Sr. Compliance Manager

Maker's Pride Talent Acquisition Team•Kentwood, MI

About The Position

The Senior Quality Compliance Manager is a strategic leadership role responsible for driving and sustaining compliance across multiple USDA- and FDA-regulated facilities. The position ensures designated sites consistently meet regulatory, customer, and corporate requirements through oversight of audit readiness, validation programs, compliance responses, and continuous improvement. The role supports and collaborates with local QAMs, provides training, and serves as a key resource during high-profile visits and regulatory inspections. Work is primarily performed in an office setting, with infrequent exposure to production environments that may involve noise, dust, moving machinery, forklifts, and temperature fluctuations. Travel is up to 30% or more.

Requirements

Five to seven years of related work experience, including experience managing and leading Quality and food safety/sanitation staff in a related food manufacturing environment.
HACCP certification (USDA-compliant) or a PCQI certificate.
PCQI certification or HACCP certification.
Demonstrated proficiency in advanced quality statistics, measurement systems analysis, and continuous improvement.
Strong understanding of SQF/BRC and its implementation.
Experience with quality systems and knowledge of prerequisite programs.
Knowledge of customer expectation management, including audit preparation and program management.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, analytical ability, leadership strength, and ability to work effectively with all levels of the organization.
Ability to work as a self-starter with minimal direction.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Ability to maintain harmonious relationships and communicate effectively with customers, suppliers, and local, site, and corporate employees.
Detailed orientation, self-confidence, leadership skills, and excellent oral and written communication skills.
Ability to uphold Maker’s Pride’s mission, vision, and values.
Ability to sit at a workstation for extended periods, stand, walk, and climb stairs infrequently, and lift 25 pounds infrequently.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in a business- or science-related field; equivalent years of experience may be considered.
Post-graduate degree.
Dual-site FDA and USDA experience.
SQF Practitioner or BRC Internal Auditor certification.
American Society for Quality certification, such as CQE or CQM status.
Experience with SAP, Master Data, Trace Gain, or Alchemy.

Responsibilities

Keep designated sites audit-ready and support QAMs with internal, customer, third-party, and regulatory inspections, including USDA-FSIS and FDA inspections.
Serve as site liaison during regulatory or high-level customer visits in the QAM’s absence, supporting Regional QAMs or Directors as needed.
Ensure timely and complete execution of validation programs, including allergen and oven validations, SOP/SSOP validations, and annual Food Safety Plan reviews.
Ensure site management follows the internal audit program; monitor and track performance and escalate violations or noncompliance.
Monitor allergen controls and ensure sites maintain validated procedures, updated records, and compliant practices.
Support the development, review, and updating of SOPs, SSOPs, HACCP plans, and Food Safety Plans in coordination with sites.
Lead or support site audits and non-conformance investigations, and drive CAPA completion and effectiveness verification.
Ensure internal, customer, and regulatory compliance responses are completed on time; assist with drafting, reviewing, and submitting accurate, aligned responses.
Manage the SQF program, including gap assessments and compliance tracking and trending.
Track training compliance and escalate critical job-specific compliance gaps, including CCP certification training needs.
Communicate policy, procedure, and regulatory updates and ensure sites implement them through training and documentation.
Partner with Procurement and Corporate QA on supplier compliance, ingredient risk evaluations, and supplier non-conformance resolution.
Foster food safety culture and provide ongoing compliance training and coaching to QA teams and broader plant personnel.
Understand environmental program management and how non-conformances are tracked.
Manage customer complaints across multiple sites.
Execute and manage meetings to show progress.
Lead site management-based trainings, such as CAPA training for managers.
Perform other duties as assigned by the RQAM, FSQA Director, or QA VP.