Quality Manager

This role is part of our Purina Animal Nutrition business helping our network of local cooperatives, independent dealers and other large retailers serve producers, and animal owners throughout the United States. Through industry -leading R&D and committed partnerships, we innovate the nutrition products and practices that unlock the full potential of every animal for a healthier, more productive life. 

We are looking for a Quality Manager to lead quality assurance programs within a manufacturing environment and ensure compliance with internal standards, regulatory requirements, and food/feed safety practices.

This position will report to the Plant Manager and will have direct responsibility for leading quality programs at the facility. The Quality Manager will also provide leadership to the QA Technician and housekeeping team members.

In this role, you will be responsible for maintaining and improving quality practices through our Quality Management System. You will help implement new policies as regulations change, maintain existing quality processes, and ensure the facility continues to meet company and regulatory standards.

The Quality Manager will work closely with production and operations teams to provide coaching and training on quality standards, HACCP, GMPs, and other regulatory initiatives. This position will also support continuous improvement efforts, lead root cause analysis, and drive corrective actions to resolve quality-related issues.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage quality assurance programs within the facility.
• Ensure the production of safe, high-quality animal feed in compliance with company and regulatory standards.
• Maintain and improve quality practices through the Quality Management System.
• Implement new quality policies and procedures as regulations and business needs change.
• Partner with production and operations teams to provide coaching and training on quality standards, HACCP, GMPs, and regulatory requirements.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action processes to resolve quality issues.
• Support continuous improvement projects related to quality, compliance, and operational performance.
• Manage customer complaints and partner with internal teams to identify and resolve quality concerns.
• Provide leadership and direction to direct reports, including QA and housekeeping team members.

Required Experience and Education:

• High School Diploma/GED
• 2+ years of progressive quality assurance experience in feed, food, agriculture, manufacturing, or a related operational environment.

Required Skills and Competencies:

• Knowledge of HACCP, GMPs, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Knowledge of laboratory instrumentation and quality testing processes.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, coaching, and training skills.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical problem-solving and root cause analysis skills.
• Ability to work both strategically and tactically in a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to handle customer complaints and quality-related concerns.
• High level of integrity in products, processes, and professional relationships.

Preferred Experience and Education:

• Bachelors Degree
• 5+ years of quality assurance experience within a full-line lifestyle feed plant or similar manufacturing environment.
• Previous supervisory experience.
• Previous regulatory or compliance experience.
• Advanced degree in Feed Science or a related field.

Preferred Skills and Competencies:

• Knowledge of FDA requirements and other applicable regulatory agency standards.
• Experience developing or maintaining SOPs.
• Experience leading quality initiatives, audits, corrective actions, or continuous improvement projects.

Salary: $81,200 - $121,800

In most cases, candidates offered employment can expect to be hired at a pay rate near the middle of our salary ranges

About Land O'Lakes, Inc.

Join us and be part of a Fortune 250, farmer- and member-owned cooperative that is reimagining the business of food. We have been named a Top Workplace by Indeed and LinkedIn, and to the TIME 100 Most Influential Companies list.

We provide a broad portfolio of benefits to keep you and your family at your best. Land O'Lakes is Where Your Future Takes Root.

Land O’Lakes and our global entities support diversity in employment practices.

Neither Land O’Lakes, nor its affiliates or search firms, will ever contact you and ask for confidential information over the phone or in email. If you receive a call or email like this, please do not provide the information being requested.    

If you need to submit a reasonable accommodation request to complete the employment application process, please call the HR Solution Center at 844-LOL-HR4U (844-565-4748) M-F 8:00am-4:30pm CT.