Senior Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager

Smithfield Foods • Tar Heel, NC

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The position summary states the general nature and purpose of the job. Overall accountabilities are defined in this section. Are you a strategic and results-driven Food Safety & Quality Assurance leader with experience supporting large-scale operations? At Smithfield Foods, you’ll lead FSQA at one of our largest facilities—ensuring our trusted brands like Smithfield, Eckrich, and Nathan’s Famous meet the highest standards of safety, quality, and regulatory compliance. As Senior Plant FSQA Manager, you’ll lead and elevate all food safety and quality programs across a high-volume production environment. From managing complex quality systems and sanitation programs to driving USDA and HACCP compliance, you’ll be the key point of accountability for identifying risks, implementing corrective actions, and ensuring product integrity from raw material to finished goods. You’ll also mentor and lead a large FSQA team while collaborating closely with both plant and corporate leadership to align on strategy, performance, and continuous improvement. Your expertise will shape food safety outcomes and uphold customer trust at a national scale. Ready to make a big impact? Join Smithfield and lead with quality at the forefront.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university and 8+ years’ experience in the food industry; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 2+ years of demonstrated experience in team management/development or project leadership is required.
• Must have the ability to complete required applicable forms in English, which requires the ability to read and write in English.
• Possesses hands-on experience with microbiological testing of meat and poultry products, along with a solid understanding of foodborne pathogens, microbiological and limited chemistry testing.
• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of USDA, FSIS, HACCP, and SSOP requirements, and familiarity with QMS systems, SAP, and various database and inventory software tools.
• Demonstrates strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to address inquiries from regulatory agencies, customers, and internal stakeholders.
• Skilled in decision-making, problem-solving, and responding to quality and compliance issues in a timely and effective manner.
• Maintains a high standard of documentation and compliance.
• Proven ability to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment with professionalism and adaptability.
• Willingness to travel up to 10% and work extended hours or weekends as needed.

Nice To Haves

• USDA/HACCP Certification
• SQF Certified Expert
• Knowledge and understanding of quality assurance principles, food science and meat processing, SPC and statistics
• Bilingual skills are a valuable asset, allowing you to communicate effectively in diverse, multicultural environments and enhance team collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all food safety, quality, and regulatory programs to ensure USDA/FDA compliance, accurate documentation, and audit readiness.
• Lead root cause investigations, implement corrective actions, and maintain strong relationships with USDA inspectors.
• Work closely with FSQA and Operations teams to prevent HACCP, SSOP, and product or process failures.
• Develop plans, strengthen process controls, and train staff to uphold high standards through continuous improvement initiatives.
• Design and manage the facility’s sanitation program, including audits, microbial testing, and performance tracking.
• Take prompt, data-driven action to ensure cleanliness and compliance when issues arise.
• Lead the development, maintenance, and reassessment of SQF Food Safety and Quality Plans.
• Ensure the SQF system stays current, compliant, and well-communicated to all relevant team members.
• Manage staffing, schedules, performance reviews, and training for FSQA personnel.
• Ensure all responsibilities are covered through cross-training and effective delegation in the absence of key team members.

Benefits

• Robust, flexible and affordable benefit plans and programs
• Out-of-pocket costs, on average, 20 percent less than plans offered by other employers
• Be Well programs offer tools and resources to enhance your quality of life, at no additional cost
• Support for elective surgeries, weight loss, mental health, cancer, kidney disease, diabetes, smoking cessation, asthma, maternity management and more
• Comprehensive training and professional development programs
• LinkedIn Learning access on-demand courses, professional certificates, and skill-based training
• Tuition assistance covering English language learning, high school completion, and degree programs
• Leadership development initiatives
• Smithfield Scholarship Program for employees’ children
• Relocation Package Available

What This Job Offers

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