FSQA Manager
Job Description Job Description The FSQA Manager leads and manages all food-safety and quality-assurance programs at the facility, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and customer requirements. Responsibilities include oversight of the Food Safety & Quality Management System, third-party certifications (e.g., SQF, Kosher, Halal), regulatory documentation, internal audits, and team supervision. The FSQA Manager serves as the designated SQF Practitioner and the company’s authorized representative for food-safety and regulatory matters and oversees the development and maintenance of a strong food-safety culture across all departments. Roles and Responsibilities Serve as the facility’s primary food-safety and regulatory representative, including during recalls, inspections, third-party audits, and customer inquiries. Ensure full compliance with FSMA, FDA, USDA, customer specifications, and relevant third-party standards (e.g., SQF, Halal). Act as SQF Practitioner; chair the annual SQF Management Review and issue monthly status reports to senior leadership. Oversee the integrated Food-Safety & Quality Management System (HACCP/Food-Safety Plan, PCQI, SQF Food Quality Plan, sanitation, allergen, pest control, calibration, and document-control programs). Develop, maintain, and annually test the FDA-mandated Food-Defense Plan; function as the Food-Defense Qualified Individual and trainer. Lead the Crisis- Management/Business -Continuity Plan and conduct an annual simulation test. Reanalyze the Food-Safety Plan per regulatory requirements—or sooner if products, processes, or regulations change—and document all revisions. Lead validation and ongoing verification of all preventive controls, retaining scientific evidence of effectiveness. Validate sanitation effectiveness through ATP/protein swabs, microbial testing, visual inspection, and chemical-concentration records. Oversee potable-water, compressed-air, and chemical-control verification, plus glass, brittle-plastic, and wood-control inspections. Manage foreign-material prevention systems, including metal/X-ray detector validation and performance checks. Oversee net-weight and fill-control verification to ensure legal and customer compliance. Ensure all Critical Control Points (CCPs) in the HACCP/Food-Safety Plan are validated, routinely monitored, and verified; review CCP records and escalate deviations for immediate corrective action. Design, implement, and review statistically valid sampling programs for raw materials, in-process products, finished goods, and environmental surfaces. Oversee routine in-process and finished-product quality testing programs to verify specification adherence and product consistency throughout manufacturing. Oversee the QA team’s coordination of routine and investigate sample shipments to ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratories; maintain chain-of-custody records and ensure results are promptly reviewed by a PCQI. Trend and analyze data from environmental monitoring, product testing, and process controls; present quarterly reports with corrective-action plans to senior leadership and the Food-Safety Team. Oversee and routinely test traceability and recall programs to meet FSMA and SQF requirements (mock recalls, full-system verification). Control product hold/release and non-conforming-product disposition, ensuring documented approvals and traceability. Investigate deviations, non-conformances, and customer complaints using root-cause analysis and CAPA methodology; verify corrective-action effectiveness. Maintain constant audit readiness for regulators, customers, and third-party certifiers. Develop and oversee FSMA Supply-Chain Program: risk-based supplier approval, verification, and record retention. Lead the Food-Fraud (VACCP) vulnerability assessment and mitigation program; review annually. Maintain certifications and supporting records for Kosher, Halal, and other specialty claims. Manage customer audits, documentation audits, documentation requests, and complaint investigations. Act as the company’s authorized regulatory representative; prepare, review, issue, and sign all food-safety and regulatory documents for customers, auditors, and agencies (e.g., Letters of Guarantee, FSMA, GMO, Prop 65, allergen, irradiation, RTE declarations), coordinating with leadership or legal counsel as needed. Conduct periodic reviews of all compliance statements and regulatory letters to confirm they accurately reflect the most current regulations and the company’s documented manufacturing practices and controls. Support Sales, Marketing, and R&D to ensure label content meets FDA regulations and customer requirements (nutrition facts, ingredient lists, allergen declarations, claims). Supervise, coach, and develop QA staff; align goals with company objectives. Conduct interviews and making hiring decisions for QA department employees; oversee food-safety training. Drive the food-safety culture program, fostering awareness, engagement, and accountability at every level. Other duties as assigned. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Biology, or a related field. 3-5 years of experience in food safety and quality within food manufacturing. Certified PCQI, HACCP, and SQF Practitioner (or ability to obtain). Strong knowledge of FDA/USDA regulations, FSMA, and GFSI certification schemes. Excellent leadership, communication, and analytical skills. Proficient in Microsoft Office and quality system software (preferred). Certifications SQF Practitioner PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual) HACCP Certification Internal Auditor Training (GFSI schemes) Food Defense Qualified Individual / Intentional Adulteration training Preferred Skills Expert knowledge of FSMA, FDA, USDA, and GFSI/SQF standards. Proficient in traceability, complaint investigation, and CAPA processes. Skilled in electronic document control and record-retention systems. Experienced in calibration program management for critical monitoring devices. Understanding of allergens, aflatoxin, food-defense, and nut-specific hazards. Experienced in maintaining and improving integrated food-safety and quality-management systems, including SQF, HACCP, traceability, and environmental monitoring. Experience managing Kosher, Halal, and other third-party certifications. Experience responding to regulatory inspections and third-party audits. Bilingual (English/Spanish). Physical Requirements Ability to stand and/or walk for prolonged periods (up to 10-12 hours per shift). Frequent bending, stooping, crouching, and reaching. Use of hands and fingers to handle, feel, and operate tools, machinery, or packaging. Ability to push, pull, lift, and carry objects (commonly up to 50 lbs; occasionally up to 75 lbs) with or without assistance. Ability to climb stairs or ladders as needed. Repetitive hand or arm movements. Work performed in a manufacturing/production environment with exposure to: o Varying temperatures (hot, cold, humid, or non-climate-controlled areas). o Food-grade dust and allergens (peanuts and peanut dust). o Moving mechanical parts and moderate noise levels. May require use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, safety glasses, hairnets, smocks, hearing protection, and beard nets when applicable. Ability to visually inspect products for quality (color, size, packaging integrity). Ability to distinguish product defects through sight and touch. Sufficient hearing to detect alarms, signals, or verbal instructions over plant noise. Ability to remain alert and focused in a fast-paced environment. Ability to quickly respond to safety hazards or production needs. Producers Peanut Company, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a reference check, background check, drug/alcohol test, and documented proof of work authorization. In addition, some roles require a pre-employment medical examination to determine your ability to perform the essential duties of the job.
