Manager of Quality & Food Safety

Job Details

Job Location: Paterson, NJ 07524

Position Type: Full Time

Education Level: 4 Year Degree

Salary Range: $ - $ Salary

Travel Percentage: Up to 25%

Job Shift: Day

Summary: The Manager of Quality & Food Safety oversees all aspects of the company’s food safety and quality programs to ensure compliance with regulatory standards, customer requirements, and internal policies. This role is responsible for maintaining the integrity of our products through robust QA systems, continuous improvement, and cross-functional collaboration. The Manager of Quality & Food Safety leads the Quality team, partners closely with Operations, R&D, and Supply Chain, and ensures that the facility consistently meets or exceeds industry standards for safety, quality, and sanitation.

Responsibilities Include, but Are Not Limited To:

Quality & Food Safety Leadership

• Oversee the company’s Food Safety & Quality Management Systems, including FSMA, HACCP, GMPs, SSOPs, SQF/BRC/FSSC 22000, and internal quality protocols.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory and third-party audit requirements (FDA, FSMA, GFSI, customer audits, etc.).
• Lead and maintain hazard analyses, risk assessments, and preventive controls programs.

Sanitation Management

• Serve as the facility’s Sanitation lead, partner with Operations on overseeing all sanitation activities for the plant.
• Maintain and update Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs) and Master Sanitation Schedules.
• Ensure compliance with environmental monitoring programs, allergen control, and sanitation verification testing (ATP, micro swabs, environmental swabs).
• Partner closely with Operations to ensure equipment is properly cleaned, assembled, and ready for production start-up.
• Drive continuous improvement in sanitation practices, chemical usage, cleaning validations, and documentation.
• Ensure sanitation practices support audit readiness and meet all GFSI/FSMA and internal requirements.

Team Management & Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of QA specialists and Sanitation team members.
• Establish clear expectations, training programs, and performance standards for the department.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and food safety awareness.

Audits & Compliance

• Prepare for and lead internal and external audits, corrective actions, and follow-up improvements.
• Maintain all QA documentation, records, and certifications.
• Collaborate with regulatory agencies and customer quality teams, ensuring timely responses and full transparency.

Quality Systems & Continuous Improvement

• Implement and improve quality assurance processes, product testing procedures, and environmental monitoring programs.
• Partner with Operations and R&D to drive process improvements that reduce waste, improve yield, and ensure consistent product quality.
• Analyze trends in deviations, customer complaints, and non-conformances to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.

Production Support & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Provide daily QA support to production to ensure adherence to quality standards and specifications.
• Support new product development through specification creation, change control, commercialization, shelf-life studies, and production trials.
• Participate in cross-functional meetings including Safety, Production, Supply Chain, and R&D to align on quality priorities.

Customer & Supplier Quality Management

• Manage customer complaints, investigations, and corrective actions.
• Oversee supplier approval processes, COAs, and ingredient quality verifications.
• Ensure product traceability, mock recall readiness, and robust documentation control.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or related field required.
• 7+ years of Quality Assurance experience in food manufacturing, with at least 2 years in a leadership role.
• GC-MS & HPLC experience a plus.
• Strong understanding of FDA regulations, FSMA, GFSI schemes (SQF/BRC/FSSC 22000, HACCP), GMPs, and food safety requirements.
• Proven experience leading audits and developing HACCP and Preventive Controls programs.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Proficiency in quality management systems, data analysis, and Microsoft Office; experience with ERP systems (SAGE, ORACLE, SAP) preferred.
• Flavor & Ingredient manufacturing a plus.