Food Safety & QA Manager

Job Title: Food Safety & QA Manager (SQF Practitioner)

Bread Man Baking Co. – Houston, TX

At Bread Man Baking Co., we are passionate about crafting exceptional artisan bread products and delivering the highest standards of quality, food safety, and customer satisfaction. As a rapidly growing commercial bakery, we operate in a fast-paced, dynamic environment where teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement are essential to our success.

We are seeking a hands-on Sanitation Supervisor who thrives in an ever-changing manufacturing environment and enjoys leading by example. This role is responsible for overseeing all sanitation activities within our SQF and Kosher-certified facility, ensuring the highest standards of cleanliness, food safety, and regulatory compliance are consistently achieved.

The ideal candidate is a strong people leader who prefers spending the majority of their time on the production floor working alongside the sanitation team, building a culture of accountability, collaboration, and partnership with production and FSQA leadership. This position reports directly to the Head of Manufacturing.

Position Summary

The Food Safety & QA Manager is responsible for leading the Food Safety and Quality Assurance function within a mid-market artisan bread manufacturing facility. This role owns the site’s SQF Food Safety and Quality Management System, ensuring compliance with SQF Code requirements, regulatory standards, and customer expectations.

As the designated SQF Practitioner, this leader drives food safety culture, audit readiness, and continuous improvement while supporting the integrity and consistency of artisan bread products at scale.

Key Responsibilities

SQF System Ownership & Compliance

• Serve as the site’s SQF Practitioner, with full responsibility for development, implementation, and maintenance of the SQF system.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with the SQF Code (current edition), including Food Safety and Quality modules.
• Lead SQF certification and surveillance audits, ensuring successful outcomes and high audit scores.
• Manage document control, policies, procedures, and records in alignment with SQF requirements.
• Conduct internal audits and drive closure of non-conformances.

Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance

• Oversee the facility’s Food Safety Plan (HACCP / HARPC) and preventive controls program.
• Act as the Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI).
• Ensure compliance with FSMA, FDA regulations, and applicable state/local requirements.
• Lead regulatory inspections and maintain strong relationships with inspectors.
• Oversee traceability, recall readiness, and mock recall exercises.

Quality Assurance

• Define and enforce quality specifications for artisan bread products (crumb structure, crust, flavor, shelf life).
• Oversee incoming ingredient verification, in-process controls, and finished product evaluation.
• Manage non-conformance programs, including holds, investigations, and corrective actions.
• Partner with R&D and Operations to ensure new products meet both standards and SQF requirements.

Sanitation, GMP & Environmental Programs

• Oversee sanitation programs including SSOPs and Master Sanitation Schedule (MSS).
• Ensure compliance with GMPs and hygienic practices across all production areas.
• Lead Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP) appropriate for RTE bakery operations.
• Manage allergen control program including validation and verification activities.

Supplier Quality & Ingredient Integrity

• Manage the Approved Supplier Program in compliance with SQF requirements.
• Conduct supplier risk assessments and approve suppliers based on food safety and quality criteria.
• Review supplier COAs, specifications, and audit documentation.
• Collaborate with sourcing to maintain ingredient quality consistent with artisan standards.

Audit Readiness & Continuous Improvement

• Drive a “audit-ready every day” culture.
• Lead root cause analysis and CAPA using structured methodologies.
• Monitor KPIs (e.g., audit scores, customer complaints, internal defects, environmental results).
• Partner with Operations on process improvements that enhance both efficiency and product quality.

Team Leadership & Food Safety Culture

• Lead and develop FSQA team members (supervisors, technicians).
• Deliver training programs covering SQF, GMPs, food safety, allergen control, and quality standards.
• Champion a plant-wide food safety and quality culture, ensuring accountability at all levels.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, or related field.
• 5–8 years of FSQA experience in food manufacturing (bakery or RTE preferred).
• 2 years of leadership experience in a production facility.

Required Skills & Expertise

• Deep knowledge of SQF Code and certification process (required).
• Strong understanding of HACCP, FSMA, GMPs, allergen controls, and sanitation.
• Experience leading SQF audits as Practitioner or backup Practitioner.

Certifications (Preferred/Required)

• SQF Practitioner (required or ability to qualify quickly)
• PCQI Certification
• HACCP Certification

Soft Skills

• Strong leadership and cross-functional influence.
• Detail-oriented with excellent organizational skills.
• Effective communicator across plant and executive levels.
• Ability to balance artisan quality with commercial-scale demands.

Work Environment

• Manufacturing environment with exposure to flour dust, heat, and moving equipment.
• Regular presence on production floor required.
• Flexibility to support off-shift operations and audit schedules.

Why Join Us

Join an industry leader in artisan bread manufacturing and be part of something bigger than yourself. As we continue to grow and evolve, every team member has the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution, influence our success, and help build the future of Bread Man Baking Co.

Food safety is not just a requirement at Bread Man Baking Co.—it is a core value embedded in our culture. We hold ourselves to the highest standards of food safety, quality, and operational excellence, empowering every team member to take personal responsibility for protecting our products, our customers, and our reputation.

• At Bread Man Baking Co., you're not just taking a job—you're joining a team that is setting the standard for artisan bread manufacturing. As one of the industry's fastest-growing companies, we empower our people to make an impact, drive meaningful change, and contribute directly to our long-term success.
• Lead SQF excellence in a growing artisan bakery brand.
• Shape the balance between traditional craftsmanship and modern food safety systems.
• High-impact leadership role with visibility across the organization.
• Join a team driven by passion, craftsmanship, and a commitment to producing world-class artisan bread.