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About the Role
We are seeking a Food Safety and Quality Manager with extensive experience in establishing high standards for food production facility including robust quality control protocols, maintaining a compliant food safety environment, and hands on knowledge of maintaining sanitation protocols. The ideal candidate must possess a strong understanding of FDA and USDA regulations, as well as experience in quality system management. Additionally, the candidate will develop, implement and maintain food safety and quality SOPs and assist with training of teams in established practices. The Food Safety and Quality Manager will also be accountable for audit readiness, handling customer inquiries, administering lab results, and driving process improvement programs related to food safety and quality. This role requires swift troubleshooting skills to resolve quality assurance bottlenecks, along with timely responses to corrective actions and preventative measures.
Responsibilities
The Food Safety and Quality Manager is responsible for overseeing all aspects of food safety and quality assurance within the production facility. This role works closely with the plant’s management team—including production, operations, and facilities maintenance—to enforce rigorous cleaning and sanitation schedules, establish a robust quality management system, and uphold the highest standards of food safety and quality. Additionally, the manager coordinates with third-party vendors, labs, USDA inspectors and auditors to ensure full compliance with federal, state, local, and organizational regulations and policies. The role involves daily oversight of production processes, conducting regular inspections and assessments, implementing HACCP principles, maintaining thorough quality records, and addressing any potential hazards to ensure ongoing compliance and operational excellence.
· Manage quality control systems : Implement and maintain a robust quality management system to monitor product quality at every stage of production.
· Conduct inspections and audits : Perform regular internal inspections and audits of the production process, equipment, and facilities to ensure compliance with safety and quality standards.
· Lead corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) : Identify potential hazards, address non-compliance issues, and implement corrective and preventive measures to resolve quality and safety concerns.
· Collaborate with cross-functional teams : Work closely with production, operations, and maintenance teams to integrate food safety and quality practices into day-to-day operations.
· Establish and oversee sanitation and cleaning processes : Lead the execution of strict cleaning and sanitation schedules to ensure a hygienic production environment.
· Train staff on food safety and quality standards : Develop and deliver training programs to ensure all employees understand and follow food safety and quality policies and procedures.
· Oversee product testing and lab results : Monitor lab testing of raw materials, in-process products, and finished goods to verify adherence to quality and safety standards.
· Develop and implement food safety protocols : Establish and maintain food safety programs, including HACCP, to ensure compliance with regulations and industry standards.
· Ensure audit readiness : Prepare and maintain all necessary documentation and records for third-party and regulatory audits.
· Drive continuous improvement : Lead initiatives to enhance food safety and quality processes, including monitoring trends and implementing industry best practices.
· Maintain thorough SOP documentation : Ensure that all records related to food safety and quality, such as inspection reports, ATP swabbing, audit results, and compliance documentation, are accurate and up to date.
Qualifications
· Bachelor’s degree in food science, microbiology, chemistry or related field
· Minimum of 5+ years of experience in food safety, quality assurance or quality control within food production environment
· In-depth knowledge of food safety regulations and standards (HACCP, GMP, FDA, USDA, FSMA)
· HACCP certification is required (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual or SQF practitioner is preferred)
· Team player with strong work ethic and proven ability to lead, mentor, and train cross-functional teams in food safety and quality practices
· Bi-lingual in Spanish is a plus