Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA) Manager

POSITION SUMMARY:    

The Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA) Manager reports to the Plant Manager and leads the development and execution of the facility’s food safety and quality strategy in alignment with J&J Snack Foods corporate standards. This role drives a strong food safety culture and continuous improvement of FSQA systems and programs, overseeing sanitation, product specifications, and the facility FSQA team. 

The FSQA Manager monitors system effectiveness through internal audits, data analysis, and KPI reporting, and serves as the primary liaison with regulatory agencies, third-party auditors, and customer audit representatives. The position ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, including the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), and maintains SQF certification to meet customer standards. Additionally, the FSQA Manager leads training initiatives, manages product holds and risk assessments, responds to customer/consumer complaints with root cause analysis and corrective actions, and ensures the production of safe, high-quality food products. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:  

• Develops FSQA strategy, compliance goals/objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs) to drive continuous improvements in food safety & quality programs and culture. 

• Organizes FSQA system/programs and ensure appropriate system reviews/audits are conducted to meet corporate FSQA standards, maintain SQF certifications and meet all regulatory requirements.  

• Implements appropriate monitoring programs and maintains documentation for FSQA system including validations and verifications. 

• Leads and facilitates the plant in consumer and customer complaint resolution, and complaint reduction programs. 

• Leads the facility in the adoption and disciplined use of a clearly defined, well-documented and systematic commercialization process for new product launches and product process redesigns and supports translation of R&D draft product specifications to appropriate manufacturing specifications and documentation.  

• Leads activities that empower, engage, and involve operators with the information and tools needed for continuous improvement in facility manufacturing processes and meeting all regulatory/SQF requirements.  

• Maintains awareness of the business context of objectives and company profitability. 

• Supports determination and implementation of product dispositions regarding holds, warehouse, transport, logistics and risk assessments. 

• Participates in FSQA bimonthly calls, FSQA Summit meetings and corporate driven peer to peer audit program. 

• Position oversees budget and labor expenses and ensures FSQA supplies are stocked and ordered. 

• Position is responsible for all the above and any other duties as assigned by management. 

COMPETENCIES:  

• Capable of developing and managing business strategy to achieve FSQA initiatives. 

• Possess ability to interpret and apply federal, local, state, and international food laws and regulations to all products sold domestically or internationally. 

• Have a passion to lead, educate, and grow a diverse group of individuals. 

• Capable of working with multiple departments simultaneously to achieve a variety of goals. 

• Be detail-oriented, organized, efficient and resourceful with strong problem-solving skills. 

• Be able to demonstrate business acumen through issue identification, risk management, and cross-functional consensus building. 

• Must exhibit a high degree of adaptability to engage effectively with all levels and styles of employees and management. 

• Self-motivated leader who can collaborate and lead cross-functional team members. 

• Capable of managing simultaneously workloads, multiple customer demands and shifting priorities within a fast-paced, rapidly evolving environment with the ability to multi-task, prioritize, and adapt well to change. 

• Must demonstrate excellent communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills. 

• Can handle complexity and judgment to meet business needs. 

• Have a respectable professional persona and act as a representative for the department.  

• Excellent organization and time management skills. 

• Must complete all the above and any other duties as assigned by management. 

• Proficient in all Office Programs: Excel, PPT and Word. 

Required Skills:   

• Experience managing food safety systems. 

• Excellent report writing skills and demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal). 

• Demonstrated problem solving skills (extensive experience with root cause analysis and CAPA programs). 

• Excellent knowledge of food manufacturing processes, sanitation programs, and process validations/verifications and experience using a full range of statistical and analytical tools and fundamentals. 

• Extensive experience in SQF, ISO, HACCP and/or other food safety & quality assurance systems including prerequisite programs and preventive controls. 

• Must be HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) certified, be a recognized SQF practitioner and have PCQI certification. 

Preferred Skills / Experience: 

• Solid understanding of food safety and manufacturing of RTE foods. 

• Preferred candidates have a thorough understanding of risk assessments, water activity and microbiology. 

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:  

B.S. in Food Science, Food Safety & Defense, or related field, required. 

Minimum of 5 or more years’ experience in Food Safety & Quality Assurance Management in the food industry.