Quality and Food Safety Manager

Evie's is a fast-growing, better-for-you snack brand sourcing from our family-owned, regenerative pecan farms in South Texas. We're reintroducing pecans to the modern consumer in a downright delectable way – with nostalgic flavors, premium sourcing, and a perfect crunch that keeps people coming back. As Evie's continues to scale nationally, we're opening our first dedicated manufacturing and distribution facility in the Houston, Texas area. We're looking for an experienced Quality and Food Safety Manager to be the guardian of our product integrity and the architect of our food safety excellence. You'll set the tone for a food-safe and efficient production environment, ensuring that every snack leaving our facility meets rigorous quality standards. Your leadership will directly influence customer trust, regulatory compliance, and the reputation of our brand as we scale. About the Role The Quality and Food Safety Manager will be the senior on-site Quality and Food Safety leader responsible for helping stand up and run Evie's first dedicated manufacturing and distribution facility. This person will report to the Director of Operations and work closely with the founders, management team, process engineers, and external partners during the build-out and pre-launch phase, then take ownership of all quality programs. This role is ideal for someone who combines strong leadership and technical expertise along with a hands-on, entrepreneurial mindset. You should be equally comfortable building food safety-conscious systems and SOPs, hiring and developing quality technicians/food safety teams, and creating a culture of accountability on the floor. Responsibilities Facility Build-Out & Startup Partner with founders and external partners during the build-out phase to support facility readiness and launch planning. Help translate startup plans into practical operating systems for day-one readiness. Develop GMP programs, SOPs, training materials, startup routines, quality processes, and daily management tools. Develop a Master Sanitation Schedule and QA/QC program that supports operational readiness and growth. Provide expertise and support in expansion projects, including equipment installation and commissioning for new product lines. Leadership & Team Building Serve as an on-site Quality and Food Safety Manager for the facility and set the tone for performance, ownership, and operational discipline. Hire, train and develop the plant's initial quality and food safety team. Build a strong food safety culture centered on reliability, teamwork, and continuous improvement. Train the team on food safety, GMPs, and food safety best practices, fostering a culture of accountability and pride in product quality. Collaborate with leadership to prepare for third-party audits and customer quality reviews. Quality Strategy Develop, implement, and continuously improve food safety SOPs in alignment with FDA, USDA, and SQF (or other applicable) standards. Oversee quality control processes, including raw material inspections, in-process checks, and finished product testing. Maintain and monitor HACCP plans, allergen control programs, and environmental monitoring systems. Serve as primary plant contact for regulatory inspections, customer audits, and third-party certification audits. Keep meticulous records for audits, inspections, and internal reviews. Oversee product specifications, COAs, and incoming ingredient checks. Develop, implement and improve hold/release process, pest control program and chemical control. FSMA Food Safety Plan ownership. Manage customer complaints, consumer feedback investigations, and quality-related corrective actions. Develop and implement Mock recalls and ensure traceability. Calibration oversight (shared with Maintenance). Manage supplier approval and supplier quality programs, including risk assessments, documentation reviews, and ongoing supplier performance monitoring. Review ingredient specifications, supplier COAs, and food safety documentation. Serve as SQF Practitioner and maintain readiness for certification audits. Maintain finished product release criteria, including disposition decision-making, and ensure production records are reviewed prior to release. Operational Support Sanitation verification and validation. Collaborate with production and maintenance teams to ensure equipment and processes meet food safety and compliance standards (FDA, SQF, or similar). Serve as a subject matter expert for Quality and Food Safety operations and collaborate with operations, maintenance and suppliers. Lead and support root cause analysis, audits, and KPI development to improve quality and food safety compliance. Partner with production to troubleshoot quality issues and implement corrective actions quickly and effectively. Qualifications 5+ years in food manufacturing QA/food safety, or a related role (nut/snack or bakery experience a plus). Willingness to support off-shift, weekend, or urgent operational needs during startup and as business needs require. Excellent leadership and communication skills to coordinate across teams. Strong knowledge of food safety regulations (FDA, FSMA, HACCP, GMPs) and sanitation practices. PCQI and HACCP certification. Familiarity with SQF, HACCP, FSMA, allergen controls, GMPs, and audit readiness. Detail-oriented mindset with excellent organizational and documentation skills. Comfort working in a fast-paced startup environment where adaptability and problem-solving are key. Ability to work in a high heat manufacturing environment, including standing/walking on the production floor, using PPE, entering production and warehouse areas, and occasionally lifting up to 25–50 lbs depending on role requirements. Travel occasionally, up to approximately 10%, as needed. Preferred Experience Experience in snack foods, nuts, roasting, coffee, bakery, or adjacent food manufacturing environments. Experience in both larger CPG environments and entrepreneurial or high-growth manufacturing businesses. Competitive salary based on experience and performance based bonus. Comprehensive benefits package, including vision/dental/medical, paid time off & employer-sponsored 401k plan. Opportunity to build and lead the Quality and Food Safety department in Evie's first owned manufacturing and distribution facility. Clear path to grow into broader operations leadership as the business expands. Why Join Evie's Now? You'll be joining at a foundational moment. This is a rare opportunity to help shape a facility before launch, build the operating culture from the ground up, and create the systems and team that power the next chapter of the business. #J-18808-Ljbffr Evie's Snacks