FSQA Associate Facility Team Leader, Food Plant

A career at Whole Foods Market is more than just the work you do—it's about your personal growth and creating meaningful change. Our purpose is to nourish people and the planet. That means improving how people eat, funding grants for school gardens, providing access to fresh and healthy food to people living within food deserts, alleviating poverty in developing countries, and so much more.

Working with us means you are making a difference within your community and beyond. We aren't just a grocery store: we're world‑changers. And with your help, we will continue to set the standards of excellence and revolutionize the grocery industry.

This is an onsite role. Experience with RTE at a USDA facility is preferred. Relocation is available, Target base salary is approx $115,000 plus bonus and RSUs

The FSQA Team Leader (TL) is responsible for leading the FSQA team and ensuring overall quality control at the metro food production facility, including sanitation and safety standards.

• Lead the daily operations of the FSQA team, including assigning tasks, providing guidance and training, ensuring all FSQA standards are met, and safety protocols are followed.
• Provide clear direction for day‑to‑day activities and team members' yearly/quarterly SMART goals to align with company and business unit objectives and to meet any established deadlines.
• Establish strategies for achieving individual and team goals.
• Establish a culture that prioritizes food safety and quality at the facility.
• Work with Food Safety and Facility stakeholders to design, implement, and manage quality assurance programs and procedures to ensure product quality and consistency.
• Develop and enforce quality standards and specifications for raw materials, in‑process materials, and finished products.
• Oversee environmental monitoring programs and other swabbing programs as required to conform to GMP, HACCP, and FSMA guidelines.
• Monitor all SSOPs and update them frequently as dictated by business needs or the USDA, including cross‑training team members on SSOPs.
• Act as the primary liaison for all internal and external food safety and quality issues (customer complaints, USDA, FDA).
• Uphold all Whole Foods Market, USDA, and FDA program standards and work closely with USDA inspectors.
• Oversee pest control program and work with third‑party providers to remedy pest‑related issues.
• Follow, comply with, and enforce established procedures, including health and sanitation guidelines and adherence to safe work practices.
• Maintain accurate and up‑to‑date documentation and records of all quality assurance and food safety activities with daily audits to verify compliance.
• Handle food safety crises, including product recalls, contamination incidents, and other emergencies.
• Interview, select, train, develop, counsel, and manage performance for team members in a way that builds and sustains a high‑performing and engaged team.
• Collaborate with Team Member Services on team member relations including proper documentation, investigations, corrective actions, and resolve team concerns and/or issues.
• In collaboration with subject matter experts, maintain comprehensive knowledge of, and ensure compliance with, relevant regulatory rules and standards, including OSHA, USDA, State Department of Agriculture, HACCP, FSMA, ADA, Department of Labor, Health and Sanitation regulations, FDA, and Weights and Measures.
• Build a positive work environment of outstanding teamwork and mutual respect.

• BA/BS degree in food science, microbiology, animal sciences, or a related field preferred and 4–6 years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and FSQA experience within a food manufacturing facility.
• 2+ years of FSQA facility experience within a food production environment and 12+ months of supervisory FSQA experience in the food manufacturing industry.
• HACCP and Registered Sanitarian (RS), Certified Professional Food Safety (CPFS), Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) or PCQI certifications preferred.
• Proven track record of success in an FSQA leadership role in the food manufacturing industry.
• Ability to develop, implement, and manage food…