About the Role
The QA & Food Safety Manager will be responsible for overseeing and executing all quality assurance and food safety programs within a food manufacturing facility. This role ensures that products meet regulatory, customer, and company standards for safety, quality, and consistency. The manager leads compliance efforts related to GFSI (e.g., SQF), FSMA, and food-specific safety standards, while driving a proactive food safety culture across the organisation.
Key Activities
Ensure full compliance with all applicable FDA, FSMA, and local food manufacturing regulations.
Lead and manage GFSI certification programs such as SQF, including annual recertification audits.
Serve as the site SQF Practitioner, Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI), and HACCP Team Lead, overseeing hazard analyses and food safety plans.
Oversee recall readiness, market withdrawal procedures, and mock recall testing in coordination with customers and regulators.
Handle customer regulatory and compliance documentation requests via portals such as Repositrak, Wercs, etc.
Maintain and expand third-party certifications such as Kosher, Organic, Fair Trade, or Non-GMO applicable to food formulations.
Lead vendor qualification, risk assessments, and second-party audits for raw materials, packaging components, and contract manufacturers.
Implement and manage digital quality systems (e.g., Redzone, EtQ, or equivalent) for traceability, audit readiness, and real-time reporting.
Ensure robust documentation, including batch records, ingredient declarations, and traceability logs.
Manage specification libraries for raw materials, packaging, and finished food.
Supervise, train, and mentor Quality Team, sanitation team members, and line auditors on GMPs, quality checks, and corrective actions.
Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, and Customer Service to address quality-related inquiries or complaints.
Participate in new product development with R&D, ensuring formulations meet safety, shelf-life, and regulatory requirements.
Communicate with executive leadership to report food safety trends, risk mitigation strategies, and audit results.
Guide formulation from a quality and regulatory perspective, including functional ingredients, natural flavours, and preservatives.
Oversee label development and compliance to ensure FDA and market-specific labelling regulations are met (e.g., caffeine disclosures, health claims).
Oversees substantiation files for product claims and manages FDA GRAS notifications where applicable.
Preferred Skills
In-depth knowledge of food regulatory compliance.
Experience leading teams and managing third-party audits.
Skilled in statistical process control (SPC), CAPA programs, and root cause analysis.
Education and Experience
Bachelor’s degree in food science, Microbiology, or related field (required).
3–5+ years of QA/Food Safety experience in food manufacturing (non-alcoholic or alcoholic).
Certifications: SQF Practitioner, PCQI, and HACCP (required).
About Us
Finding a great opportunity that fosters growth, a great culture, and leadership opportunities can be difficult. Top Quality Recruitment (TQR) connects professionals with leadership opportunities across the Packaging, Food and Beverage, Medical Devices, and Biotechnology industries. With 50+ years of experience, we believe in one-to-one communication and finding the best candidate/employer match possible.
TQR is an equal-opportunity employer that encourages diversity. We will consider all applications.
Accommodation for applicants with disabilities is available upon request.
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