FSQA Manager - Poultry Manufacturing

The FSQA Manager is responsible for leading, implementing, and continuously improving food safety and quality systems across poultry processing operations. This role ensures full compliance with USDA-FSIS regulations, company standards, and customer requirements while fostering a strong food safety culture throughout the facility.

Key Responsibilities

Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure compliance with USDA-FSIS regulations, HACCP, SSOPs, GMPs, and applicable food safety standards.

• Serve as the primary plant contact for USDA-FSIS inspectors and regulatory audits.

• Maintain and verify HACCP plans, hazard analyses, and prerequisite programs.

• Lead responses to regulatory findings, NR/NOIEs, and corrective actions.

Quality Assurance & Continuous Improvement

• Oversee quality programs for raw and further-processed poultry products, ensuring adherence to customer and company specifications.

• Monitor product quality, yield, and process controls; analyze trends and implement corrective and preventive actions.

• Lead root cause investigations for quality deviations, food safety incidents, and customer complaints.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance food safety, quality, and operational efficiency.

Audit & Certification Management

• Prepare for and lead internal, customer, and third-party audits (e.g., BRC, SQF, internal corporate audits).

• Ensure audit readiness at all times and manage follow-up actions to closure.

• Maintain documentation and records in accordance with regulatory and certification requirements.

Team Leadership & Training

• Lead, coach, and develop the FSQA team, including supervisors, technicians, and QA auditors.

• Promote a strong food safety culture through training, engagement, and accountability.

• Partner with Operations, Sanitation, Maintenance, and R&D to ensure food safety and quality are embedded across departments.

Crisis & Risk Management

• Participate in product holds, releases, and recall preparedness and execution.

• Support traceability, mock recalls, and food defense programs.

• Identify emerging food safety risks and proactively implement mitigation strategies.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Animal Science, Microbiology, or a related field.

• 5+ years of progressive FSQA experience in poultry or protein manufacturing.

• Strong working knowledge of USDA-FSIS regulations and HACCP systems.

• Proven leadership experience managing FSQA teams in a high-volume manufacturing environment.

• Excellent analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred

• HACCP Certification; PCQI and/or SQF/BRC Practitioner certification a plus.

• Experience in both raw and further-processed poultry operations.

• Familiarity with customer-driven quality programs and major QSR/retail standards.

• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.

Physical & Work Environment

• Work performed in a poultry processing environment with exposure to cold, noise, and production floor conditions.

• Must be able to work flexible hours, including weekends or off-shifts, as needed to support operations.