Sr. Mgr., Quality & Food Safety Ops

gategroup•Tampa, FL

About The Position

We’re looking for motivated, engaged people to help make everyone’s journeys better. Responsible for assuring Quality and Food Safety compliance in assigned operations region. Actively leads improvements and implements risk mitigation solutions in assigned work region partnering with corporate team to drive improvements. This individual will work collaboratively with units and QHSSE leaders within the region to drive gate group’s strategy and plans to achieve world-class Quality and Food Safety performance. Leads implementation and improvement projects in the areas of food safety and quality. This role analyzes non-conformities and defects and assesses compliance trends and patterns, creating strategies for defect detection, correction, and prevention. This position will report directly to the Managing Director of assigned operational region.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in food safety, quality management, or a related field.
Relevant and extensive work experience may substitute for the degree requirement.
5+ years of food manufacturing, ingredient manufacturing, or similar regulated manufacturing experience in quality and food safety.
A proven track record of successful results.
Proven experience in field implementation of food safety and quality processes aligned with ISO standards
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
Strong knowledge of Food Safety and Quality standards.
Advanced technical knowledge in catering processes and design functions, manufacturing methods, inspection, statistical methods, and quality auditing.
Technical understanding of airline-specific specification requirements, systems, and tools related to catering operations.
Basic lean, Six Sigma knowledge, and continuous improvement understanding is a plus.

Nice To Haves

Airline and/or food industry experience preferred.
Certifications in food safety or quality management desired but not required.
Lead Auditor certification in GFSI or similar quality standards preferred.

Responsibilities

Drive a culture of prevention and excellence by using data and metrics to identify potential risks, track performance, and implement proactive measures to reduce defects and non-compliance in your assigned region.
Drive the successful attainment of assigned regional quality and food safety goals, objectives, and key performance indicators to align with organizational priorities and regulatory standards.
Monitor, analyze, and communicate food safety and quality trends, compliance metrics, and improvement opportunities to internal and external stakeholders.
Partner with operational units and corporate team to integrate sustainable and scalable quality and food safety solutions into daily workflows and long-term planning.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Corporate Quality and Food Safety, HR, Operations, Procurement, and Customer Service, to identify and mitigate potential food safety and quality risks.
Ensure compliance with all applicable local, state/provincial, and federal food safety regulations (e.g., FDA, USDA, HACCP, PHAC) and company standards.
Oversee the timely investigation of food safety or quality-related issues from your assigned region, support root cause analyses, review PDCA process and corrective and preventive actions to address non-conformities effectively and verify effectiveness of action plans.
Oversee the execution and milestones of key initiatives and special projects aimed at enhancing food safety and quality systems, such as HACCP plans, allergen management, and supplier quality assurance.
Provide technical expertise and operational support to unit leaders to address quality and food safety challenges and ensure adherence to company standards.
Provide strategic leadership and guidance to Quality and Food Safety managers and/or representatives, through mentorship, coaching, and development programs.