Senior Manager, Quality Assurance chez TOKYO GARDENS COMPANY

Description

Tokyo Gardens Company (TGC) is a Houston-based company providing full-service sushi and Asian food operations in retail stores, universities and corporate offices nationwide for over 20 years. Our company is growing rapidly, and every team member plays a key role in that growth. Our success is driven by delivering real results for our clients. It's also enabled by our culture, which supports personal growth and development, fosters an inclusive work culture, and rewards innovation and excellence. 

To learn more about us, please visit www.tgcsushi.com / www.sushicllc.com

TITLE: Sr. Manager, Quality Assurance

Position Description

The Senior Manager, Quality Assurance will help lead the company’s efforts to uphold the highest standards of food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance. This role will act as the central connector between internal stakeholders, suppliers, and regulatory agencies—ensuring all operations align with company policies, legal requirements, and industry best practices. In this role, you will guide audits, manage supplier performance, and develop training programs that build robust food safety culture across all teams. The ideal candidate is a confident communicator and an analytical thinker who excels at solving complex problems, inspires collaboration, and drives meaningful, measurable change.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead communication channels for specific client groups to ensure food safety and regulatory compliance
• Effectively articulate and present the company's food safety and quality strategy as it relates to senior management, regulatory bodies, and customers
• Proactively maintain strong relationships with retail clients, regulatory agencies, and vendor & supplier community
• Provide leadership for food safety initiatives, guaranteeing adherence to all local, state, and federal laws and regulations throughout retail, manufacturing, and supply chain operations
• Leverage problem-solving expertise to investigate issues, determine root causes, and lead the implementation of sustainable improvements across multiple teams. Review trending QA findings, identify root cause, and take action to resolve issues to prevent recurrence
• Conduct routine audits at offsite locations including retail locations, 3rd party suppliers, warehouses, or other relevant locations
• Ensure supervisors and chefs are trained, compliant, and consistent with food safety regulations, internal policies, and standardized inspection practices 
• Support new product innovation, providing technical knowledge of supplier process capabilities and provide suggestions or alternatives that advance business needs
• Collaborate with the operations team on food safety planning for new store openings, including facility inspections, equipment setup, and team training
• Proactively develop and provide scientifically sound recommendations that drive innovation to enhance existing programs
• Lead and support internal teams to foster a strong, company-wide food safety culture
• Lead Quality Assurance efforts for all private brand activities, collaborating with R&D and Procurement on supplier facility assessments, QMS, GFSI, and sustainability approvals. Manage suppliers and ingredients, ensuring labeling and weight compliance
• Ensure compliance and maintenance of Quality Manufacturing System (QMS)
• Identify and lead major projects across the company related to risk management, safety, and training initiatives as needed
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned
• Travel (up to 35%) by car or plane with overnight stays

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Public Health, Environmental Health, Microbiology, Food Science/Technology, or equivalent required, master’s degree a plus
• 7+ years’ experience in quality assurance, food safety, regulatory compliance, supply chain, or retail manufacturing food service required
• Experience in either the Retail, Manufacturing, Food Service & Supply Chain industries required 
• 1-2 years of leadership or management experience a plus 
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions
• Highly self-motivated and committed to continuous professional and personal growth
• Exceptional communication skills with proven ability to influence, inform, and build trust at every level of the organization and with external partners
• Proven expertise in leading and managing complex, cross-departmental projects from inception through successful deployment, ensuring adherence to timelines and budget constraints
• Ability to convey complex information in a clear, accessible manner, tailoring communication for executives, non-technical staff, and multicultural audiences to maximize understanding and impact
• Thorough understanding of HACCP principles. Proficient in retail and manufacturing food safety and sanitation practices
• Utilize regulatory knowledge and direct experience with USDA, FSMA-FDA, NOP, GFSI and related regulations relevant to fresh and ready to eat food
• Deep familiarity with relevant local, state, and federal food codes (like TFER and FDA Food Code) and the compliance requirements for all sectors