Manager, Food Safety & Quality Assurance - Food Mfg. Exp Req

Home Market Foods•Norwood, MA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Manager, Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA) is part of the management team and develops and implements food safety and quality assurance strategies, programs, policies, and procedures. The role communicates the FSQA vision to the department and key stakeholders, manages FSQA functions and staff, oversees performance and workforce planning, and ensures products comply with USDA FSIS regulations and Home Market Foods quality specifications. Sensory evaluation—including assessment of color, flavor, smell, and texture—is an important part of the position. The manager develops FSQA personnel and supervisors, oversees training and performance management, and collaborates with the Associate Director of Food Safety & QA on staff career development. The role works across functions to maintain product integrity and safety, improve processes and systems, support product and formula development, and ensure plant and product compliance with food safety, quality, and third-party audit requirements. It also serves as a technical resource for company initiatives and continuous improvement projects. The position is onsite in Norwood, Massachusetts, Monday through Friday, 6:00 AM to 3:00 PM. It requires a consistent presence on the manufacturing floor, with occasional travel of less than 5%.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in food science, biology, chemistry, or another related field.
5–8 years of people-management experience in the food industry.
Working knowledge of USDA and FDA regulations.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office products.
Ability to walk, climb stairs, and sit or stand for long periods.
Ability to maintain an extended and consistent presence on the manufacturing floor throughout the workday.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, learn new tasks, and meet productivity quotas.

Nice To Haves

Meat-industry experience is highly preferred.
Knowledge of Quality Management Systems (QMS), Statistical Process Control (SPC), and Total Quality Management (TQM).
Bilingual in Spanish or Portuguese.

Responsibilities

Develop Quality Assurance and Food Safety personnel in their job functions.
Participate in the new-hire process and ensure implementation of new-hire training.
Deliver quarterly and annual performance reviews for shift employees and provide ongoing performance management.
Coach and mentor FSQA Supervisors in leading their teams.
Collaborate with the Associate Director of Food Safety & QA to create career development plans for QA staff.
Ensure compliance with quality standards, formulations, and procedures in collaboration with management to maintain product integrity, safety, and wholesomeness.
Participate in formula design and shelf-life studies with R&D.
Participate in customer complaint and foreign material investigations.
Collaborate with Production Management on the shift and partner with operational departments on equipment selection or modification.
Partner with the Food Safety Programs Manager and Vendor Assurance Manager.
Organize and conduct employee training in GMPs, HACCP, SQF, and other topics affecting product safety and quality.
Partner with Vendor Assurance and Procurement to support sustainable raw-material supply and supply-chain visibility.
Generate procedures and quality specifications.
Ensure consistent product quality, integrity, and conformance from raw materials through finished-product shipment.
Conduct sensory evaluations of products, including taste, smell, texture, and visual assessment, as needed.
Serve as an FSQA technical resource for company initiatives and participate in cross-functional projects, including Continuous Improvement team work.
Influence processes, technologies, and systems—including SPC, sensing, and AI vision—to ensure consistently high product quality.
Partner with the Sanitation team to ensure program compliance.
Ensure plant and product conformance to third-party audit standards such as GFSI SQF, including audit preparation and employee awareness training.
Serve as a backup SQF Practitioner.
Develop professional working relationships with regulatory agencies such as the FDA and USDA.
Develop organizational understanding of the cost of quality.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Maintain strong organization and time management while managing competing priorities, adapting to changing operational demands, and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.