Job Description

At Lakeside Foods and our family of companies, we're committed to providing wholesome foods to enrich people’s lives through food. We are a culture that pursues our vision of growth and innovation with passion, confidence, and commitment. We are strongest together – valuing collaborative contribution, transparency and new ideas to enable change and growth. We are committed to an inclusive and respectful environment that promotes a healthy work-life balance, and there’s a seat at the table for you.

The Quality Assurance Assistant Manager supports the QA Manager in overseeing food safety, sanitation, and quality control programs to ensure compliance with regulatory standards and company policies. This role directs and coaches QA personnel, maintains documentation and records, and assists with audits, inspections, and implementation of SQF/BRC code requirements. The Assistant Manager also monitors product quality, investigates customer complaints, and ensures safe and orderly work environments across the facility.

What you’ll get:

• Competitive pay based on experience
• Affordable, market‑leading medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• Paid vacation and personal time
• Long‑term growth opportunities with a stable, family‑owned company

What you’ll do

• Direct, coach, and counsel Quality Assurance personnel through daily and weekly tasks.
• Ensure proper management of held product, storage conditions, and quality of labeling, packaging, and shipping operations.
• Be able to assist the QA Manager in the implementation of the SQF/BRC code requirements.
• Assist the QA Manager in maintenance of Lakeside’s Quality Systems Manual.
• Ensure the maintenance of all quality control programs, procedures, documentation, and statistical records including X-Bar Charts.
• Determine the quality level of product and assign grades based on Lakeside Foods policies and procedures.
• Communicate real-time quality data to all affected departments to ensure customer specifications are continuously met.
• Thoroughly investigate and respond to customer complaints on a timely basis.
• Assist the QA Manager in verification activities related to sanitation, including microbiological, pathogen monitoring, and visual inspections.
• Ensure updated and proper application of all SSOPs, bacteriological monitoring and investigation, and sanitation inspections.
• Ensure employees maintain work areas in a safe, clean, and orderly manner.
• Assist the QA Manager in ensuring all Federal, State, and Local laws and regulations, as well as Lakeside Foods policies and procedures related to food safety and quality, are followed at all times.
• Perform daily record review of processing records to ensure compliance with 21 CFR 117, 21 CFR 113, customer specifications, and Lakeside Foods policies.
• Assist in FDA, USDA, State, Third Party, internal, and customer audits and inspections.
• Be able to assist the QA Manager in the implementation of the SQF/BRC code requirements.

What you’ll bring:

• High school diploma or GED, required.
• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, bacteriology, or a related field, preferred.
• 3-5 years of relevant experience, required.
• 1-3 years of direct supervisory experience, preferred.
• Equivalent combination of education & experience.
• Knowledge of vegetable canning/freezing, preferred.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.   
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, customers, and the general public. 

Lakeside Foods and our family of companies welcomes people of all backgrounds and the varied ideas they bring to the workplace. Being an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer is part of our heritage and culture. We recruit, hire and promote employees based on qualifications and merit, without regard to race, religion, age, gender, disability, marital or veteran status. Lakeside Foods participates in E-Verify.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities