Sr Manager Plant Quality (Food & Beverage manufacturing)

WHO WE ARE

Baldwin Richardson Foods is focused on enriching the flavor of life. As a full-service liquid products supplier and strategic partner to the food and beverage industry, Baldwin Richardson Foods combines its formulation expertise and unique packaging options with robust processing capabilities to produce high-quality sauces, toppings, syrups, fillings, and shelf-stable beverages for the world's most iconic Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs), Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) brands, and food service companies. Its state-of-the-art Innovation & Culinary Center transforms trends and culinary inspiration into legendary products through an award-winning commercialization process. The company also manufactures and markets Mrs. Richardson's dessert sauces and Nance's mustards/condiments in addition to producing finished goods for the private label sector. BRF maintains its headquarters and a manufacturing facility in Macedon, New York; with a Culinary Innovation Center in Westmont, Illinois; and offices and manufacturing facilities in Williamson, New York; Pennsauken, New Jersey; and Corona, California. This role reports into our Pennsauken, NJ manufacturing plant.

WHAT WE NEED

The Senior Plant Quality Manager provides strategic leadership and direction for the Quality Assurance and Sanitation functions at Baldwin's Pennsauken Aseptic facility, overseeing compliance with Low Acid Canned Food (LACF) regulations, Acid/Acidified food regulations, and aseptic beverage manufacturing requirements. This position manages a large, diverse team including two direct manager-level reports-Regulatory Compliance Manager and Sanitation Manager-and all plant quality personnel. The Senior Plant Quality Manager ensures that all products meet or exceed regulatory, customer, and company standards while driving continuous improvement in quality systems, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Provide overall leadership for plant Quality, Sanitation, and Regulatory Compliance teams, setting performance expectations and ensuring accountability at all levels.
• Lead execution of Baldwin's quality and food safety programs across all operations, including laboratory method development, sampling programs, and data analysis to reduce variation and improve operational performance.
• Ensure plant operations maintain full compliance with FSMA, HACCP, GMP, Pest Control, Allergen Control, Chemical Control, LACF (21 CFR 113), Acid/Acidified Foods (21 CFR 114), and Environmental Monitoring requirements.
• Direct and support the Regulatory Compliance Manager in managing all FDA and state filings, process deviations, interactions with Process Authorities, and timely responses to regulatory inquiries.
• Direct and support the Sanitation Manager to ensure execution of the Master Sanitation Schedule, including validation of CIP and sanitation effectiveness.
• Serve as the senior plant lead during all regulatory inspections, third-party audits (SQF, GFSI), and customer audits; ensure timely corrective and preventive actions with transparent communication to corporate and senior leadership.
• Oversee internal audit program and quality system reviews to identify risks, ensure compliance, and implement improvements.
• Partner with Corporate Quality, Food Safety, and R&D in new product commercialization, ensuring quality standards are established, validated, and sustained.
• Utilize data-driven analysis to identify trends, prevent defects, and implement preventive measures.
• Lead resolution of customer complaints and non-conformance issues through structured problem-solving and root cause analysis.
• Ensure all plant personnel receive required training on company and regulatory quality requirements, fostering a culture of food safety and continuous improvement.
• Stay abreast of evolving regulations, industry standards, and emerging technologies in aseptic and LACF manufacturing, integrating best practices into plant operations.
• Directly manage the Regulatory Compliance Manager, Sanitation Manager, and Quality Supervisors.
  1. Indirectly oversee all Quality, Regulatory, and Sanitation staff at the facility.
• Responsible for staffing, performance management, training, and professional development of team members.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL

• Bachelor's Degree in Food Science, Food Safety, Microbiology, or related discipline
• 10+ years of Food Industry Experience.
• Prior experience in Food Manufacturing Environments required.
• 5+ years of experience dealing with Aseptic Processing of Low Acid food hermetically sealed containers
• 5+ years' experience with HACCP, SQF, GFSI, FDA and/or USDA audits
• Experience with dealing with regulatory inspections and responding to regulatory inquiries.
• Experience with retort or aseptic operations is required.
• 3+ years people management experience.

At BRF, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. Your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

You'll also receive a comprehensive benefits package including a low premium and out of pocket cost medical, dental and vision coverage, 401k with company match, generous sick and vacation time, 9 paid holidays, birthday and floating holidays, volunteer time and more!

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