Food Safety Manager

The hiring establishment is a rapidly growing food manufacturer specializing in producing high-quality food products compliant with the stringent standards of the industry. Known for its commitment to food safety, quality, and continuous improvement, the company is dedicated to maintaining top-notch regulatory compliance while driving innovation in food safety culture. As a key player in the food manufacturing sector, this company exemplifies excellence through its pursuit of certifications and adherence to best practices, including SQF (Safe Quality Food) certification, which underscores the companys dedication to meeting rigorous global food safety standards. With a dynamic and expanding operation, the organization offers a progressive work environment focused on quality assurance, safety, and customer satisfaction while fostering collaboration across various departments such as operations, engineering, research and development, and maintenance.

The role available is for a Food Safety & Quality Manager, designed to lead and oversee all plant-level food safety, quality, and sanitation programs. This critical leadership role reports directly to the Plant Manager with dotted-line responsibilities to Quality and Regulatory leadership, positioning it at the nexus of operational and regulatory excellence. The manager will spearhead critical programs including HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points), Preventive Controls (PCQI), SSOPs (Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures), allergen control, and environmental monitoring, ensuring they meet company standards and regulatory requirements.

This manager will also maintain the companys readiness for audits from regulatory bodies such as USDA and FDA, as well as customer audits and SQF certification reviews. Managing audit findings and corrective actions will be a key part of this responsibility, along with trending and reporting food safety and quality performance metrics to drive continuous improvement. Overseeing traceability, recalls, incident investigations, and accuracy of regulatory and customer documentation further emphasizes the focus on comprehensive food safety management. Supplier approval and incoming material quality programs are also under this role to ensure the quality of raw materials entering the facility.

In addition to technical duties, the Food Safety & Quality Manager will play a significant role in staff development by training and coaching food safety and quality personnel while promoting a strong plant-wide food safety culture. The position requires close collaboration with various departments to integrate food safety and quality considerations into processes and equipment changes, supporting seamless operations and regulatory compliance. This role demands an experienced leader with a strong educational background in food science or related fields, along with hands-on leadership in USDA-regulated food manufacturing environments and proficiency in HACCP, PCQI, and SQF or other GFSI schemes. The comprehensive responsibilities and leadership expectations make this an excellent opportunity for a qualified professional ready to impact a growing company’s food safety and quality standards.