SR Manager - Corporate Food Safety and Quality

Blue Diamond Growers • Salida, CA

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About The Position

The Senior Manager, Corporate Food Safety & Quality is responsible for leading and strengthening enterprise-wide food safety and quality systems across Blue Diamond Growers’s manufacturing network and co-manufacturing partners. This role provides corporate oversight, technical leadership, and governance to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, internal standards, and customer expectations while driving continuous improvement and risk reduction. The position plays a critical leadership role in transitioning production to co-manufacturers, enhancing site-level accountability, and embedding a proactive food safety culture across the organization.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Engineering, or related field (Master’s preferred)
• 10+ years of experience in Food Safety & Quality within food manufacturing or CPG
• 5+ years experience in quality auditing in a supervisory capacity.
• Strong oral and written skills to be able to provide clear and concise instructions.
• Ability to interact with people at all levels and promote a teamwork environment.
• Provide leadership and motivation while maintain an impartial attitude
• Technical Expertise
• Deep knowledge of FSMA, preventive controls, and HACCP principles
• Experience with environmental monitoring programs (EMP), allergen controls, and validation/verification
• Established knowledge and/or experience in quality tools, quality auditing, HACCP, GMPs, statistical analysis, process controls, scientific methodologies, GLPs, laboratory equipment/instruments and laboratory policies.
• Strong understanding of microbiological risks in low-moisture foods (e.g., Salmonella)
• Leadership & Skills
• Strong leadership and influencing skills across cross-functional teams
• Proven ability to drive accountability without direct authority
• Excellent problem-solving and root cause analysis capabilities
• Strong communication skills, including executive-level reporting
• Provides reliable judgments and decision making.
• Takes initiative.
• Administration and Operations:
• Good organizational skills and possess the ability to manage multiple programs and projects.
• Adhere to required/specified policies, procedures, time scheudles and budgets.
• Maintain hard copy and electronic copies of procedures, quality records, research, etc.
• Physical Demands:
• Job requires travel to other facilities (Turlock, Salida, Oakdale and/or McClellan).
• Must be able to physically move throughout the facility including climbing multiple flights of stairs, ladders, elevated catwalks and tight access areas.
• Able to work at a desk for extended periods of time doing analytical work or preparing reports on a computer.
• On call 24 hours a day for emergency situations.
• Weekend work not uncommon.
• Work Environment:
• Work in a laboratory environment with biological hazards, hazardous chemicals and toxic materials.
• Work in the plant environment with associated hazards of moving equipment, slippery floors, dust, high noise and adverse temperature and humidity gradients.
• Special Equipment Used:
• Knowledge of computer applications and laboratory instrumentation.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with low-moisture foods and/or nut processing strongly preferred
• Demonstrated experience managing co-manufacturers and supplier quality programs
• Quality Auditing training certificates (ASQ or CQS) are preferable
• Familiarity with GFSI standards (SQF, BRC, etc.)

Responsibilities

• Corporate FSQA governance and oversight
• Establish and maintain corporate food safety and quality policies, standards, and programs aligned with FSMA, USDA, Almond Board of California and global regulatory requirements.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable regulations, including FDA (21CFR117), state requirements and international standards.
• Server as a subject matter expert for regulatory inspections an customer audits.
• Provide oversight to ensure effective implementation of FSQA systems at all manufacturing sites and co-manufacturers.
• Develop FSQA KPIs with analytics and reporting cadence.
• Lead internal audits and verification activities to ensure compliance and effectiveness.
• Oversee the management of the Quality Assurance Laboratory to ensure compliance with regulatory, ISO 17025 and ensures customer expectations are being followed.
• Food Safety Risk Management
• Identify, assess, and mitigate food safety risks across raw materials, processing, and finished products (with emphasis on low-moisture foods and almonds)
• Ensure robust preventive controls, including Process controls (e.g., pasteurization validation) Allergen management Environmental monitoring programs (EMP)
• Crisis Management & Incident Response
• Lead or support food safety and quality incident investigations
• Apply structured problem-solving methodologies (e.g., FACTS-based approach)
• Develop communication strategies for internal and external stakeholders
• Ensure timely and effective resolution and documentation
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for food safety or quality incidents
• Administers Company’s pasteurization program to ensure adherence to the Almond Industry Pasteurization Rule.
• Works with Process Authority in completing pasteurization validation studies.
• Oversees the management of the Company’s Environmental Monitoring Program and Allergen Control Program.
• Facilitates monitoring efforts between QA Laboratory and the Production Facilities.
• FSQA Continuous Improvement & Program Development
• Drive standardization and simplification of FSQA
• Develop metrics, KPIs, and dashboard to measure FSQA performance
• Lead initiatives to improve product quality, reduce waste, and enhance operational efficiency
• Training & Development
• Provides and facilitates training of Company personnel and contract staffing.
• Training to included but not limited to: HACCP, Food Safety, Food Security, Food Quality and Laboratory Policies and Procedures.
• Provides technical assistance and expertise for other departments, customers and regulators.
• Performs other duties and responsibilities as required or assigned by Supervisor.

Benefits

• In addition to working at the world’s largest, state-of-the-art almond manufacturer, we offer a safe and collaborative team environment, with numerous opportunities for free training and career advancement.
• Check out the BDG Benefits, Health & Wellness Guide HERE .
• In addition to a robust benefits package, we offer an employee wellness and fitness program, in which a majority of our workforce currently participates.

What This Job Offers

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