Quality & Safety Manager

Green Acre Milling•Albert Lea, MN

49d•Onsite

About The Position

The Quality & Safety Manager is responsible for leading and managing the facility's food safety, quality assurance, and workplace safety programs on an ongoing basis. This role ensures that all products consistently meet company, customer, and regulatory standards, and that a safe and compliant work environment is maintained throughout the facility. The manager works closely with production leadership to sustain product integrity, regulatory compliance, and a strong culture of safety and accountability. This position assumes responsibility for established SQF, HACCP, and safety systems and is focused on their effective execution, continuous improvement, and ongoing compliance.

Requirements

Experience in food safety, quality assurance, or regulatory compliance within a food manufacturing environment
Demonstrated working knowledge of HACCP, GMPs, SQF (or equivalent GFSI scheme), and food safety program management
Experience leading or actively participating in SQF or equivalent third-party certification audits
Working knowledge of OSHA regulations and workplace safety program management in a manufacturing setting
Strong recordkeeping, documentation, and organizational skills
Ability to lead training and communicate effectively across all levels of the organization
Proficiency with computer systems for documentation, reporting, and data management

Nice To Haves

Associate's or bachelor's degree in food science, Quality Assurance, Environmental Health, Safety, or a related field preferred NOTE: equivalent experience considered
Active SQF Practitioner certification or willingness to obtain upon hire
PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual) certification
Experience in grain milling, cereal processing, or specialty food manufacturing
Familiarity with gluten-free certification requirements (GFCO or equivalent)

Responsibilities

Lead and manage the facility's food safety and quality assurance programs in accordance with SQF, HACCP, GMPs, and applicable regulatory requirements
Serve as the facility's designated SQF Practitioner, maintaining the SQF Food Safety Management System and ensuring ongoing compliance with the current SQF Code edition
Oversee quality inspections, in-process monitoring, and finished product testing to verify conformance to established specifications
Ensure HACCP plans, prerequisite programs (PRPs), and supporting documentation remain current, accurate, and effectively implemented
Manage the facility's allergen control program, including procedures, monitoring, and verification activities for gluten-free compliance
Maintain and execute the Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP), including scheduling, sampling, result trending, and corrective action follow-through
Investigate product deviations and non-conformances; lead root cause analysis and implement effective corrective and preventive actions
Manage customer complaint investigations, document findings, and communicate outcomes to relevant stakeholders
Coordinate and lead internal audits; serve as the primary point of contact for external SQF certification audits, regulatory inspections, and customer audits
Maintain supplier approval and verification records in accordance with SQF and FSMA requirements
Monitor and verify execution of the facility's Master Sanitation Schedule (MSS) and sanitation standard operating procedures (SSOPs)
Conduct regular GMP inspections of production areas and document findings; ensure timely corrective action on identified gaps
Oversee pest control program in coordination with the contracted pest control provider; review service reports and trend findings
Ensure sanitation and hygiene standards are consistently maintained across all production and support areas
Serve as the facility's Safety Manager, maintaining and executing the company's written safety program, policies, and procedures in compliance with OSHA regulations
Conduct regular safety inspections, hazard assessments, and risk mitigation activities across the facility
Lead incident investigations; identify root causes and implement corrective and preventive measures; maintain required OSHA recordkeeping including the OSHA 300 log
Coordinate and deliver safety training programs including new employee onboarding, annual refreshers, and task-specific safety instruction
Maintain all required safety program documentation including LOTO, PPE, emergency action, and other written programs
Maintain accurate and complete records for all food safety, quality, and workplace safety programs in accordance with SQF, regulatory, and company requirements
Oversee document control for all quality and safety SOPs, forms, and programs; ensure version control and timely review cycles are maintained
Compile and analyze quality and safety data to identify trends; prepare periodic reports for management review
Ensure records are retained in compliance with applicable regulatory and certification requirements
Train production employees and supervisors on food safety procedures, GMP compliance, quality standards, and workplace safety protocols
Lead ongoing food safety culture initiatives across the facility; reinforce accountability for GMP and safety compliance at all levels
Assist supervisors and production leadership with compliance training and ensure all employees understand their regulatory and company obligations
Identify training gaps through audit findings, deviations, and observations; develop and deliver targeted corrective training as needed
Work closely with production, maintenance, and management teams to address quality and safety concerns and support continuous improvement
Support operational improvement initiatives and process optimization with a food safety and quality lens
Provide guidance and leadership on regulatory compliance and best practices to all levels of the organization
Assist leadership with risk management and compliance planning