QA & Food Safety Manager

QA & Food Safety Manager (JN - Fullerton, California

Salary: USD
100000 - USD
100000 per year

We are seeking a proactive, detail-oriented QA & Food Safety Manager to lead and maintain our food safety and quality assurance programs. This role ensures regulatory compliance, maintains high product quality standards, and fosters a strong food safety culture. The ideal candidate will have a proven background in food manufacturing, team management, and expertise in quality and safety certifications.

• Food Safety Leadership
  :
  Develop, implement, validate, verify, and maintain Food Safety Plans, Quality Plans, and prerequisite programs.
• Compliance Management
  :
  Ensure compliance with SQF standards, FDA/USDA regulations, HACCP, and customer requirements.
• Program Oversight
  :
  Lead programs for HACCP, Food Defense, Food Fraud, Recall, and Crisis Management.
• Supplier & Material Approvals
  :
  Oversee supplier approval, raw material/ingredient/packaging verification, and product release/hold processes.
• Audit Management
  :
  Manage internal, third-party, regulatory, and customer audits, ensuring thorough preparation, execution, and follow-up.
• Sanitation & GMP Standards
  :
  Direct sanitation programs, GMP compliance, environmental monitoring, and SSOP adherence.
• Training & Culture
  :
  Develop and deliver food safety training programs while fostering a strong and sustainable food safety and quality culture.
• Continuous Improvement
  :
  Oversee QA activities including inspections, line checks, product testing, CAPA, labeling compliance, and process improvement initiatives.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  :
  Partner with Production, R&D, and Procurement to drive quality and safety throughout the supply chain.
• Data-Driven Decision Making
  :
  Collect, analyze, and validate data to support food safety improvements and inform decision-making.

• Education
  :
  Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, or a related scientific field.
• Experience
  : 3–5 years of experience in QA or food safety, preferably in food manufacturing.
• Certifications
  : HACCP certification required; SQF Practitioner Certification preferred (or ability to obtain within 6 months).
• Regulatory Knowledge
  :
  Strong understanding of FDA, USDA, HACCP, GMP, and GFSI standards.
• Skills
  :
  • Excellent communication and organizational skills.
  • Strong problem-solving and auditing abilities.
  • Proficiency in food safety and quality software, statistical analysis, and reporting.
  • Bilingual English/Spanish is required.
• Attributes
  :
  • Hands-on leadership approach with a commitment to teamwork.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
  • Dedication to fostering continuous improvement and maintaining the highest standards of quality and safety.