Senior FSQA Manager

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Senior Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA) Manager to lead and oversee all food safety, regulatory, and quality programs within our USDA-inspected poultry manufacturing facility. This leadership role is responsible for ensuring full compliance with USDA, FSIS, FDA, and customer requirements while driving continuous improvement in food safety culture, product quality, and operational excellence.

The ideal candidate will have 5+ years of progressive FSQA leadership experience in poultry or protein manufacturing, strong expertise managing USDA-inspected facilities, and proven customer-facing experience.

Key Responsibilities

Regulatory & Compliance

• Lead all FSQA programs in a USDA-inspected poultry facility, ensuring compliance with USDA/FSIS, FDA, HACCP, SSOP, and regulatory standards.

• Serve as primary point of contact for USDA inspectors and regulatory agencies.

• Oversee HACCP plans, validation, reassessment, and verification activities.

• Ensure plant readiness for regulatory audits, third-party audits, and customer audits.

• Manage documentation systems, corrective actions, and regulatory reporting.

Quality & Food Safety Systems

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve food safety and quality management systems.

• Monitor and analyze microbiological, chemical, and physical testing programs.

• Drive root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions (CAPA).

• Lead traceability, recall readiness, and crisis management programs.

• Ensure environmental monitoring programs are effective and compliant.

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop the FSQA team including supervisors, technicians, and QA associates.

• Foster a strong food safety culture across all departments.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Operations, Maintenance, Sanitation, and Supply Chain.

• Provide training to plant personnel on food safety and quality standards.

Customer & External Relations

• Serve as the primary quality liaison for key customers.

• Support customer audits and respond to inquiries, complaints, and corrective action requests.

• Maintain strong professional relationships with customers and regulatory officials.

• Participate in business reviews and represent FSQA in customer meetings.

Continuous Improvement

• Drive KPIs related to quality, food safety, yield, and customer complaints.

• Identify process improvements to enhance product quality and reduce risk.

• Lead initiatives aligned with SQF, BRC, or other GFSI standards (if applicable).

Qualifications

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

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

• Direct experience managing quality systems in a USDA-inspected facility (required).

• Strong knowledge of HACCP, SSOP, USDA/FSIS regulations, and food safety compliance.

• Experience serving as primary contact during USDA audits and inspections.

• Proven customer-facing experience, including audit management and corrective action response.

• SQF Practitioner, HACCP Certification, or PCQI certification preferred.

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

• Ability to work in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.