Food Safety Manager

Food Bank for the Heartland • Omaha, NE

8d

About The Position

The Food Safety Manager ensures the integrity, safety, and quality of all food distributed across the organization. This role leads food safety programs, regulatory compliance, and quality assurance practices, promoting consistency, accountability, and continuous improvement. Through inspections, audits, and corrective actions, the manager helps protect the organization and ensures safe, high-quality food reaches its partners and neighbors.

The position leads food inspection and disposition processes, oversees food safety and quality programs, and maintains regulatory and audit readiness. It manages corrective actions, recall and traceability exercises, training support, documentation, and continuous improvement efforts. The manager also leads the Food Safety Committee and provides direct leadership and oversight of the Quality Assurance team.

The Food Safety Manager is part of the Community Impact team, which includes Operations, the Volunteer Center, Sourcing and Procurement, Transportation, Inventory Management, Quality Assurance, and Network Relations. The team works together to ensure food is safely sourced, processed, and distributed.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Safety, Quality Assurance, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• At least three years of experience in food safety, quality assurance, or regulatory compliance.
• PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual) certification, or ability to obtain it within 12 months.
• ServSafe Manager certification, or ability to obtain it within 12 months.
• Seafood HACCP certification, or ability to obtain it within 12 months.
• Strong working knowledge of food safety standards, including GMPs, HACCP, and regulatory requirements such as AIB, USDA, and FDA, or similar.
• Strong working knowledge of audits, inspections, and regulatory compliance in food distribution, warehousing, or manufacturing environments.
• Ability to interpret regulations and translate requirements into clear, actionable operational practices.
• Strong attention to detail and a focus on accuracy, documentation, and consistency.
• Effective interpersonal, communication, relationship-building, and active-listening skills.
• Ability to lead through influence, coach and develop team members, and reinforce expectations across staff and volunteers.
• Demonstrated ability to identify risks, analyze data, and implement practical solutions that improve quality and compliance outcomes.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment and meet deadlines.
• Ability to communicate effectively across organizational levels and with cross-functional teams.
• Ability to work independently, make sound decisions, and exercise judgment when resolving food safety and quality concerns.
• Proficiency with inspection, documentation, and tracking systems such as SafetyCulture or similar platforms.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, data analytics tools, and relevant business software.
• Ability to build trust, credibility, and strong working relationships across teams and with diverse stakeholders.
• Adaptability and resilience when managing change, competing priorities, and multiple projects.
• Commitment to the Food Bank for the Heartland mission and values.

Nice To Haves

• HACCP certification.
• Food Defense Coordinator training or certification.
• Lived experience with the impacts of systemic racism or marginalization.

Responsibilities

• Lead inbound and outbound product inspections, including produce quality checks, and ensure products meet established standards before distribution.
• Evaluate incoming products and approve or reject shipments based on food safety and quality criteria, maintaining accurate documentation.
• Ensure adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), Preventive Controls, and internal food safety procedures across operational areas.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate food safety and quality risks across warehousing, production, and transportation.
• Ensure sanitation programs, inspections, and documentation are completed accurately, consistently, and on schedule.
• Enforce compliance with USDA, AIB, GMP, and local health regulations to maintain safe and sanitary environments for staff and volunteers.
• Oversee pest control, chemical management, temperature monitoring, allergen control, environmental monitoring, and facility condition programs.
• Ensure scheduled Quality Assurance inspections are completed, documented, and resolved; monitor results and trends and escalate risks or non-compliance.
• Lead internal food safety audits and coordinate external audits, including AIB, USDA, FDA, Feeding America, and other regulatory bodies.
• Manage corrective actions and ensure audit findings are documented, assigned, and resolved within established timelines.
• Monitor compliance with food safety, sanitation, storage, pest control, and disposal regulations.
• Conduct and document mock recalls and traceability exercises; execute food recall procedures and coordinate timely communication and documentation.
• Support Food Safety and Food Defense programs, including HACCP and Preventive Controls, and maintain working knowledge of relevant OSHA and DOT requirements.
• Lead the Food Safety Committee and support the Food Safety Team in completing and following up on inspections.
• Provide day-to-day direction, coaching, and guidance to staff and volunteers on food safety practices, regulatory requirements, and quality expectations.
• Partner with Human Resources on food safety and compliance training, performance management, employee relations, development needs, hiring, and onboarding.
• Support the development and maintenance of SOPs, job aids, and compliance documentation.
• Analyze inspection results, audit findings, and quality data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Lead process improvements that strengthen food safety, enhance product quality, and reduce waste; develop and maintain food safety and quality metrics.
• Partner with Sourcing, Inventory, Distribution, Volunteer Center, and Facilities teams to resolve quality issues and improve consistency.
• Collaborate with Sourcing to evaluate supplier performance and address quality or compliance concerns involving donated and purchased products.
• Manage and track corrective actions in SafetyCulture and respond to food safety and quality concerns through the Customer Feedback process.
• Support improvements to traceability, documentation, and audit readiness, and communicate key updates, risks, and performance trends to leadership.
• Perform other duties entrusted within the scope of practice.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, retirement, supplemental, and leave benefits.
• Employee Assistance Program resources to support health and personal needs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager