045772-CON - Product Hold & Release Manager

Job Summary

The Product Hold & Release Manager is responsible for leading the site product hold, batch record review, product disposition, and release programs to ensure all materials and finished products meet food safety, quality, regulatory, customer, and company requirements. This role serves as the primary contact for product releases and leads a team of Batch Record Reviewers. The position provides leadership in food safety, regulatory compliance, risk assessment, quality systems, FDA, FSMA, HACCP, SQF, AIB, and customer audit readiness.

Product Hold & Release Management

• Manage the site's Product Hold and Release Program for raw materials, packaging materials, work-in-process (WIP), and finished goods.
• Analyze and trend hold, release, deviation, defect, complaint, and disposition data to identify risks and improvement opportunities.
• Review production records, laboratory results, process monitoring data, deviation reports, and quality records to support disposition and release decisions.
• Ensure finished products meet all food safety, quality, labeling, regulatory, customer, and company requirements before release to commerce.
• Maintain accurate hold inventory records and disposition documentation within ERP and quality management systems.
• Monitor hold inventory levels and drive timely disposition activities to minimize inventory aging, financial losses, and operational disruptions.
• Provide leadership during product investigations involving deviations, quality concerns, customer complaints, process failures, and food safety incidents.

Batch Record Review Management

• Directly supervise and develop a team of Batch Record Reviewers responsible for production, packaging, and quality documentation review.
• Ensure timely, accurate, and compliant review of batch records, process charts, CCP records, preventive control documentation, sanitation records, packaging records, and associated manufacturing documentation.
• Establish review priorities that support production schedules while maintaining compliance and quality standards.
• Drive continuous improvement in review processes.
• Ensure compliance with FDA, FSMA, HACCP, SQF, GMP and GDP requirements.

Quality, Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance

• Lead investigations involving product quality issues, process deviations, customer complaints, food safety incidents, and product integrity concerns.
• Lead or support corrective and preventive action (CAPA) programs to address recurring quality and compliance issues.
• Lead or support corrective and preventive action (CAPA) programs to address recurring quality and compliance issues.
• Support PCQI activities and food safety plans.
• Lead FDA, SQF, AIB and customer audit preparation.
• Maintain audit readiness and food safety culture.

Leadership & Continuous Improvement

• Analyze and trend hold, release, deviation, defect, complaint, and disposition data to identify risks and improvement opportunities.
• Develop and maintain performance dashboards and key performance indicators (KPIs) related to hold management, release performance, and compliance.
• Collaborate with Operations, Warehouse, Maintenance, Engineering, Supply Chain, Procurement, Research & Development, and Regulatory Affairs teams.
• Facilitate communication among departments regarding product disposition decisions and compliance requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Engineering, or related discipline.
• 5+ years in food, beverage, or CPG manufacturing.
• 2+ years supervisory experience.
• Knowledge of HACCP, FSMA, FDA regulations, GMPs, GDPs, CAPA and Quality Systems.
• Experience managing product hold, disposition, batch record review, and release programs.

Preferred Qualifications

• PCQI Certification.
• SQF Practitioner certification or equivalent experience.
• Experience supporting FDA, SQF, AIB and customer audits.
• Low-acid beverage manufacturing experience.
• ASQ certifications and Lean/Six Sigma experience.