FSQA Manager (Poultry)

Position Summary:

The FSQA Manager is responsible for leading all food safety and quality assurance functions at a USDA-inspected poultry processing facility. This role ensures that all products meet regulatory, customer, and company standards for safety, quality, and consistency. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in poultry production, HACCP, USDA regulatory compliance, and direct experience managing food safety and quality programs that serve foodservice customers.

Key Responsibilities:

Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance

• Oversee all USDA regulatory programs including HACCP, SSOPs, GMPs, and other prerequisite programs.

• Serve as primary contact for USDA inspectors and regulatory officials.

• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local food safety regulations.

• Maintain all required FSQA documentation, records, and reporting in accordance with USDA and company policies.

• Lead internal audits and coordinate third-party and customer audits (USDA, GFSI, SQF/BRC, etc.).

Quality Assurance & Continuous Improvement

• Develop, implement, and maintain the company's Quality Management System to ensure product quality, consistency, and customer satisfaction.

• Manage product testing, sensory evaluations, and specification verifications.

• Investigate non-conformances, implement corrective actions, and track preventive measures.

• Collaborate with production and operations teams to resolve quality issues and drive process improvements.

• Analyze quality metrics and trends to identify opportunities for improvement.

Customer & Foodservice Support

• Serve as the primary FSQA liaison for key foodservice customers and distributors.

• Ensure compliance with customer specifications, audit requirements, and quality expectations.

• Support new product development, product launches, and customer-specific quality programs.

• Communicate effectively with customers regarding quality performance, deviations, and corrective actions.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, train, and mentor FSQA supervisors, technicians, and quality control staff.

• Foster a culture of food safety, accountability, and continuous improvement throughout the facility.

• Ensure adequate staffing and training across all FSQA functions.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Animal Science, Poultry Science, Microbiology, or related field (or equivalent experience).

• Minimum 5-7 years of FSQA experience in the poultry industry, with at least 3 years in a USDA-inspected facility.

• Demonstrated expertise in HACCP development and implementation (HACCP Certified).

• Proven experience managing food safety and quality programs for foodservice customers.

• In-depth knowledge of USDA regulations, GFSI schemes (SQF, BRC, etc.), and FSMA requirements.

• Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to lead audits and interface professionally with customers and regulatory officials.

Preferred:

• Experience with cooked, ready-to-eat, or further processed poultry products.

• SQF Practitioner or PCQI certification.

• Experience with customer specification systems (e.g., Tyson, Sysco, US Foods, or similar).

• Familiarity with ERP or quality management systems (e.g., SAP, InfinityQS, SafetyChain).