Food Safety & Quality Assurance Plant Supervisor

Portillo's • Aurora, IL

7d • $65,000 - $80,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA) Plant Supervisor is responsible for executing and enforcing Portillo’s food safety and quality policies and programs within the assigned plant and ensuring compliance with GFSI, USDA and FDA FSMA standards across production and warehousing operations. This role provides day-to-day leadership within the plant and partners closely with the FSQA Manager to support consistent execution of food safety and quality standards. The FSQA Plant Supervisor is responsible for overseeing daily FSQA execution within the assigned plant, including technician supervision, compliance monitoring, escalation management, and operational decision making related to food safety and quality. Food safety, regulatory compliance, and product quality are critical priorities of this role. This position is plant-based and requires on-site presence at the assigned manufacturing facility Monday through Friday to support daily FSQA operations.

Requirements

• 5+ years of FSQA experience or bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Biology, Chemistry or related field
• Troubleshooting, data analysis, and investigative skills
• Strong computer skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office including Word and Excel
• Ability to operate independently within established FSQA programs, standards, and procedures
• Demonstrated ability to manage and develop team members
• Sound reporting, with good interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal)
• Good organization and time management skills, with attention to detail

Nice To Haves

• HACCP certification preferred
• PCQI certification preferred
• Internal or Lead Auditor Certification preferred
• Knowledge of Six Sigma/Lean Manufacturing is a plus
• Knowledge of government regulatory requirements in food (USDA, FDA FSMA) a plus
• Knowledge and experience with GFSI, SQF, GMP's, Sanitation, Pest Control, Food Safety and HACCP systems, Quality Training, Allergens, Operations and applicable programs/regulations a plus
• Bilingual in English and Spanish strongly preferred

Responsibilities

• Execute and monitor compliance with all food safety and quality assurance programs established by Portillo’s
• Conduct monthly GMP inspections and KPI reporting
• Coordinate execution of the plant pest control program
• Manage and oversee daily work activities of FSQA technicians across plant operations from receiving through production and shipping
• Prioritize daily FSQA activities and allocate team resources to support operational and compliance needs
• Manage product holds including communication of non-conformances to authorized personnel in a timely manner, destruction of non-conformant products, release of approved products and reporting of non-conformant products and disposal
• Participate in cross functional teams to ensure effective implementation of food safety and quality initiatives and other processes, as necessary
• Execute environmental program swabbing according to policy and identify needs for additional microbiological testing
• Analyze plant-level food safety and quality data to identify trends, escalate risks, and provide operational recommendations to management
• Maintain plant-level FSQA documentation and ensure compliant retrieval and completion of required FSQA records, including proper and timely HACCP/PCQI sign-off
• Support development of FSQA technicians through coaching, training, performance feedback, and daily leadership
• Prepare maintenance work requests when required for quality/food safety
• Support and assist USDA inspector as needed
• Evaluate facility sanitary conditions and assess risk based on food safety and public health principles and determine and prioritize appropriate corrective action
• Troubleshoot persistent sanitation issues to identify areas for improvement in sanitation program or facility/equipment design, engaging technical experts as needed
• Partner with chemical supplier to maintain and update as necessary master cleaning schedule for plant, detailed clean-up procedures and SOPs for plant equipment, in compliance with GMP and Portillo’s guidelines
• Ensure all safety requirements related to sanitation are met, including proper chemical storage, MSDS, PPE and established procedures
• Deliver and reinforce sanitation-related training for plant team members
• Support implementation of operational and FSQA process changes within the plant
• Ensure proper documentation of HACCP monitoring, verification, and validation, and deviation handling with associated corrective action
• Maintain readiness for USDA food safety assessments and third-party audits
• Assign daily tasks to FSQA technicians for line checks, pre-operational inspections, and in-process verification
• Ensure consistency and accuracy of data collection and compliance reporting
• Hold team members accountable to food safety, sanitation, and quality standards through monitoring, escalation, and corrective action follow through
• Reinforce a strong food safety culture and compliance standards across shifts and departments
• Work with operations to assess and mitigate food safety risks associated with construction and major maintenance
• Coordinate plant-level preparation activities for internal sanitation, food safety, and third-party audits in partnership with the FSQA Manager
• Support guest complaint investigations through root cause analysis and corrective action implementation in partnership with the FSQA Manager
• Assist FSQA Manager with any plant deviations
• Assist FSQA Manager and FSQA team on SCAR submissions
• Work with the management team in facilitating rollouts of new procedures and policies
• Participate in hiring, coaching, training, performance management, and development of FSQA technicians
• Other duties as assigned

Benefits

• Participation in a discretionary bonus program based on company and individual performance
• A monthly technology reimbursement
• Quarterly Portillo’s gift cards
• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Paid time off
• Life insurance
• 401(k) plan with a company match

What This Job Offers

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