Food Safety and Quality Assurance Manager

SUMMARY: Kayem's Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager plays a key leadership role in ensuring the highest standards of food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance across all operations. This position is responsible for leading a team of FSQA Technicians, driving continuous improvement in food safety programs, partnering with cross-functional departments, and maintaining audit readiness. The ideal candidate will combine deep knowledge of USDA and GFSI standards with strong leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills to uphold product integrity, support operational excellence, and foster a culture of quality throughout the organization.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Other duties may be assigned as needed

Lead and manage FSQA Technicians, ensuring team alignment with departmental goals and regulatory requirements. Direct the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of Quality and Food Safety programs, including HACCP, Foreign Material Control, Regulatory Compliance, and Food Defense in accordance with local, state and Federal requirements. Act as the primary contact for regulatory agencies (USDA, State and Local Health Departments), ensuring timely resolution of concerns and uninterrupted operations. Lead audit readiness efforts for internal, customer and GFSI audits, maintain documentation and certifications (e.g. BRC). Maintain and update documentation related to food safety, quality, and lab procedures and certifications (e.g., BRC). Collaborate with Operations, Sanitation and maintenance leadership to reduce product variability, enhance compliance, advance food safety/quality standards. Represent FSQA in cross-functional meetings and initiatives and support issue resolution and oversee trial or test runs(Operations, Sanitation, Maintenance, R&D, Commercialization). Foster a culture of quality excellence. Manage the Plant Improvement Plan (PIP) in coordination with Maintenance to ensure timely completion. Lead Investigations of non-conformances, customer complaints and unusual occurrences. Conduct root cause analysis and implementation of corrective actions. Provide corrective action reports to FSQA leadership. Oversee QA laboratory programs and equipment (pest control, Listeria testing, QA holds, SSOP's R&D testing/sampling) and manage lab equipment Oversee routine inspections of production areas to ensure adherence to food safety and quality standards. Develop and deliver QA training programs to QA personnel and other stakeholders. Maintain training records, conduct performance evaluations and Prepare the organization for evolving regulatory and customer expectations by enhancing food safety and quality systems to meet federal, state, and local requirements. Promote and sustain continuous improvement initiatives within the FSQA department. Facilitate communication across all levels of management to maintain process control and prevent product failures. Stay current with USDA/FDA regulations and industry standards. Serve as deputy to FSQA leadership and perform other duties or special projects as assigned.