Food Safety Manager

What’s Unique About You Is What Makes Us Better! Diversity is our strength and competitive advantage. Bring your flavor to the Papa John’s team today! Position Summary We are seeking a driven and hands‑on Food Safety & Quality leader to support our dough manufacturing and distribution network. This role is responsible for ensuring best‑in‑class food safety and quality execution across multiple facilities, while advancing Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) standards such as BRC and/or SQF. This position will play a key role in supporting new equipment and process commercialization, including par‑bake, freezing, and automated packaging systems. This individual will partner cross‑functionally with operations, engineering, supply chain, and quality teams to drive continuous improvement and ensure consistent product integrity across all categories. This role offers strong growth potential, with the opportunity to expand scope to additional facilities across the U.S. Key Responsibilities Food Safety & Quality Execution Drive standardization and execution of quality systems, policies, and procedures across facilities Support and enhance food safety and quality programs across dough manufacturing and distribution centers Ensure compliance with all regulatory, customer, and internal food safety standards GFSI Certification & Compliance (BRC/SQF) Provide leadership and hands‑on support for GFSI certification efforts (BRC, SQF, or equivalent) Partner with site teams to prepare for, execute, and sustain successful third‑party audits Conduct gap assessments, internal audits, and corrective action follow‑ups New Equipment & Process Implementation Support startup and validation of new automated production lines, including par‑bake, freezing, and packaging systems Partner with engineering and operations teams to ensure food safety and quality requirements are embedded in design and execution Develop and implement quality checks, validation protocols, and process controls Continuous Improvement & Quality Assurance Lead and support continuous improvement initiatives to enhance product quality, reduce waste, and improve process capability Analyze quality data and trends to identify risks and opportunities Drive root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions (CAPA) Cross‑Functional Collaboration Partner with operations, supply chain, procurement, and R&D/culinary teams to support product commercialization and ongoing quality performance Provide training and coaching to site teams on food safety, quality systems, and best practices Scalability & Network Support Support multiple facilities with the ability to expand scope across a broader U.S. network Travel as needed to support plant operations, audits, and project implementation Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Engineering, or related field 5+ years of experience in food manufacturing, quality assurance, or food safety Strong knowledge of GFSI standards (BRC, SQF, or similar) Experience supporting audits and regulatory compliance Familiarity with bakery, dough, or frozen food manufacturing processes preferred Experience with automated production and packaging systems is a plus Multi‑site leadership and support across various locations within US Preferred Qualifications Certification in HACCP, PCQI, or equivalent food safety programs Experience with par‑bake, freezing technologies, and high‑speed packaging lines Multi‑site or network‑level quality support experience Key Competencies Strong leadership and influencing skills in cross‑functional environments Hands‑on, problem‑solving mindset with attention to detail Ability to balance strategic initiatives with day‑to‑day execution Data‑driven decision making and continuous improvement orientation Effective communication and ability to work across all levels of the organization Additional Information Travel: ~10% depending on project and facility needs Location: On‑site facility in Grand Prairie, TX Papa John’s is an equal opportunity employer. Papa Johns is a federal contractor that participates in the E‑Verify program to confirm employment eligibility for each new team member. We also comply with all Right to Work requirements. Official E‑Verify and Right to Work notices are available for applicants to review in both English and Spanish. #J-18808-Ljbffr