Qa Associate Jobs in Novato, CA (NOW HIRING)

Why choose us?

Are you ready to take the next step in your career? Join us for an exciting opportunity at Albertsons Companies, where innovation and customer service go hand-in-hand!

At Albertsons Companies, we are looking for someone who’s not just seeking a job, but someone who wants to make an impact. In this role, you’ll have the opportunity to lead, innovate, and contribute to the growth of a company that values great service and lasting customer relationships. This position offers the chance to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment that’s constantly evolving.

What will you be doing?

The Quality Assurance Manager serves as the site leader for Food Safety, Quality, and Regulatory Compliance, accountable for protecting consumers, ensuring brand integrity, and enabling business growth.

This role leads and continuously improves the site’s Food Safety & Quality Management System (FSQMS) to meet and exceed FDA, SQF/ BRC (GFSI), Organic, and customer requirements. The QA Manager partners cross-functionally with Operations, Maintenance, Supply Chain, Product Development, and Commercial teams to mitigate risk, drive operational excellence, and support innovation and commercialization.

This position plays a critical leadership role in fostering a proactive food safety culture, leveraging data and continuous improvement tools to enhance product quality, process capability, and regulatory readiness.

The position will be based in Richmond, CA.

Main responsibilities:

• Lead Food Safety & Quality Systems: Own and continuously improve the site FSQMS (HACCP, FSMA/Preventive Controls, GMPs, SQF/ BRC, EMP, allergen control) to ensure audit readiness and full compliance.
• Regulatory & Audit Leadership: Serve as primary contact for State, FDA, third-party, and customer audits; lead inspections, responses, and corrective action closure.
• Product Safety Authority: Make final decisions on product release, holds, deviations, and disposition; oversee lab, environmental, and microbiological programs.
• Quality Team Leadership: Develop and lead the QA team through effective mentorship, clear accountability, strategic hiring, structured onboarding and ongoing capability development.
• Data-Driven Improvement: Establish KPIs and leverage data to drive risk reduction, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement.
• Supplier & Customer Quality: Lead supplier quality programs and own customer complaint management, including investigation and trend analysis.
• Commercialization & Change Management: Partner with R&D and cross-functional teams to support new product launches and manage formulation, labeling, and process changes.
• People Leadership & Culture: Develop and lead the QA team while embedding a strong food safety and quality culture across the plant.
• Operational Partnership: Collaborate with Operations to improve process capability, reduce waste, and ensure consistent product quality.

We are looking for candidates who possess the following:

All other duties as assigned. We believe the successful candidate has these qualifications and experience:

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, Microbiology, or related discipline
• 5 plus years of progressive experience in Quality or Food Safety leadership within a high-speed large-scale production bakery or similar processes (low moisture, shelf-stable goods)
• Deep expertise in SQF/ BRC, HACCP, and audit management
• Demonstrated success in leading cross-functional initiatives, driving change and influencing stakeholders
• Demonstrated expertise in working with internal and external functions including regulators and public brand customers

Preferred:

• SQF Practitioner and/or PCQI certification
• Experience in commercial baking (bread, buns, rolls)
• Familiarity with digital quality management systems and tools

Work Environment:

• Manufacturing and cold room environments
• Flexibility to support audits, inspections, and business critical activities

Our Values – Click below to view video: ACI Values

A copy of the full job description can be made available to you.

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