Quality Assurance and Food Safety Manager

Job Role Overview:

As a Food Safety and Quality Manager, you will be responsible for shaping and leading the organization’s food safety, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance strategies at the highest level. This position requires an accomplished leader with extensive experience in the food industry who can drive transformational change, implement cutting-edge food safety systems, and lead cross-functional teams to maintain the highest quality and regulatory standards. Your leadership will ensure the company's commitment to excellence, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement in food safety operations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and lead comprehensive food safety and quality assurance programs, ensuring full compliance with FDA, USDA, FSMA, BRC, SQF, and other relevant regulatory requirements.
• Strategically oversee and implement enterprise-wide food safety initiatives, driving continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Continuously upholds the highest standards by developing and delivering robust training programs on food safety, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance, implementing innovative ideas, and reinforcing companies existing food safety practices to ensure it remains our top priority and a cornerstone of operational excellence.
• Manage the implementation of enhanced food safety programs to build our existing programs to ensure all employees, from managers to line workers, understand the importance of food safety and quality through effective communication. encourage a culture of accountability and excellence to maintain the highest standards in daily operations.
• Act as the organization’s authority for regulatory bodies, confidently managing inspections, certifications, and regulatory audits to maintain business continuity and compliance.
• Develop, implement, and oversee food safety policies, processes, and risk mitigation strategies across production, storage, and distribution environments.
• Build and lead high-performing teams, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous learning, and commitment to excellence.
• Lead investigator into food safety issues, complaints, and non-conformances, utilizing root cause analysis and corrective/preventive action plans (CAPA).
• Managing the execution of crisis management plans, including product recalls, market withdrawals, and regulatory correspondence in cases of foodborne outbreaks.
• Collaborate with R&D, Marketing, and Operations to ensure new product innovations and changes align with food safety and quality standards.

Key Qualifications:

• Master’s in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in food safety, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance within the food manufacturing, storage, or distribution industries, with at least 5 years in senior leadership roles.
• Extensive experience developing and executing large-scale food safety programs, including compliance with GFSI standards (SQF, BRC, ISO 22000).
• HACCP and PCQI certifications required; advanced FSMA training and expertise in food labeling regulations preferred.
• Ability to serve as the first point of contact for customers, addressing quality and food safety inquiries with professionalism and urgency.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate with customers, vendors, and regulatory authorities on a regular basis in writing and on conference calls.
• Advanced analytical and decision-making skills, capable of addressing complex issues with confidence and implementing effective solutions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and quality management systems; bilingual in English and Spanish is highly desirable.
• Availability for domestic and international travel up to 30%.

Experience Requirements:

• Quality Assurance: Minimum 10 years of progressive experience (Required)
• Senior Leadership: At least 5 years in a top-tier food safety leadership role (Required)
• Food Manufacturing: 10 years of expertise in the food manufacturing industry (Preferred)

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $90,000.00 - $105,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 10 hour shift
• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Education:

• Master's (Required)

Experience:

• Food safety and QA: 10 years (Required)

Language:

• English (Required)

License/Certification:

• HACCP Certification (Required)
• PCQI (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $90,000 - $105,000