The Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA) Manager is responsible for leading and maintaining a comprehensive food safety and quality management system that ensures product safety, quality, legality, regulatory compliance, and customer satisfaction. This role serves as the site leader for all food safety, quality assurance, sanitation, and regulatory initiatives while partnering closely with Operations and Plant Leadership to drive continuous improvement. The FSQA Manager will oversee quality systems, audit readiness, customer complaint resolution, regulatory inspections, and employee training programs to ensure compliance with company, customer, and industry standards. The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader with strong experience in food manufacturing, quality systems, and food safety programs. Essential Functions & Key Responsibilities: Provide leadership in consumer safety, product safety, product quality, regulatory compliance, and technical excellence. Manage multiple priorities while ensuring the safety and quality of all products produced at the facility. Lead the internal audit program and assess the effectiveness of quality systems. Report quality system performance to management and recommend improvement opportunities. Communicate the site's quality vision and quality objectives to plant leadership. Foster a culture of food safety, quality awareness, and compliance throughout the facility. Partner with plant leadership to ensure quality programs and systems are effectively implemented. Maintain food safety programs including HACCP, SQF, BRC, or equivalent systems. Ensure ongoing audit readiness and conduct annual reviews of quality systems and programs. Track, analyze, and communicate Quality Performance Indicators (KPIs) to support continuous improvement. Manage regulatory agency relationships, inspections, and compliance activities. Ensure compliance with GMPs, sanitation programs, pest control programs, and zoning requirements. Lead, develop, and train Quality and Sanitation team members. Stay current on industry trends, regulatory changes, and best practices in food safety and quality. Lead customer and consumer complaint investigations and resolution efforts. Conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective and preventive actions. Ensure products meet all safety, quality, customer, and regulatory specifications. Promote and maintain a safe work environment and adherence to all safety policies and procedures.
Qualifications:
Bachelor's Degree in Food Science, Quality Assurance, Microbiology, Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline preferred; equivalent experience may be considered.
Minimum of 5 years of food safety, quality assurance, or quality systems experience within a manufacturing environment.
Prior supervisory or management experience in a manufacturing setting required.
Strong working knowledge of HACCP, SQF, BRC, GMPs, sanitation programs, and food safety regulations.
Experience leading internal audits, regulatory inspections, and customer audits.
Proven experience conducting root cause analysis and implementing corrective and preventive actions.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Mathematical aptitude and ability to interpret quality and performance metrics.
Ability to influence cross-functional teams and drive accountability.
Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and quality management systems.
Tandem Foods is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
