FSQ RTE Manager

At Link Snacks , we show up hungry, roll up our sleeves, plaid or otherwise, and dive straight into the hard work. We don’t hide from challenges; we hunt them down. We push harder, move faster, and take the kinds of big swings that built this business in the North Woods of Wisconsin four decades ago. We’re everyday people who deliver extraordinary results. Innovation, creativity, and urgency aren’t buzzwords, they’re expectations. And just like the real protein snacks we make across our global house of brands—Jack Link’s® ,Lorissa’s Kitchen® ,Golden Island® ,BiFi® , and Peperami® and KOOEE!® to name a few—there’s nothing artificial about us. What you see is exactly what you get: humble, gritty, passionate people who show up every day ready to not just be a participate in the meat snack industry that the Link Family created, but to move faster, innovate harder and keep raising the bar so high, the rest of the world needs a ladder just to see it. Dominating this space across the world takes a team. A team that runs together, succeeds together, and celebrates together. A team that’s full of relentless energy and spirit that can only be fueled by one thing: a fist full of our delicious meat snacks. Real Meat Protein. Real People. Real Results. THAT is Link Snacks. Job Description The FSQ RTE Manager (Technical Authority) is the single point of authority for food safety within all Ready-to-Eat (RTE) production and packaging operations . This role is responsible for ensuring that no contamination pathway exists between environmental, personnel, or process risks and finished product . The position operates as a real-time risk controller , making immediate decisions on product safety, production continuation, and release. In this structure: FSQ RTE defines standards and approves effectiveness This role is accountable for closing the gap between: what should happen vs. what actually happens on the floor. Key Responsibilities Real-Time Food Safety Authority Make final decisions on: Product release / hold Line startup approval Production shutdowns Lead escalation and response to: Deviations Sanitation failures Environmental risks Define and enforce: RAW RTE separation Personnel and material flow Controlled entry/exit points Boot wash compliance Eliminate all cross-contamination pathways Sanitation Standards & Validation 7-step cleaning system Validate cleaning effectiveness through: Direct observation ATP and micro results Reject sanitation that does not meet standard Pre-Operational Control Own pre-op verification standards Audit high-risk equipment and repeat issue areas Ensure no production begins under unsafe conditions Partner with Micro Lab Manager to: Interpret trends Identify harborage points Define and enforce controls for: Drains Condensation Equipment niches Enforce drain segregation and no-spray policies Correct GMP violations immediately Hold operations, sanitation, and maintenance accountable Ensure the RTE process is scientifically sound, controlled, and safe What They Own Process & Food Safety Authority (Highest Risk Area) Kill step (smokehouse lethality) Cooling, drying, post-lethality handling Process Validation Thermal validation Scientific basis of controls Qualifications 8+ years in food safety/QA leadership RTE food experience (strongly required) Deep expertise in: HACCP, FSMA, GMPs Hygienic zoning Sanitation systems Proven ability to: Enforce standards Make high-pressure decisions KPIs Pre-op pass rate and repeat issues Zoning/GMP compliance Food safety incidents Additional Information The salary range for this role is $94,000- $106,000 (Salary.) Actual salaries will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to external market data, internal equity, location, and candidate skill set and experience. Base pay is just one component of Jack Link’s Total Rewards package for Team Members. Other rewards may include annual incentive and program-specific awards. Jack Link’s provides a variety of benefits to eligible Team Members, including medical, dental and vision benefits, life and disability insurance, 401k participation, paid holidays, and paid time off.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS :

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to be successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT :

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The work environment is a plant / office setting with varying degrees of temperatures and noise levels. Exposure to manufacturing equipment movement and wet / slippery floors. Travel may be required. Equal Employment Opportunity Employer Jack Link's is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. E-Verify Jack Link's provides the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new Team Member’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. IMPORTANT: If the Government cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, we are required to provide you written instructions and an opportunity to contact SSA and/or DHS before taking adverse action against you, including terminating your employment. We do not use E-Verify to pre-screen job applicants or to re-verify current employees and may not limit or influence the choice of documents presented for use on the Form I-9. In order to determine whether Form I-9 documentation is valid, we use E-Verify’s photo screening tool to match the photograph appearing on some permanent resident and employment authorization cards with the official U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) photograph. If you believe that Jack Link’s has violated our responsibilities under this program or has discriminated against you during the verification process based upon your national origin or citizenship status, please call the Office of Special Counsel at View phone number on click.appcast.io (TDD: View phone number on click.appcast.io). Job Location #J-18808-Ljbffr Jack Link's Inc.