USDA Compliance & FSQA Manager

The USDA Compliance & FSQA Manager is responsible for the overall management, maintenance, verification, validation, and continuous improvement of the company's USDA food safety and regulatory compliance programs. This position serves as the primary authority for USDA regulatory compliance and is accountable for ensuring facility operations comply with all applicable USDA-FSIS requirements.

The USDA Compliance & FSQA Manager owns the facility HACCP system, SSOP program, regulatory recordkeeping, validation and verification activities, corrective action programs, inspection readiness, and food safety compliance initiatives. This position serves as the primary liaison with USDA inspection personnel and has authority to make food safety and product disposition decisions.

In addition to USDA program ownership, this position provides food safety and quality support to the company's fresh produce operations, including SQF compliance, audit participation, quality investigations, and continuous improvement activities. Fresh produce support is an important component of the role; however, USDA compliance and food safety program ownership are the primary responsibilities and performance expectations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

USDA Compliance and Regulatory Oversight

• Serve as the primary company representative during USDA inspections, audits, investigations, and regulatory interactions.
• Maintain compliance with all applicable USDA-FSIS regulations and company food safety programs.
• Monitor regulatory changes and implement program updates as necessary.
• Maintain facility readiness for USDA inspections at all times.
• Lead responses to regulatory findings, non-compliance records, and corrective actions.

HACCP, Validation, and Verification Program Management

• Own and maintain the facility HACCP system.
• Conduct annual HACCP reassessments and ongoing program reviews.
• Develop, execute, and maintain validation studies supporting HACCP plans, SSOPs, process controls, and food safety interventions.
• Establish scientific justification for critical limits, monitoring procedures, and food safety controls.
• Design and manage microbiological, environmental, chemical, and process verification programs.
• Analyze testing data, process trends, environmental monitoring results, and corrective action effectiveness.
• Develop sampling plans and testing protocols supporting food safety and regulatory compliance.
• Maintain validation and verification documentation that demonstrates regulatory compliance and scientific support.

Sanitation and Food Safety Programs

• Maintain USDA-compliant SSOPs and sanitation programs.
• Verify effectiveness of sanitation controls through inspections, testing, and record review.
• Oversee environmental monitoring, microbiological testing, foreign material control, and related food safety programs.
• Lead food safety investigations and determine appropriate corrective and preventive actions.

Documentation and Compliance Systems

• Ensure accuracy, completeness, and retention of all USDA-required records.
• Conduct routine verification of HACCP, SSOP, monitoring, and verification records.
• Maintain document control systems and compliance databases.
• Utilize Microsoft SharePoint and related systems to improve compliance management and document control.

Team Leadership and Training

• Manage and develop FSQA personnel.
• Provide training on HACCP, GMPs, SSOPs, food safety programs, and regulatory requirements.
• Promote a culture of food safety, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with Operations, Production, Maintenance, and Sanitation teams to ensure food safety objectives are achieved.

Fresh Produce and SQF Support

• Provide food safety and quality support for fresh produce operations.
• Participate in SQF audits, program maintenance, and corrective action activities.
• Support customer complaint investigations, quality concerns, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Serve as a technical resource for food safety and quality matters affecting produce operations.

Skills / Requirements:

Required Qualifications

• Bilingual (English and Spanish).
• HACCP Certification.
• Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) Certification.
• Minimum 5 years of Food Safety & Quality Assurance experience in a food manufacturing environment.
• Minimum 1–3 years of USDA regulatory compliance experience.
• Minimum 1–3 years of supervisory or managerial experience.
• Strong understanding of HACCP, validation, verification, sanitation, GMPs, and regulatory compliance.
• Experience developing validation studies and managing verification programs.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Proficiency with Microsoft SharePoint.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and leadership skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Biology, Chemistry, Animal Science, Food Engineering, or related scientific discipline.
• SQF Practitioner or SQF audit experience.
• Experience managing USDA inspections and regulatory audits.
• Experience with environmental monitoring and microbiological testing programs.
• Experience implementing electronic quality and compliance management systems.

Success Factors

• Demonstrates strong technical understanding of food safety systems.
• Comfortable interpreting regulatory requirements and scientific data.
• Able to independently manage USDA compliance programs and inspections.
• Strong problem-solving and root cause analysis skills.
• Effective communicator capable of working across departments and organizational levels.

Schedule: Monday - Friday 7am to 3:30pm

Pay Range: $80,000-$85,000

Pay: $80,000.00 - $85,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• What food safety certifications do you currently hold?
• This role requires bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish. Are you able to communicate effectively in both languages?
• What are your salary expectations for this position?

Work Location: In person

Salary : $80,000 - $85,000