Food Safety Quality Assurance Manager- Supply Chain

GENERAL DISCRIPTION / PRIMARY PURPOSE:

The position manages the Food Safety Quality Assurance (FSQA) program for the Eastern Region. (Field and Cooler). The FSQA Manager liaises between growers, customers, co-packers, coolers, packing houses, and internal business teams to ensure all quality & food safety standards are met or exceeded. The position ensures regulatory compliance across Federal, State, and local requirements.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS / DUTIES OF THE POSITION
* Ensure all East Coast Veg and Non-Veg suppliers are approved.
* Ensure all sites and associated external and/or third-party entities follow the business quality and food safety requirements.
* Identify areas of microbial risk and ensure corrective actions are implemented.
* Provide internal and external quality & food safety training.
* Manage, implement, maintain quality & food safety related policies.
* Supervise and train salaried employees within the FSQA departments.
* Ensure FSMA programs are being followed and maintained internally and externally.
* Collaborate with the regulatory compliance team and act as a liaison between federal and state agencies to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
* Lead customer requests and portals related to quality & food safety are completed appropriately and promptly.
* Assist in the day-to-day aspects of the non-veg category.
* Follow all food safety requirements as applicable for this position.
* Ensure the integrity and continued operations of the food safety system in the event of organizational or personnel changes within the company or associated facilities.
* Lead implementation of food safety programs at the cooler external cooler operations.
* Engage with industry partners in research.
* Drive innovation through harvest sanitation programs for the assigned region.
* Collaborate with FSQA Operations on raw material receiving
* Lead projects that come up regarding process innovation, SOP improvements, and overall program reviews
* Lead FSVP for the company
* Other duties as assigned.

JOB SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES:

* Minimum of three to five years in an FSQA-related field.
* Technical knowledge of regulatory requirements, including FSMA, Produce safety rules, microbial hazards, third-party audit bodies, sanitation procedures, and field and plant operations.
* Strong written and verbal communication skills in English are required.
* Must have the ability to make decisions, appear for work on time, follow directions,
Interact effectively with coworkers and understand and follow posted work rules and procedures.
* Must be self-motivated and keep projects moving forward under fast-paced conditions. Changing priorities will be a persistent factor.
* Ability to work and adapt to a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
* Have experience in risk-based thinking.
* Have experience in developing new programs and procedures.
* Comfortable with data analytics

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
* Ability to lift 10-25 pounds
* Ability to identify and distinguish colors, and work in extreme cold some of the time.

WORK HOUR & TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
* Flexibility to work various hours/days as needed and more than 40 hours per week.
* Travel - up to 30% required to assigned regions

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION
* Bachelor's Degree in Microbiology, Food Sciences, Agriculture, Regulatory Compliance, or a related field is required.
* Produce Safety Rule training preferred
* PCQI certification preferred
* FSVP certification preferred
* Auditing experience preferred

EEO STATEMENT: We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or on the basis of disability.