Food Safety Manager

LHH Recruitment Solutions is seeking a Food Safety Manager. This role is responsible for leading all food safety and quality programs within a USDA-regulated manufacturing environment. The Food Safety & Quality Manager ensures the facility maintains an audit‑ready culture, meets all regulatory and customer requirements, and operates with a strong focus on developing people and strengthening the overall QA function. The position requires a blend of technical expertise, regulatory fluency, leadership capability, and the ability to influence cross-functional teams.

Primary Responsibilities

Food Safety and Quality Systems

• Oversee the Food Safety Management System, including HACCP, Preventive Controls, SSOPs, allergen programs, traceability, sanitation verification, environmental monitoring, and supplier quality.
• Validate and verify CCPs and Preventive Controls; analyze trends using quality metrics and SPC tools.
• Direct daily inspections, corrective actions, and quality checks throughout production.

Regulatory and Audit Compliance

• Act as the plant’s main contact for USDA/FSIS, facilitating daily interactions, supporting regulatory reviews, and responding to noncompliance records.
• Train and manage internal auditors and oversee audit schedules and corrective action closure.

Leadership and Team Development

• Train, mentor, and grow QA team members through structured coaching, skill-building activities, and performance feedback.
• Create development plans, assess competency gaps, and build succession strength across shifts.
• Foster a reliable, collaborative, and accountable culture by modeling clear communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.

Cross-Functional Collaboration and Continuous Improvement

• Partner with Operations, Sanitation, Engineering, R&D, and Procurement to proactively integrate quality into every stage of production.
• Support product and process changes, new product introductions, trial runs, and change control review.
• Lead root-cause investigations, implement corrective and preventive actions, and champion continuous improvement projects.

Risk Management, Documentation, and Reporting

• Conduct and maintain risk assessments for allergens, foreign materials, and environmental controls.
• Oversee training compliance and documentation accuracy across systems such as QMS, ERP, and LIMS.
• Publish regular quality performance reports with data‑driven insights and proposed actions.

Qualifications

Required

• Minimum of 5–8 years of QA experience in food manufacturing with responsibility for plant-level food safety systems.
• Demonstrated experience hosting or leading USDA/FSIS audits.
• Proven success in people leadership, coaching, and development.
• HACCP certification and PCQI credential.
• Knowledge of GFSI schemes (SQF/BRCGS), FSMA, 9 CFR, GMPs, sanitation standards, CAPA, statistical process control, and environmental monitoring.
• Proficiency with documentation systems, quality analytics, and standard office software.

Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Animal Science, or a related field.
• Lead Auditor certification or similar qualifications.
• Experience in high-care, high‑risk, or ready‑to‑eat environments.
• Familiarity with unionized production facilities.

Performance Measures

• USDA and third‑party audit outcomes, including nonconformances and audit readiness.
• Quality KPIs such as complaint rates, rework, micro/EMP trends, and first-pass quality.
• CAPA timeliness and effectiveness.
• Employee development metrics including training completion, skill improvement, and retention.

Working Conditions

• On-site position requiring regular presence on the production floor, including cold, hot, or wet environments.
• Occasional off-shift or weekend support may be required.
• Ability to walk or stand for extended periods and lift moderate weights as needed.