FPQA Manager

Hy-Vee, Inc.•Ankeny, IA

24d•Onsite

About The Position

As the Food Protection/Quality Assurance Manager at Hy-Vee’s Beverage Manufacturing facility, you’re the cornerstone of food safety and quality for a fast-moving production environment producing canned sodas, energy drinks, and teas. Each day, you’ll guide your team through compliance requirements, quality testing, and continuous improvement initiatives that protect both our customers and our brand. Your expertise ensures the facility not only meets regulatory standards but consistently exceeds them. If you’re a food safety professional who thrives in a hands-on manufacturing environment, takes pride in protecting product integrity, and is energized by leading a team toward operational excellence, we’d love to have you on our team.

Requirements

Knowledge of and ability to quickly adopt new technologies, including automation systems and software used to troubleshoot control issues
Ability to perform effectively under pressure while maintaining professionalism and a solutions-oriented mindset
Solid understanding of federal and state food safety regulations, particularly FDA requirements
Experience with HACCP and/or Preventive Controls programs required
Education in a STEM-related field (food science, chemistry, biology, microbiology, engineering, or related discipline) or equivalent manufacturing experience preferred
3–5 years of experience in food safety, quality assurance, beverage manufacturing, canning operations, or a related manufacturing environment preferred
Leadership experience in a food production facility preferred
SQF or other GFSI program experience a plus
Understanding of federal and state food safety regulations, particularly FDA, required
General knowledge of cleaning chemicals and facility sanitation processes preferred
Ability to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects
Ability to stand and walk for extended periods, up to 8–12 hours per day
Visual requirements include near and far vision with or without correction, depth perception, color vision, and field of vision
Ability to perform physical activities including climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, reaching, lifting, grasping, and repetitive motions
Ability to work in varied temperature environments as required by production operations
Ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally
Ability to operate standard office and production technology, including computers, telephones, and quality testing equipment

Nice To Haves

Commitment to the Hy-Vee mission and a willingness to promote the company’s values
Excellent organizational, time management, and communication skills, with the ability to lead a team in a fast-paced production environment
Strong problem-solving and analytical ability, including logical and scientific thinking to address both abstract and concrete operational challenges

Responsibilities

Manage daily food safety and quality operations on the production floor to ensure compliance with company policies, local, state, and federal regulations, and customer requirements
Lead and coordinate investigations into incidents, recalls, regulatory non-compliances, packaging defects, and quality issues, and document findings thoroughly
Coordinate and support food protection and quality training programs to keep employees current with regulatory requirements and facility procedures
Utilize quality and analytical test equipment including seam inspection equipment, pH meters, Brix meters, and carbonation testing tools to make informed decisions and recommendations to facility leadership
Oversee FPQA department scheduling, daily task assignment, and overtime monitoring to ensure appropriate staffing and cost management
Review and verify daily production paperwork for completeness, ensuring all CCPs and regulatory requirements are met prior to filing
Oversee daily sampling of production runs to confirm proper containers, lids, dating, and product are in use
Conduct employee counseling and performance reviews as needed
Assist with regulatory agency inspections and facility tours; follow up on any deviations identified during inspections
Participate in MDI, Lean Manufacturing, and continuous improvement initiatives focused on food safety, quality, process reliability, and operational performance
Assist in developing, evaluating, and continuously improving all aspects of the Food Safety and Quality program, including prerequisite programs, SOPs, HACCP plans, and Food Safety Plans
Ensure facility compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), SQF standards, and all applicable federal and state regulations
Maintain confidentiality with respect to pricing, sales reports, profit and loss reports, wages, and other sensitive company information