Food Safety and Quality Assurance Manager

As the FSQA Manager, you are the strategic guardian of food safety and quality at our production facility. You will lead a high-performing team to ensure the integrity of two distinct, fast-growing business lines: our signature Meal Kit and our Ready-to-Heat (Tempo) products. This is not just a compliance role; it is a leadership position requiring a strategic mindset to drive continuous improvement, manage complex Tempo risk profiles, bridge the gap between corporate standards and site execution, and serve as a vital member of the Site Management Team.

Detailed Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Talent Development

• Coach, train, and develop a multi-shift FSQA team to ensure they possess in-depth knowledge of both raw meal kit and RTH safety principles.
• Partner with Production, Warehouse, and Continuous Improvement to integrate food safety into the facility's daily operational DNA.
• Strategically build a talent pipeline at the site level to support business growth and technical complexity

Multi-Platform Governance & Project Management

• Lead the implementation of Home Chef and SQF standards for both business platforms, ensuring consistent compliance with FDA and USDA requirements
• Act as the site SME for FSQA programs, overseeing program pilots, validations, and readiness assessments.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for all regulatory and third-party inspections, managing CAPA activities and systemic root cause investigations.

Strategic Improvement & Risk Assessment

• Utilize internal and customer-reported data to identify trends and execute strategic initiatives that reduce errors and enhance the customer experience.
• Lead site-level FSQA risk assessments for new product launches and process changes, ensuring food safety is integrated from concept to consumer.
• Deliver against key site metrics that reflect broader company business objectives.
• Drive the Root Cause Analysis (RCA) process for any incidents, ensuring permanent corrective and preventive actions are sustained.

Qualifications

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability needed for this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities.

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, food technology, microbiology, or related field preferred (or 10+ years in FSQA food safety and quality assurance of equivalent high-level success)
• 7-10 years experience in quality assurance, food safety, food distribution, food manufacturing, supply chain or related field
• A proven track record in Ready-to-Eat (RTE) or Ready-to-Heat (RTH) operations is essential; you must understand the nuances of high-risk food environments.
• Minimum 5 years supervisory experience required with at least 3 years successfully managing multi- shift operations or departments
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• A strategic thinker who thrives in fast-paced, evolving environments and can make high-stakes decisions with minimal supervision.
• Previous experience with GFSI, FDA, and USDA inspections, programs, and expectations
• Certifications:  SQF, PCQI, HACCP, and ServeSafe Manager at time of hire or within 6 months of position.

More About Us

Illinois Pay Range 100000 - 115000 USD