Senior Manager, Food Safety and Quality Assurance

The Hired Bar is exclusively partnering with Plenty, a leader in indoor vertical farming, to hire a Senior Manager, Food Safety & Quality Assurance to support farm operations in Richmond, VA.

This is a hands-on, on-site leadership role for an experienced food safety professional who thrives on the production floor, builds strong teams, and takes pride in owning food safety culture end-to-end. We are open to local candidates as well as those requiring relocation support if more than 50 miles from the work location.

The Senior Manager, Food Safety & Quality Assurance position sits at the heart of farm operations and is responsible for ensuring the safety and quality of the produce Plenty grows. You’ll lead a team of food safety and quality professionals while partnering closely with site leadership, operations, and R&D to uphold world‑class standards in a fast‑growing environment.

• Lead and reinforce a strong food safety and quality culture across the site
• Own the site’s environmental monitoring program (microbiological testing), including vendors and cost efficiency
• Serve as the site’s SQF Practitioner, owning SQF, HACCP, GMP, FSSC, and related programs
• Manage, coach, and develop the site quality & food safety team
• Maintain and evolve the Quality Management System, including CAPA
• Lead audits and ensure compliance with FDA, SQF, OSHA, and regulatory requirements
• Partner closely with Farm Ops and R&D as a visible, hands‑on leader
• Participate as a key member in the Food Safety Council and site leadership activities

• The Senior Manager we are looking for will be obsessed with product quality tracking (including experience running sensory on fresh produce being a plus!) as well as the food safety elements.
• Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry, Food Science, Food Safety, or commensurate experience
• Must have a minimum 10+ years in Food Safety / Quality Assurance, including 5+ years of people leadership
• Strong experience in produce, fresh food, or regulated food environments
• HACCP certification required
• Demonstrated success leading SQF and/or FSSC programs
• Comply with all Plant, State and Federal OSHA, EPA, FDA, HACCP, and SQF regulations
• Comply with GMP/GAPS in the Facility