Interested in a career that matters?
At Novonesis, quality is foundational to how we protect consumers, build trust with customers, and deliver on our purpose. At our Wausau, Wisconsin facility, the Quality Assurance team partners closely with Operations, Quality Control, Engineering/Maintenance, and R&D to ensure safe, compliant, and high-quality manufacturing every day. As Quality Assurance Manager, you will lead, develop, and empower the local QA organization while shaping a strong quality culture grounded in GMP compliance, food safety, and continuous improvement.
The Role & Your Impact
This role is a mixed operational and strategic leadership position with direct impact on product quality, regulatory compliance, and site performance. You will own the site quality systems, lead a capable QA team, and ensure alignment with corporate goals and standards while driving continuous improvement across manufacturing operations.
Key responsibilities include:
- Collaborating with operations, quality, engineering/maintenance, and R&D to ensure compliance and sustainability of manufacturing processes and quality systems.
- Leading the quality assurance team to ensure products meet company policies, regulatory requirements, and customer expectations.
- Identifying GMP, food safety, and quality training needs; overseeing training and serving as SME instructor.
- Conducting or overseeing batch record reviews and releasing manufacturing work orders via the ERP system.
- Writing, reviewing, and approving documentation such as SOPs, work instructions, and reports.
- Overseeing validation of manufacturing processes, equipment, cleaning, and facilities for regulatory compliance.
- Supporting investigations of deviations and unexpected observations in QC and manufacturing.
- Conducting quality investigations and implementing corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs).
- Participating in and supporting regulatory inspections, third-party audits, and customer audits.
- Maintaining compliance with third-party certifications (Organic, Kosher, Halal, NSF, etc.).
What You’ll Need to Be Successful
Must-haves for day-one performance include:
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in Microbiology (or closely related field).
- 5+ years of QA/QC experience with increasing responsibility, including 3+ years in a quality management or people leadership role.
- Strong working knowledge of GMPs, food safety systems, validations and qualifications, internal auditing, change control, deviations, and CAPA.
- Experience supporting or leading regulatory inspections and customer audits.
- Ability to read, interpret, and apply regulations, standards, guidance documents, and product specifications.
- Proven capability to manage competing priorities, lead through change, and collaborate effectively across functions.
- Strong leadership skills, including delegation, coaching, and accountability.
- Excellent communication, organization, problem-solving, and follow-up skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
Additional Skills & Interests We Value
Nice-to-haves that will help you thrive:
- Experience in food and/or dietary supplement manufacturing environments.
- Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) certification.
- Hands-on experience with supplier quality management and quality supply chain oversight.
- Demonstrated passion for continuous improvement and quality culture development.
What We Offer
At Novonesis, you will join a purpose-driven organization where quality, safety, and sustainability matter. We offer:
- Opportunities to lead and shape site-level quality strategy with strong corporate alignment.
- A collaborative, cross-functional working environment.
- Professional development and growth through meaningful leadership challenges.
- A culture built on trust, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
Ways of Working / Working Conditions
This is an on-site leadership role based at our Wausau manufacturing facility. Occasional travel is required to support audits, supplier interactions, or corporate initiatives. Work is primarily in a manufacturing environment, requiring regular interaction with production areas and cross-functional teams.
Compensation & Benefits
- 401(k) with up to a 9% company contribution
- Minimum of 3 weeks of vacation plus 12 holidays and 2 weeks of Wellness Time
- Health, Dental, Vision & Life insurance
- Healthcare savings account option
- Employee assistance program
- Parental leave
- Tuition reimbursement
- All benefits begin on your first day
Relevant information
Application deadline: 6/20/26
Our purpose guides the way
In Novonesis, we know that solutions rooted in biology can help solve humanity’s biggest challenges. Since we began more than a century ago, this has been our guide. It’s how we've gotten so far. And it’s how we'll impact the future. Now, more than ever, the world needs change. And with biosolutions, the possibilities for transformation are endless. If our purpose resonates with you, we encourage you to apply.
Opportunities for everyone
We are committed to an inclusive recruitment process and equal opportunity for all applicants. Therefore we ask you to apply without a cover letter or photo and instead include a few sentences in your CV explaining your motivation for applying.
We make all employment decisions based on business needs and welcome candidates with a wide range of backgrounds, including ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran status.
Explore other openings
If this position isn’t the right fit, you may still find other opportunities with us. You’re welcome to explore open roles or create a job agent to stay connected with future opportunities at novonesis.com/Career
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree or higher in Microbiology (or closely related field)
- 5+ years of QA/QC experience with increasing responsibility
- 3+ years in a quality management or people leadership role
- Strong working knowledge of GMPs, food safety systems, validations and qualifications, internal auditing
- Experience supporting or leading regulatory inspections and customer audits
- Ability to read, interpret, and apply regulations, standards, guidance documents, and product specifications
- Strong leadership skills, including delegation, coaching, and accountability
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
What We Do
Novozymes has combined with Chr. Hansen to become Novonesis: linkedin.com/company/novonesis. This global biosolutions company of 10,000 people is transforming how the world produces, consumes and lives. In 30-plus industries, its biosolutions help businesses meet their needs and the needs of our planet. Novozymes was formed in 2000 when Novo Nordisk split into three companies: Novo Nordisk A/S, Novozymes A/S and Novo A/S. Novozymes was the world leader in biological solutions with a commitment to Rethink Tomorrow. It served 130 markets with enzymatic, microbial and advanced protein solutions. The company’s solutions enabled higher agricultural yields, low-temperature washing, energy-efficient production, renewable fuel and many other benefits. In December 2022, Novozymes and Chr. Hansen entered into an agreement to create a leading global biosolutions partner by combining the two companies. The goal was to unleash the full potential of biosolutions and generate significant value for all stakeholders and society. The combination was completed on January 29, 2024 and Novonesis was born. The name means ‘a new beginning’ and is derived from the Greek word ‘genesis’. It reflects a new era where we’ll better our world with biology. You can find Novonesis on LinkedIn here: linkedin.com/company/novonesis. Novozymes A/S, part of Novonesis Group.









