Quality & Food Safety Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Job Summary

The Quality Assurance Manager is responsible for leading and overseeing all quality and food safety activities during their assigned shift. This role ensures compliance with company standards, customer requirements, SQF certification standards, HACCP programs, GMPs, and all applicable USDA, FDA, and regulatory requirements. Provides leadership, training, and support to the Quality team while partnering closely with Production, Sanitation, and Operations to ensure safe, high-quality products are consistently produced and released to customers.

Schedule : This salaried position may require up to six (6) days of work per week based on business needs. Employees who work five (5) consecutive days followed by a sixth day of work will qualify for a 6th day bonus.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, coach, develop, and support Quality Technicians and Quality Leads during assigned shifts.
• Promote a culture where Food Safety, Quality, Accountability, Transparency, and Teamwork are prioritized in every decision.
• Provide training and ongoing coaching related to GMPs, HACCP, Food Safety, Allergen Controls, Sanitation, and Quality Systems.
• Develop and execute training verification programs to ensure employees understand and consistently follow established procedures.
• Partner with Operations leadership to address quality concerns, improve processes, and drive employee engagement.

Food Safety & Quality Systems

• Serve as the facility's SQF Practitioner and maintain compliance with all SQF Code requirements.
• Manage and continuously improve the facility's Food Safety Plan, HACCP programs, prerequisite programs, allergen controls, and preventive controls.
• Conduct annual validations, verifications, risk assessments, and program reviews to ensure system effectiveness.
• Ensure compliance with all USDA, FDA, SQF, GMP, HACCP, Gluten Free Certification, customer, and company requirements.
• Maintain all quality and food safety documentation, records, and reporting requirements.
• Support product commercialization and new product launches by ensuring quality and food safety requirements are met.

Production Support & Product Quality

• Maintain a strong floor presence and provide real-time support to Production and Operations teams.
• Verify products meet established specifications, customer requirements, and food safety standards throughout the manufacturing process.
• Provide guidance during process deviations, product non-conformances, and quality investigations.
• Review production documentation for accuracy, completeness, and compliance.
• Partner with Production teams to identify opportunities for process improvements and defect reduction.
• Ensure all quality checks, inspections, and monitoring activities are completed accurately and on time.

Regulatory Compliance, Audits & Customer Requirements

• Lead site readiness activities for SQF, USDA, FDA, customer, third-party, and regulatory audits.
• Participate in internal audits, mock recalls, traceability exercises, and food safety assessments.
• Oversee customer Certificates of Analysis (COAs), product release documentation, and customer compliance requirements.
• Ensure corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs) are properly documented, implemented, and verified for effectiveness.
• Investigate customer complaints and quality incidents, identify root causes, and implement sustainable corrective actions.

Environmental Monitoring, Sanitation & Pest Control

• Manage environmental monitoring, microbiological testing, and product testing programs.
• Analyze testing trends and drive corrective actions to mitigate food safety risks.
• Partner with the Sanitation team to verify cleaning effectiveness and maintain sanitary conditions throughout the facility.
• Oversee the Pest Control Program and work directly with service providers to ensure program effectiveness and compliance.
• Support environmental, sanitation, and food safety investigations and resolution efforts.

Hold & Release Program

• Administer and oversee the facility Hold and Release Program.
• Ensure all product dispositions are supported by appropriate documentation and comply with company and customer requirements.
• Collaborate with Operations and Supply Chain teams to minimize product risk while protecting customer and consumer safety.

Continuous Improvement

• Utilize data, trends, and performance metrics to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Drive root cause analysis and corrective action processes using structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives that enhance food safety, quality, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
• Assist in establishing and monitoring departmental KPIs and performance metrics.

Additional Responsibilities

• Comply with all GMP, Food Safety, Quality, and Plant Safety requirements.
• Immediately report food safety, quality, or safety concerns through appropriate channels.
• Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education & Experience

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Associate's or Bachelor's Degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Biology, Quality Assurance, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years of Quality Assurance or Food Safety experience within a food manufacturing environment.
• Previous Management experience preferred.
• SQF Practitioner certification or equivalent SQF system experience required.
• Experience with HACCP, GMPs, USDA, FDA, allergen management, environmental monitoring, and food safety systems required

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods throughout the shift.
• Ability to spend a minimum of 80% of working time on the production floor.
• Ability to lift, push, pull, and carry up to 50 pounds on a regular basis.
• Ability to work in varying temperatures, including refrigerated and manufacturing environments.
• Ability to safely work around production equipment, moving machinery, and sanitation chemicals.
• Must be able to wear required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and comply with all sanitation and food safety requirements.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:This position works in an office and a manufacturing environment with variable temperature and loud noises from machinery and equipment alarms. The incumbent will be exposed to loud noises and alarms from equipment and machinery.