Job Description
Job DescriptionSalary:
MUSH is a place where driven individuals unlock their highest potential and, as part of a team of high performers, accomplish extraordinary feats. If you want to build a reputation for doing hard things well and aspire to make the world a little healthier, MUSH may be the place for you.
Our first product line of ready-to-eat overnight oats pioneered a new category for the breakfast occasionoffering a healthy, satiating, and convenient alternative to traditional morning meals. By making wholesome food more accessible, we believe humankind can feel, think, and do better.
In just a few years, weve grown from weekend farmers markets to over 10,000 retail doors, including Whole Foods, Costco, Sprouts, Target, and 7-Eleven, as well as premium specialty stores, coffee shops, and gyms nationwide. Were now building a world-class team capable of executing on the huge opportunity ahead of us.
Role Overview
The Quality Manager will be responsible for leading all aspects of product quality, food safety, and sanitation at our manufacturing facility. This role ensures our products meet the highest standards of safety, compliance, and excellence while supporting continuous improvement across operations.
As a people leader, this role manages and develops a team of Quality Technicians and Sanitation professionals and serves as a key partner to Operations, R&D, and Corporate Quality. The right individual will balance strategic thinking with a strong command of daily executionbuilding systems that scale while maintaining the agility of a growth-stage brand.
While this role is scoped at the Manager level, were open to elevating the title and responsibilities to Director for candidates with deeper experience and leadership skills.
Core Responsibilities
Quality & Food Safety Leadership
- Lead and continuously improve all Quality and Food Safety programs within the manufacturing facility.
- Oversee lab operations, sanitation, and quality systems to ensure compliance with FDA, GFSI (BRC preferred), and customer requirements.
- Ensure robust documentation, data accuracy, and timely review of all production and quality records.
- Partner with senior leadership to prepare for and host internal, external, and regulatory audits; ensure prompt closure of any findings.
- Maintain and evolve HACCP, PCQI, environmental monitoring, allergen control, and traceability programs.
- Serve as the primary site contact for corporate quality and regulatory partners.
Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement
- Drive root cause analysis (RCA) and corrective/preventive actions using tools such as 5-Why and Fishbone methodologies.
- Monitor quality data trends (defect rates, complaints, holds, micro results) to identify improvement opportunities.
- Collaborate with R&D and Operations as the owner of formulation controls, sanitation verification, and testing protocols.
- Own the facilitys third-party laboratory testing and environmental monitoring programs.
- Regularly review, update, and train teams on Quality and Food Safety policies and SOPs.
- Lead or participate in cross-functional continuous improvement initiatives focused on yield, waste reduction, and process capability.
People Leadership
- Build and mentor, a high-performing quality and sanitation team.
- Set clear expectations, coach for results, and hold team members accountable to MUSHs standards of performance and conduct.
- Foster a culture of proactive problem-solving, engagement, and ownership across shifts and departments.
Provide timely feedback, evaluations, and recognition to ensure strong individual and team performance.
Strategic Partnership & Influence
- Act as a key thought partner to Operations and Product teams in designing scalable quality systems for growth.
- Support supplier quality initiatives and drive collaboration across functions to strengthen end-to-end food safety.
- Represent MUSH Quality in business and technical discussions, providing data-driven recommendations and insights.
Qualifications
- Bachelors Degree in Food Science, Engineering, Microbiology, or a related field.
- 7+ years of experience in food manufacturing, with increasing leadership responsibility (Director-level candidates should bring 10+ years and proven site or multi-site leadership).
- Experience managing teams in quality, food safety, and sanitation.
- Certified in PCQI, Internal Auditing, or equivalent programs.
- Experience with GFSI certification schemes (BRC preferred).
- Strong understanding of FDA, GMP, OSHA, and related regulatory standards.
- Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Cultural Attributes
- Teammate: Knows when to follow and when to lead; always serves others.
- Beginners Mind: Brings curiosity, creativity, and openness to new ideas.
- Communicator: Uses tact, precision, and clarity to align teams.
- Self-Starter: Operates with autonomy and initiative; builds systems that dont yet exist.
- Results-Driven: Focuses on the robust processes that yield measurable outcomes.
- Detail-Oriented: Maintains rigor and discipline in all aspects of execution.
- Relationship Builder: Prioritizes trust and collaboration across internal and external partners.
- Problem Solver: Stays calm and effective when challenges arise.
- Thrives on Adversity: Embraces big goals and humble grit.
- Fun: Loves what you do, and does it well.