Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA) Manager

As a leader and innovator in the snack food industry for over 50 years, J&J Snack Foods provides branded snack foods to foodservice and retail supermarket outlets across the U.S. Its products include such icons as SUPERPRETZEL, ICEE, and Dippin Dots along with other key brands like LUIGIS Real Italian Ice, The Funnel Cake Factory Funnel Cakes, and Hola Churros. J&J also has a strong presence in bakery providing cakes, cookies, and pies to some of the largest grocery and convenience retailers in industry. Our company continues to deliver record sales led by a talented team and a commitment to Fun Served Here.POSITION SUMMARY: Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA) Manager position reports to the Plant Manager and provides leadership for the plant by establishing a food safety & quality strategy, developing/strengthening the internal FSQA culture, and driving continuous improvement of existing FSQA programs to meet J&J Snack Foods corporate standards. Position works closely with plant operations, maintenance, R&D, leadership, and Corporate Compliance; and manages the facility FSQA team/department, FSQA system and programs, sanitation, and product specifications. The FSQA Manager monitors the efficacy of the food safety & quality system via internal audits/document reviews and organizes/publishes data and reports on facility/plant performance against company key performance indicators. The FSQA Manager interfaces with regulatory, third-party audit certification bodies, those conducting customer audits and keeps abreast of changes/preventive controls required to meet the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The FSQA Manager is responsible for ensuring the facility maintains SQF certification (achieving scores necessary to meet customer requirements) and meets all regulatory requirements. Position will provide the necessary training, tools, and techniques when changes are made to programs and procedures, when refresher training is identified as a corrective action and at minimum annually to enable others to effectively achieve FSQA goals/objectives and deliver wholesome, quality products that are safe for consumption. Position responds to all customer/consumer complaints in a timely manner by conducting root cause analysis and implementing/documenting appropriate corrective/preventive actions. Position manages product holds, dispositions and risk assessments as needed.Position will participate in corporate FSQA biweekly calls and participates as an audit team member in plant-to-plant company audits as needed. The FSQA manager supports Corporate Regulatory Compliance with product formulation and specification information. Position oversees budget and labor expenses and ensures FSQA supplies are stocked and ordered.ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:KEY RESPONSIBILITES: Develop FSQA strategy, compliance goals/objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs) to drive continuous improvements in food safety & quality programs and culture.Organize FSQA system/programs and ensure appropriate system reviews/audits are conducted to meet corporate FSQA standards, maintain SQF certifications and meet all regulatory requirements.Implement appropriate monitoring programs and maintains documentation for FSQA system including validations and verifications.Lead and facilitate the plant in consumer and customer complaint resolution, and complaint reduction programs.Lead the facility in the adoption and disciplined use of a clearly defined, well-documented and systematic commercialization process for new product launches and product process redesigns and supports translation of R&D draft product specifications to appropriate manufacturing specifications and documentation.Lead activities that empower, engage, and involve operators with the information and tools needed for continuous improvement in facility manufacturing processes and meeting all regulatory/SQF requirements.Maintain awareness of the business context of objectives and company profitability.Support determination & implementation of product dispositions regarding holds, warehouse, transport, logistics and risk assessments.Participate in FSQA bimonthly calls, FSQA Summit meetings and corporate driven peer to peer audit program.Position oversees budget and labor expenses and ensures FSQA supplies are stocked and ordered.Position is responsible for all the above and any other duties as assigned by management.COMPETENCIES: Capable of developing and managing business strategy to achieve FSQA initiatives.Possess ability to interpret and apply federal, local, state, and international food laws and regulations to all products sold domestically or internationally.Have a passion to lead, educate, and grow a diverse group of individuals.Capable of working with multiple departments simultaneously to achieve a variety of goals.Be detail-oriented, organized, efficient and resourceful with strong problem-solving skills.Be able to demonstrate business acumen through issue identification, risk management, and cross-functional consensus building.Must exhibit a high degree of adaptability to engage effectively with all levels and styles of employees and management.Self-motivated leader who can collaborate and lead cross-functional team members.Capable of managing simultaneously workloads, multiple customer demands and shifting priorities within a fast-paced, rapidly evolving environment with the ability to multi-task, prioritize, and adapt well to change.Must demonstrate excellent communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills.Can handle complexity and judgment to meet business needs.Have a respectable professional persona and act as a representative for the department.Excellent organization and time management skills.Must complete all the above and any other duties as assigned by management.Proficient in all Office Programs: Excel, PPT and Word.Required Skills: Experience managing food safety systems.Excellent report writing skills and demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal).Demonstrated problem solving skills (extensive experience with root cause analysis and CAPA programs).Excellent knowledge of food manufacturing processes, sanitation programs, and process validations/verifications and experience using a full range of statistical and analytical tools and fundamentals.Extensive experience in SQF, ISO, HACCP and/or other food safety & quality assurance systems including prerequisite programs and preventive controls.Must be HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) certified, be a recognized SQF practitioner and have PCQI certification.Preferred Skills / Experience:Solid understanding of food safety and manufacturing of RTE foods.Preferred candidates have a thorough understanding of risk assessments, water activity and microbiology.EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Required Education: B.S. in Food Science, Food Safety & Defense, or related field.Required Experience: Minimum of 5 or more years experience in Food Safety & Quality Assurance Management in the food industry.TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: occasional travel to Colton,CA facility to provide FSQA support.PAYStarting salary: $115,000