Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager

Position Summary: The FSQA Manager is responsible for ensuring the consistent production of safe, high-quality products through the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of food safety, quality assurance, sanitation, and regulatory compliance programs. This position oversees the site's Food Safety and Quality Management Systems, including HACCP, SQF, GMP, SSOP, sanitation, environmental monitoring, and quality control programs. The FSQA Manager serves as the primary contact for USDA regulatory personnel and leads all food safety, quality, and audit-related activities within the facility. This role is responsible for managing the FSQA team, overseeing sanitation and pest control service providers, driving continuous improvement initiatives, and fostering a strong food safety and quality culture throughout the organization. Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

Food Safety & Quality Systems Management: Develop, implement, and maintain site food safety and quality programs in accordance with regulatory requirements, customer expectations, industry best practices, and company standards. Design, manage, and continuously improve the site's HACCP and SQF programs, ensuring all plans remain current, effective, and audit-ready. Maintain the Redzone Compliance module, including creation, modification, verification, and ongoing management of quality control checks. Ensure testing programs are effectively designed, implemented, maintained, and continuously improved, including environmental monitoring, finished product testing, and chemical analysis. Conduct and oversee sensory evaluations of finished products to ensure products meet established quality, flavor, texture, appearance, and customer specifications. Assist with validation and verification activities to support food safety and quality system effectiveness. Maintain packaging specifications, manufacturing instructions, and related quality documentation as required. Assign ownership and ensure timely resolution of non-conformances, GMP violations, sanitation deficiencies, and corrective action requests. Manage the deviation approval process by reviewing and approving food safety, quality, and operational deviations, ensuring timely evaluation, risk assessment, and proper documentation.

Regulatory Compliance & Audit Management: Serve as the site lead for regulatory, SQF, and customer audits. Build and maintain positive working relationships with regulatory agencies, auditors, customers, and certification bodies. Ensure ongoing compliance with USDA regulations, HACCP requirements, SQF standards, GMPs, SSOPs, and all applicable food safety regulations. Conduct routine food safety, GMP, sanitation, and compliance audits throughout the facility.

Continuous Improvement: Analyze food safety and quality data, trends, and performance metrics to identify risks, drive improvements, and support data-based decision-making. Lead root cause investigations and implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs) to address issues, prevent recurrence, and improve overall product quality and compliance. Monitor process controls, critical limits, verification activities, and quality standards to ensure consistent product quality and regulatory compliance. Manage customer complaints, returned product investigations, and non-conforming product evaluations while ensuring proper documentation, corrective actions, and trend analysis are completed to identify opportunities for improvement and prevent recurrence. Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on food safety, product quality, operational efficiency, cost reduction, and on-time delivery performance. Track, analyze, and report department Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to drive accountability and performance improvements.

Sanitation & Pest Control Management: Oversee sanitation programs to ensure compliance with food safety, regulatory, and company requirements. Monitor Master Sanitation Schedule (MSS) adherence and verify completion of all sanitation activities. Ensure sanitation records, titration logs, chemical inventories, deliveries, and supporting documentation are properly maintained. Manage third-party sanitation and pest control service providers to ensure effective performance and compliance with all food safety requirements.

Leadership, Culture & Business Support: Develop, coach, and provide support to FSQA Technicians as well as other departments to ensure food safety and quality compliance while promoting employee engagement and professional growth. Serves as designated backup for technician functions to support daily plant operations and ensure business continuity. Manage departmental budget and resources effectively to support operational goals. Promotes a strong food safety and quality culture through cross-functional and interdepartmental collaboration, leadership presence, and accountability. Champions and models the Volpi Way Fundamental Behaviors.

Additional Responsibilities: Participate in the evaluation, approval, and monitoring of suppliers that impact food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance, including assisting with supplier audits as needed. Support new product, process, packaging, and engineering initiatives by providing food safety and quality expertise. Work with the Corporate FSQA Manager for all new product start-ups and co-develop appropriate quality testing parameters to verify compliance to standards. Ensure all new products, procedures, equipment and/or supplies meet appropriate food safety and quality criteria (weight control, color standards, length, flavor characteristics, etc.).Stay current on emerging food safety regulations, industry trends, and best practices to ensure ongoing program effectiveness. Perform other duties as assigned, including hands-on support to production, quality, sanitation, and operational activities as needed.

Candidate Qualifications: Bachelor's degree required, preferably in Food Science or a related discipline, with a minimum of five years of industry experience in a supervisory or leadership role (dry-cured meats experience preferred). In lieu of a degree, 10+ years of progressive experience in the meat industry will be considered. Strong working knowledge of food safety and quality systems, USDA regulatory compliance, and regulatory and GFSI audit processes. HACCP certification required; SQF and/or BRCGS or equivalent GFSI-recognized food safety systems certification preferred. Internal Auditor certification preferred. Demonstrated experience developing, implementing, and overseeing sanitation programs and best practices within a food manufacturing environment to ensure compliance with food safety, regulatory, and quality standards. Proven ability to lead and develop teams, communicate effectively at all organizational levels, manage multiple priorities with various simultaneous deadlines, and work collaboratively across departments to resolve issues and drive continuous improvement initiatives. Strong analytical capability with experience using statistical analysis and continuous improvement methodologies to drive data‑driven decisions. Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to influence and motivate teams. Detail-oriented and accuracy-focused self-starter who is results-driven, embraces accountability, and consistently delivers high-quality work. Ability to travel as needed for training, professional development, audits, meetings, and other business-related activities. Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint), ERP systems (preferably Microsoft Dynamics Great Plains), Smartsheet, and performance/compliance tools (preferably RedZone).

Work Environment: Work is performed primarily in a manufacturing plant environment, with periodic exposure to cold and wet conditions. Must be capable of performing the essential physical functions of the role, including standing, walking, bending, and lifting up to 40 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to communicate verbally, hear, taste, and smell to support food safety, quality evaluation, and production activities. Occasional off‑shift and weekend work may be required to support business operations. What benefits do we offer?· Paid Time Off· Paid Holidays· Excellent 401(k) Plan match· Comprehensive Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Disability and Accident plans.