Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager I

Position Overview: 

This position ensures the output of high-quality products that meet customer expectations while maintaining compliance with GFSI, FDA/other applicable regulations, and corporate policies and procedures. Provides leadership to achieve company, plant, and department goals and develops strategies that improve overall quality and profitability. Manages and implements quality policies, programs and procedures at the plant level, while ensuring alignment with corporate quality standards. Prioritizes multiple projects and assignments and communicates progress accordingly.

Key Accountabilities: 

Develops and implements quality programs to ensure customer specifications and expectations are fulfilled while adhering to corporate policies and procedures:

• Maintains SQF (Food Safety and Quality Code) certification and compliance with all regulatory requirements and preventive controls.
• Ensures all food safety and quality standards and procedures are maintained, including training and monitoring employees on the processes and methods required to achieve the company's standards for food quality and food safety.
• Ensures timely and accurate monitoring and/or verifying of control points and that required documentation is completed. This includes Critical Control Points (CCPs), Preventive Controls (PCs), Critical Quality Points (CQPs), Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP), and Food Safety Plans.
• Acts as Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) and assures compliance to the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
• Identifies conditions that may lead to customer complaints, downgrades, food safety or quality issues and escalates appropriately.

Acts as a facilitator of change to build and sustain a culture of food safety and food quality:

• Collaborates with plant management team to ensure compliance to quality procedures including prerequisite programs, Food Safety Plan/HACCP, Food Quality Plan, GMP’s, hold and release, food security and product tracing/recall.
• Acts as facilitator for Management of Change program.
• Acts as a technical liaison between the quality department, operations, and government agencies to address and resolve inquiries or issues that arise.
• Monitors and trends quality key performance indicators for adherence to targets. Works with operations to lead the team in troubleshooting and investigating to identify root causes and appropriate corrections and corrective actions.
• Manages customer complaint program, including responding to customer complaints promptly and implementing corrective measures:
• Oversees the Correction/Corrective Action program (CCA) and reviews open items regularly to assure timely completion.

Prepares for and participates in customer and internal audits, serving as a technical resource in areas of quality and food safety programs:

• Conducts plant inspections to include facility and grounds, sanitation, GMPs, housekeeping, food safety, maintenance, and employee safety and reports outcomes as appropriate.
• Serves as Food Defense/Intentional Adulteration Coordinator and obtains required training.
• Reviews and reports testing results to management, regulatory agencies, the field staff, and patrons. Ensures all required reports, records, documentation, etc. are completed promptly, maintained, and distributed according to procedures and agency regulations.

Develops an effective people development strategy to create long term sustainability:

• Leads and fosters collaborative efforts within cross functional teams toward common goals.
• Provides feedback to quality team members on a consistent basis as well as via performance reviews and creation of individual development plans.
• Provides leadership and guidance on developing goals for the quality team that will challenge each individual and drive personal growth.
• Ensures the Quality Control Supervisor or designated alternate is adequately trained to perform essential duties as necessary to back up Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager.
• Works as a backup for the Quality Control Supervisor and/or Lab Supervisor

Ensures the accurate and timely testing of raw materials, in-process and finished products. Oversees the maintenance of the lab and related test equipment including calibration, service and repair, ordering supplies, and training personnel as needed:

• Oversees the appropriate collection, analysis, trending, and distribution of testing data.
• Ensures all laboratory certifications are maintained.
• Ensures Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs), Laboratory Chemical Hygiene and employee safety practices are adhered to.
• Oversees the environmental monitoring program and works to identify risks, investigates issues to determine root cause, and provides recommendations for resolution.

• Serves as one of the plant’s Certified Industry Supervisors for Appendix N Bulk Load Screening Program, including ordering necessary testing supplies, maintaining equipment and training intake personnel in proper testing procedures.

   

Minimum Qualifications:

1. 3-5 years of job-related experience with progressive responsibilities in quality, food safety, food facility auditing or related discipline.
2. Strong knowledge of foundational elements to Food Safety programs (HACCP, GMPs, Sanitation, Pest Control, Preventative Maintenance, Product Testing, Allergens, Calibration, Environmental Monitoring, Preventative Maintenance, Traceability, Labeling, etc....)
3. Strong attention to detail and the ability to work accurately and efficiently.
4. Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
5. Comprehensive knowledge of HACCP and FDA food safety regulations.
6. Ability to successfully interact and communicate with internal cross-functional teams, and all organizational levels.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Bachelor's degree in Biology, Microbiology, Chemistry, Food Science or related field of study, or equivalent experience.
2. At least 3 years of hands-on experience in food safety management in a food production or manufacturing environment; dairy manufacturing preferred.
3. HACCP Certified, PCQI, SQF Practitioner (preferred but not required)

Benefits:

At Foremost Farms, we believe that you and your family matter most. That’s why we’re proud to offer one of the most comprehensive and competitive benefits packages in the area — designed to support your health, financial security, and work-life balance.

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance – Flexible coverage with options to meet the needs of you and your family
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – 100% company match on up to 8% of your contributions
• Generous Paid Time Off – Start with 200 hours of PTO (pro-rated for first year) 
• 10 Paid Holidays – Enjoy time to rest and recharge
• Paid Parental Leave – 6 weeks fully paid
• Health Savings Account (HSA) – when you elect the high-deductible health plan
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) – Save for medical and dependent care expenses
• Life and Disability Insurance – Financial protection for you and your loved ones
• Daily Pay Option – Access your earnings when you need them
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – Free, confidential support for life’s challenges
• Referral Program – Earn rewards for bringing great people to our team
• Career Growth Opportunities – Advance your skills and your career with us

This job summary is intended to be brief and does not list all the duties for this position. Nothing in this job description should be construed as an express or implied contract of employment. Foremost Farms USA is an at-will employer, which means that either party is free to terminate the employment relationship at any time, without any advanced notice, for any reason or no reason