Food Safety Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Why Epicured?

Epicured is seeking an experienced Food Safety Manager to lead and continuously improve the company's food safety and quality systems across its manufacturing facility. This role is responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements, maintaining the highest standards of food safety, and fostering a culture of quality throughout the organization.

Role Overview

The Food Safety Manager will partner closely with Culinary, Production, Operations, Procurement, Maintenance, and Quality teams to ensure every product is produced safely, consistently, and in compliance with FDA regulations, FSMA requirements, and company standards

This position is ideal for someone who combines deep technical expertise in food safety with a practical understanding of large-scale culinary production. They are a proactive leader who partners effectively across the organization to ensure every Epicured meal is produced safely, consistently, and to the highest standards of quality while supporting innovation, operational excellence, and regulatory compliance. 

Key Responsibilities

Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance

• Develop, implement, and maintain the company's Food Safety Management System (FSMS).

• Oversee and continuously improve HACCP plans, Preventive Controls, GMPs, sanitation programs, allergen management, and environmental monitoring.

• Ensure compliance with FDA, FSMA, local health department regulations, and all applicable food safety requirements.

• Maintain audit readiness and lead internal, customer, regulatory, and third-party inspections.

Quality Assurance & Risk Management

• Establish and monitor Critical Control Points (CCPs) and preventive controls throughout production.

• Investigate food safety incidents, customer complaints, product deviations, and corrective actions.

• Lead root cause analyses and implement preventive measures.

• Monitor product quality, shelf life, microbiological testing, validation programs, and quality metrics.

Production Support

• Partner with Production and Culinary teams to integrate food safety principles into daily operations.

• Review new recipes, ingredients, equipment, and manufacturing processes for food safety risks.

• Support commercialization and product scale-up while maintaining regulatory compliance.

• Conduct routine production floor inspections and recommend continuous process improvements.

Training & Food Safety Culture

• Develop and deliver food safety and sanitation training programs for employees.

• Foster a culture where food safety is everyone's responsibility.

• Coach supervisors and production teams on regulatory requirements and best practices.

• Maintain training records and competency assessments.

Documentation & Audits

• Maintain all food safety documentation, SOPs, records, and compliance files.

• Coordinate customer audits, regulatory inspections, and third-party certifications.

• Manage Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPAs) and verify effectiveness.

• Prepare KPIs, audit summaries, and quality reports for senior leadership.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with the Chief Culinary Officer and Executive Chef during menu development and process changes.

• Collaborate with Procurement to evaluate supplier food safety programs and approve vendors.

• Work with Maintenance and Engineering to ensure equipment and facility design support food safety objectives.

• Support Operations in continuous improvement initiatives that enhance both operational efficiency and food safety.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Food Safety, Quality Assurance, or a related field.

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in food manufacturing, commissary operations, or commercial food production.

• Extensive knowledge of HACCP, FSMA Preventive Controls, GMPs, sanitation programs, allergen management, and environmental monitoring.

• Experience managing regulatory inspections and third-party audits.

• Strong understanding of FDA regulations and food manufacturing best practices.

• Excellent organizational, analytical, and communication skills.

• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence operational decision-making.

Preferred Qualifications

• PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual) certification.

• HACCP certification.

• SQF Practitioner certification or experience with GFSI-recognized food safety schemes.

• Experience in medically tailored meals, healthcare nutrition, or refrigerated prepared foods.

• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.

• Experience implementing digital quality management systems.

Key Competencies

• Food safety leadership

• Regulatory compliance expertise

• Risk assessment and mitigation

• Root cause analysis and corrective actions

• Audit management

• Team training and development

• Cross-functional collaboration

• Continuous improvement mindset

• Strong attention to detail

• Excellent project and documentation management

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary Range: $70,000.00-75,00.000

• Benefits include:

• 401(k)

• Health, Dental, and Vision insurance

• Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO)

Equal Employment Opportunity

Epicured is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, creed, color, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under federal, state, or local law.