Food Safety and Quality Assurance (FSQA) Manager

We Feed Raw•Lincoln, NE

About The Position

At We Feed Raw, we’re revolutionizing the way pet parents nourish their dogs. Founded in 2009, our mission is simple: to help dogs live longer, healthier, and happier lives through a biologically appropriate, raw diet. Our meals are made from over 85% ethically sourced meat, with no fillers, preservatives, or artificial ingredients—just real food that delivers real results. Recognized by Inc., Forbes, Newsweek, and more, We Feed Raw is already a leader in the alternative pet food movement. In the next few years, we aim to be synonymous with promoting optimal canine health and happiness through the power of nature’s perfect diet. We are seeking an experienced and passionate Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA) Manager to oversee all aspects of food safety, quality control, and regulatory compliance across We Feed Raw’s products. This role ensures that every lot we produce is safe, consistent, nutritionally complete, and aligned with our brand standards. The FSQA Manager will support new product development and commercialization, ensuring nutrition, food safety and quality principles are built into innovation from concept to launch. You will manage the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of our food safety and quality systems, ensuring full compliance with FDA, USDA, AAFCO, and local regulatory requirements, as well as internal company standards. The ideal candidate combines technical expertise in food safety and microbiology with a passion for animal nutrition and operational excellence.

Requirements

This role requires a strong understanding of food science, chemistry, and analytical methods, along with excellent communication and problem-solving skills.
3-5 years of Food Safety and Food Quality experience.
Experience with cold-chain manufacturing and distribution is required.
Strong technical and analytical skills. Comprehensive knowledge of AAFCO and pet food regulations.
Strong project management and multi-tasking skills.
Creative problem-solving skills.
Technical leadership in the area of Food Microbiology and familiarity with nutritional formulation and labeling for pet foods.
Proficiency in testing and commercializing food products in a manufacturing facility.
Knowledge of meat and poultry processes and equipment.
Ability to operate laboratory equipment and manage laboratory budget.
Ability to interpret and communicate technical information.
Ability to anticipate needs and priorities of other functional departments to accomplish objectives.
BS – Food Science required

Nice To Haves

Experience with raw or minimally processed foods is preferred.
Experience at DtC and scaling startup is a plus.
MS – Food Science, Animal Science, Microbiology, or related field a plus

Responsibilities

Develop, implement, and maintain comprehensive food safety programs, including HACCP, GMPs, Sanitation SOPs, and preventive controls under FSMA guidelines.
Manage and monitor environmental and product microbiological testing programs, including pathogen control and shelf-life validation for raw pet food.
Oversee traceability, recall readiness, and supplier quality assurance programs.
Lead root cause analysis and corrective/preventive action (CAPA) for non-conformances.
Ensure all products meet defined production specifications, including but not limited to sensory, texture, nutritional, raw materials, production and labeling standards.
Oversee in-process and finished product testing, including retention samples and lot release processes.
Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) for production and quality-related activities.
Conduct on-site audits and manufacturing visits on an as needed basis.
Partner with operations to ensure consistent process control and continuous improvement.
Ensure compliance with FDA, USDA, AAFCO, state, and local regulations governing pet food manufacturing.
Maintain and manage facility certifications, including audits by regulatory agencies and third parties.
Prepare and maintain documentation for regulatory inspections, customer audits, and certification renewals.
Review all product packaging and labeling claims to ensure accuracy and compliance.
Partner with R&D and operations teams to integrate food safety and quality standards into new product development.
Support formulation verification, ingredient approval, and process validation for new products.
Develop and manage production specs. Implement systems of quality checks and documentation to ensure production specs are followed.
Develop quality standards and testing protocols for new product launches.
Stay ahead of best practices and drive continuous improvement in user experience, product safety, procurement standards, etc.
Train and mentor production and quality team members in GMPs, food safety, and quality best practices.
Build a strong culture of quality and accountability across all departments.
Lead by example in promoting safe, ethical, and compliant manufacturing practices.
Partner with customer service to provide accurate and transparent information to customers. Respond to all quality inquiries in a timely manner.