GENERAL ROLE DESCRIPTION
We’re looking for an experienced QA Manager to manage our food safety and quality programs with a deep understanding of seafood operations, GFSI standards, and production environment. Expectation is a standard 40 hour week, though during peak production weekends 40+ hours would be needed.
The QA Manager oversees all food safety, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance programs at Home Port Seafoods. This role ensures that seafood processing operations meet or exceed federal, state, and customer requirements through strong leadership, structured systems, and continuous improvement. The QA Manager serves as the facility’s HACCP Coordinator, manages GFSI (SQF) program maintenance, leads audits, and partners closely with Production, Sanitation, and Fulfillment to uphold the highest standards of product integrity and operational excellence.
This position requires the ability to work in a fast-paced environment, manage multiple priorities, and respond quickly to operational issues. Seafood industry experience is highly preferred, but not required for highly qualified candidates with strong food manufacturing QA backgrounds.
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
Food Safety & HACCP
● Serve as the facility’s HACCP Coordinator, maintaining and verifying all HACCP plans for seafood processing.
● Lead hazard analyses, CCP validation, monitoring, verification, and reassessment in accordance with FDA Seafood HACCP regulations (21 CFR Part 123).
● Ensure compliant receiving, storage, processing, fulfillment, and shipping controls for raw and value-added seafood.
JOB DESCRIPTION
● Oversee environmental monitoring, allergen controls, sanitation verification, and product testing programs.
SQF / GFSI Program Management
● Serve as the facility’s SQF Practitioner, maintaining certification and ensuring compliance with the SQF Food Manufacturing Code.
● Lead annual SQF system reviews, risk assessments, and verification activities.
● Prepare and lead internal audits, verification of corrective actions, and continuous improvement of food safety and quality systems.
● Host customer, regulatory, and GFSI audits; ensure audit readiness at all times.
Regulatory & Customer Compliance
● Maintain compliance with FDA, USDC, WSDA, and environmental regulations.
● Ensure accurate product specifications, labels, lot coding, traceability, and documentation.
● Lead recall/trace exercises and maintain the facility’s crisis management and food defense programs.
● Manage seafood-specific compliance programs (species declaration, COOL, parasite destruction, etc.).
● Adhere to all customer requirements and expectations for processing and finished product.
Quality Assurance Leadership
● Supervise and develop QA technicians and document control personnel.
● Train production and sanitation staff on GMPs, food safety programs, and operational quality controls.
● Investigate non-conformances, customer complaints, and vendor issues; implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
● Collaborate with Operations and Procurement to qualify suppliers, evaluate specifications, and verify incoming materials.
● Oversee product holds, disposition, and positive-release programs.
● Work with production staff on best practices to ensure product quality standards are met.
Documentation & Systems
● Maintain all QA documentation, SOPs, monitoring records, and verification logs.
● Manage digital and/or manual recordkeeping systems; ensure strong version control and traceability.
● Ensure compliance with preventive controls, verification schedules, and regulatory record-retention requirements.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
● HACCP Certification (Seafood HACCP strongly preferred).
● Hands-on experience with GFSI programs (SQF, BRCGS, or FSSC 22000) and third-party audits.
○ SQF experience preferred — SQF Practitioner or ability to become certified within 60 days.
● Minimum 3–5 years QA or food safety experience in food, protein, or seafood processing.
● Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, high-volume production environment.
● Strong understanding of FDA Seafood HACCP (NOAA USDC SIP), GMPs, sanitation, allergen control, environmental monitoring, and GFSI programs.
● Experience leading audits and managing regulatory inspectors, emphasis on GFSI.
● Strong communication, leadership, coaching, and problem-solving skills. ● Effective communications skills - written and verbal ● Ability to train teams for Food Safety Programs (FSMA, HACCP, etc.) ● Excellent relationship building skills
PREFERRED:
● Seafood industry experience—fresh, frozen, fillet, smoked, or value-added seafood.
● Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Biology, or related fi eld OR equivalent QA experience in food manufacturing.
● Knowledge of environmental testing (Coliform, E. Coli, Listeria spp. etc. ), ATP, microbiological sampling, and water quality.
● Operations experience ● Experience working diverse teams.
● Proficiency in languages other than English.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
● Ability to work in cold/wet seafood processing environments.
● Ability to lift up to 40 lbs. and stand for extended periods.
● Ability to walk production floors daily and respond quickly to issues.