What are the responsibilities and job description for the Manager, Food Safety & Quality Assurance position at USHG?
Union Square Hospitality Group (USHG) has created some of New York’s most beloved restaurants, cafes, and bars, which offer outstanding food delivered with our signature warmth and hospitality. Founded by Danny Meyer with the opening of Union Square Cafe in 1985, the company now extends beyond the walls of its eateries.
USHG has long supported its communities through hunger relief and civic organizations. USHG holds 28 James Beard Awards and numerous accolades for its distinctive style of hospitality.
Who you are:
The Manager, Food Safety & Quality Assurance, will be a key leader in protecting and advancing Union Square Hospitality Group’s commitment to Enlightened Hospitality. This role is responsible for building, leading, and continuously strengthening food safety, quality assurance, and risk management programs across our restaurants.
With a deep understanding of restaurant operations, this leader partners closely with Operations, Facilities, Legal, Supply Chain, and Training to ensure regulatory compliance, safeguard the well-being of our guests and team members, and embed food safety and quality into every aspect of the guest experience. The role balances hands-on operational partnership with strategic oversight, scalable systems, and data-driven decision-making. It will require a strong understanding of food safety and quality systems at the supplier level to ensure upstream controls, specifications, and audits that align with our standards.
What you’ll do:
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Consistently deliver a culture of Enlightened Hospitality, ensuring the safety, care, and trust of our guests and team members
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Serve as the primary owner of food safety and quality assurance programs across all USHG full-service restaurants and Daily Provisions
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Lead and manage Department of Health (DOH) inspections, follow-up, corrective actions, and ongoing regulatory compliance
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Oversee third-party audit programs, including NSF, driving strong performance, accountability, and continuous improvement
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Own Ingredient Quality Assurance (Ingredient QA) programs in partnership with Supply Chain, including supplier standards, documentation, and risk mitigation
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Manage food safety and food labeling requirements in support of Daily Provisions’ transition to chain status, ensuring all approved products, suppliers, and specifications meet USHG and regulatory standards
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Develop, implement, and oversee comprehensive Allergy Management programs, including training, policies, and incident prevention
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Be accountable for guest incidents and employee incidents, partnering with Operations, Facilities, and Legal on investigation, documentation, root cause analysis, and corrective actions
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Lead food safety and quality-related waste tracking and reduction initiatives by translating daily operational data into actionable insights, identifying recurring trends and risks, and working side-by-side with USHG Culinary and Operations teams to implement practical, scalable improvement strategies
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Translate regulatory and technical requirements into clear, practical standards that support restaurant teams
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Analyze data from audits, incidents, waste, and compliance metrics to proactively identify risks and opportunities
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Support training initiatives to ensure food safety, quality, and allergy standards are embedded into onboarding and ongoing development
What we need from you:
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5–7 years of progressive experience in food safety and quality assurance within restaurant, foodservice, or consumer packaged goods environments, preferably multi-unit or multi-site
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Strong experience managing DOH inspections, third-party audits (e.g., NSF), and regulatory compliance
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Working knowledge of allergen management, ingredient quality systems, and supplier compliance
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Proven ability to manage and investigate guest and employee incidents in partnership with cross-functional teams
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Experience working closely with Operations in fast-paced, high-expectation restaurant environments
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CPG experience is a plus, particularly exposure to quality systems or supplier programs
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Strong communication, judgment, and relationship-building skills
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Ability to balance regulatory rigor with operational practicality
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Degree in Food Safety, biology, microbiology, chemistry or other related fields strongly preferred
What you’ll get from us:
At Union Square Hospitality Group, extending Enlightened Hospitality is at the heart of everything we do. We believe our people are our greatest ingredient. Joining our team means becoming part of a culture rooted in care, creativity, and growth. As a Manager, Food Safety & Quality Assurance, you’ll enjoy:
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Competitive pay and bonus potential: Annual compensation range of $85,000 - $90,000 plus eligibility for a performance-based bonus. Compensation will be determined based on experience, skills, and internal equity.
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Comprehensive health coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus flexible spending options for healthcare and dependent care
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Time to recharge: Generous paid time off and paid parental leave to support life outside of work
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Investing in your future: A matched 401(k) plan to help you grow long-term savings
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Peace of mind: Life insurance, employee assistance programs, and exclusive access to primary care, mental health, and other wellness services
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Support in times of need: Access to the USHG HUGS Employee Relief Fund, offering direct assistance to team members facing unexpected hardship
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Dining Credit: An annual dining credit to enjoy exceptional meals and experiences at any of our restaurants
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Dining Discount: A 51% dining discount across the entire USHG family of restaurants to share unforgettable meals with friends and loved ones
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Convenience & flexibility: Pre-tax commuter benefits for transit and parking
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Growth and community: Opportunities for learning, mentorship, and collaboration with some of the most passionate people in hospitality
Putting Enlightened Hospitality into Practice
Integral to our culture are our six behaviors. Our behaviors guide how we work together.
- We play to win with humble swagger. Hospitality is a team sport where everyone deserves an opportunity to thrive and belong
- Turn over the rocks and always be connecting dots to build uplifting experiences and relationships
- Center the salt shaker with an unwavering commitment to excellence and the values that matter most
- Write a great next chapter. The road to success is paved with mistakes well-handled
- Bring a charitable assumption and err on the side of generosity
- Leave our campsite better than we found it; always responsible for the impact of our wake
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*The above represents the expected salary for this position. Ultimately, in determining your pay, we'll consider your experience and other job-related factors.
The responsibilities outlined above are not exhaustive. This role may be required to take on other duties or projects as necessary to support organizational goals, in alignment with their skills, experience, and the evolving needs of the business.
Salary : $85,000 - $90,000