

To learn more about Laird Superfood, visit www.lairdsuperfood.com.