Food Safety and Quality Site Manager

At Yerba Madre, we’re building more than beverages, we’re building a movement rooted in community, sustainability, and connection. The Food Safety & Quality Site Manager ensures Yerba Madre’s co‑manufacturing partners consistently meet all food safety, regulatory, and product quality requirements. This role provides on‑site oversight at partner facilities, monitors production quality, leads audits and investigations, and supports continuous improvement initiatives.

PLEASE NOTE***The position is based in Yerba Madre’s Los Angeles office, min 3 days a week when not doing the required regular travel to co‑packers across North America, including occasional off‑shift or weekend support.

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  To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the following satisfactorily; other duties may be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

   

• Serve as the primary on-site quality and food safety liaison for all co-manufacturing facilities.
• Conduct regular site visits to monitor production quality, verify process controls, and address emerging issues.
• Oversee product quality during production runs, including new launches, reformulations, and high-risk SKUs.

• Ensure execution of Yerba Madre’s Food Safety Plan, HACCP/HARPC programs, GMPs, sanitation standards, allergen controls, and preventive controls.
• Lead internal audits (GMP, sanitation, food safety) and support external certification audits (SQF, BRC, organic, kosher).
• Maintain documentation of audits, site visits, investigations, test results, and quality records to ensure full compliance with FSMA and other regulatory requirements.
• Support traceability exercises, mock recalls, and ongoing regulatory compliance activities.

• Investigate quality deviations, consumer complaints, and nonconformances; lead structured root-cause analysis and drive effective CAPA implementation.
• Track co-packer quality performance, identify trends, and support continuous improvement efforts.

• Partner with other Supply Chain teams, and R&D to resolve manufacturing quality issues and ensure alignment on product and process standards.
• Maintain a cooperative working environment through regular communication, meetings, and collaborative problem-solving.

Perform other responsibilities as assigned by the manager.

Bachelor’s degree in food science, Microbiology, Engineering, or related field.

5+ years of experience in a quality or food safety role within a food manufacturing environment; organic or natural foods experience preferred.

Experience conducting audits, leading investigations, performing root-cause analysis, and implementing CAPA.

Familiarity with FDA regulations, HACCP, food safety management programs, and quality standards.

Experience with Statistical Process Control, Six Sigma, or TQM is a plus.

Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.

Technical Skills

Strong knowledge of HACCP, GMPs, sanitation, allergen control, environmental monitoring, and FSMA requirements.

Experience with root-cause analysis tools (5 Why, Fishbone, 8D, DMAIC).

Understanding of beverage manufacturing processes and relevant quality control points.

Ability to calculate ratios, proportions, percentages, volumes, and other relevant metrics; familiarity with SPC concepts.

Language & Reasoning Skills

Ability to read, interpret, and draft technical, regulatory, and business documents and reports.

Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills; able to solve problems involving multiple variables in standardized situations.

Computer Skills

Proficient in Microsoft 365 (Excel, Word).

Familiarity with supplier-management databases and internet research.

Experience with TraceGains and Smartsheet a plus.

Certificates & Licenses

Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) certification required.

HACCP certification (or ability to obtain within 6 months).

Internal auditor or GFSI scheme training preferred.

Role is based in Los Angeles with ~50% travel to co-manufacturing facilities.

Work occurs in both office and production-floor environments. Office onsite: ~2–3 days/week

Occasional evening, weekend, or off-shift support may be required during production runs.

Must be able to manage multiple priorities, maintain focus under interruptions, and work both independently and collaboratively.

Regularly required to sit, stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, climb stairs, bend, stoop, kneel, and maintain balance.

Must be able to navigate manufacturing settings, including stairs, catwalks, and varying temperatures.

Ability to stand or walk for extended periods on production floors.

Occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

Use of PPE required depending on site conditions.