FSQA Manager 

Job Description

We are a thriving family-owned food company that has been making a positive difference for customers and consumers for nearly 50 years. Driven by a purpose—and promise—of Great Food, Made Simple®, the company is a leading national producer of ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook chicken and beef products. It is the number one producer of chicken and beef fajitas in the U.S. Our broad portfolio of high-quality, great-tasting products is sold throughout the country via retail, food service distributors, and restaurants. Our national customer base includes prominent organizations such as Walmart, Costco, Sam’s Club, Sysco, and HEB. Established in 1975, the business is now in its second generation of family leadership. With rapid expansion over the last decade, the company now has annual sales of approximately $1 billion and employs over 2,000 individuals across multiple manufacturing facilities.

Position Summary: FSQA Manager

The FSQA Manager is responsible for managing the Food Safety and Quality Assurance (FSQA) department, ensuring food safety programs and product quality standards are implemented and maintained. This position also oversees FSQA team member safety and retention metrics.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the FSQA team, including direct oversight of the Assistant FSQA Manager (1st shift) and FSQA Superintendent (2nd shift).

• Develop, implement, and maintain quality and food safety programs such as HACCP, Food Safety Plans, GMPs, SSOPs, and Environmental Monitoring Programs.

• Serve as the Food Safety Team leader, initiating corrective actions and CAPA activities related to foreign material, customer complaints, and environmental monitoring trends.

• Oversee sanitation verification, including daily pre-operational inspections, operational sanitation, and master sanitation schedules.

• Act as the primary liaison with on-site USDA-FSIS personnel.

• Ensure finished product compliance with customer and label specifications.

• Lead regulatory, third-party, and customer audits including BRCGS, Organic, and Child Nutrition certifications.

• Design and deliver food safety and quality training for plant employees and FSQA staff.

• Conduct internal audits to ensure compliance with company policies and regulatory standards.

• Manage product hold and release procedures.

• Make decisions regarding the disposition of non-conforming product using sound judgment and quality standards.

• Analyze FSQA data and lead root-cause investigations.

• Represent the company in customer plant tours, audits, and complaint resolutions.

• Perform special projects and assignments as needed, including shift coverage.

Qualifications:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred in Food Science, Meat/Animal Science, or related scientific field (e.g., Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology).

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years in food processing and quality management, preferably in a USDA-regulated meat facility.

• Prior management or supervisory experience with a proven ability to hire and develop salaried team members.

• Experience working with diverse, cross-functional teams.

Skills and Competencies:

• Strong technical knowledge in food safety and quality procedures, HACCP, sanitation, regulatory compliance, and microbiological practices.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to collaborate across all organizational levels.

• Strong analytical and decision-making abilities.

• Effective leadership, coaching, and team development skills.

• Ability to manage multiple tasks under pressure and in a fast-paced environment.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint); experience with M3, Redzone, or Tracegains is a plus.

• Willingness to travel occasionally for meetings or site visits.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to work while standing in both cold and hot environments.

• Exposure to spice aromas and typical production facility conditions.