Food Safety & Quality Assurance Lead; First Shift

We are seeking a Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA) Assistant Manager to join our leadership team at a growing food manufacturing facility. This first-shift leadership role is responsible for supporting the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of food safety and quality systems while leading daily quality operations on the production floor.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader who thrives in a manufacturing environment, enjoys coaching teams, and has a passion for food safety, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement. This position partners closely with Operations, Sanitation, Maintenance, and Supply Chain to ensure products consistently meet the highest standards of quality and food safety.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in managing all Food Safety and Quality Assurance activities for the manufacturing facility.
• Ensure compliance with FDA, USDA (if applicable), SQF/BRC, HACCP, GMP, and FSMA requirements.
• Support and maintain the site's Food Safety Plan, HACCP program, allergen controls, sanitation verification, and environmental monitoring programs.
• Lead and mentor Quality Technicians and FSQA personnel on first shift.
• Conduct routine plant inspections, GMP audits, and quality assessments to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Investigate customer complaints, quality incidents, and non-conformances while implementing effective corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Partner with Production and Operations to drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance product quality and operational efficiency.
• Assist with internal, customer, and third-party food safety audits.
• Analyze quality metrics, identify trends, and prepare reports for leadership.
• Verify compliance with product specifications through inspections, sampling, testing, and documentation review.
• Support new product launches and process validations from a food safety and quality perspective.
• Ensure accurate completion and maintenance of all quality and food safety records.
• Foster a culture of food safety, accountability, and continuous improvement throughout the facility.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Biology, or a related field preferred.
• 3-7+ years of Food Safety and Quality Assurance experience within a food manufacturing environment.
• Previous leadership or supervisory experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of:
• HACCP
• SQF, BRC, or GFSI certification standards
• GMPs
• FSMA
• FDA regulations
• Root cause analysis and CAPA
• Experience participating in customer, regulatory, and third-party audits.
• Strong problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel.
• Experience using quality management systems (QMS) and ERP systems is a plus.

Preferred Experience

• PCQI certification
• HACCP Certification
• Experience in a high-volume food manufacturing environment
• Lean Manufacturing or Continuous Improvement experience

What You'll Bring

• Strong leadership with a collaborative, hands-on approach
• Passion for food safety and delivering high-quality products
• Ability to make sound decisions in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
• Excellent communication and cross-functional partnership skills
• Continuous improvement mindset with strong analytical abilities

Why Join Us?

• Stable, growing food manufacturing organization
• Highly visible leadership opportunity
• Opportunity to influence food safety culture and operational excellence
• Competitive compensation, bonus potential, comprehensive benefits, and career advancement opportunities