Bakery Manufacturing Sr. Quality Leader

Kroger; Anderson (SC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Kroger is seeking a Food Safety Leader to provide strategic direction for QA, sanitation, and regulatory compliance across manufacturing, storage, and distribution of products. You will oversee GMP adherence, sanitation, SQF programs, and cross-functional collaboration.

The role emphasizes training of QA staff, audit readiness, and continuous improvement initiatives to ensure safety and quality across all operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in food science, microbiology, or related field.
• Preventative Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) certification.
• GFIS related program certification; SQF practitioner certified preferred.
• 5+ years of food/beverage quality assurance or related lab experience.
• Ability to read, analyze, & interpret scientific/technical journals, financial reports, & legal documents.
• Ability to apply statistical process control concepts.
• Strong analytical & critical thinking skills (Root Cause Analysis).

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership in food safety, sanitation, product quality standards and related regulations; oversee management of these areas.
• Serve as liaison for governmental inspections; participate in audits; lead readiness efforts.
• Maintain plant sanitation through testing and inspections.
• Ensure GMPs followed and pest control program compliance; support food safety/quality initiatives.
• Lead training for Safe Quality Foods (SQF), GMPs, FSMA, and Food Safety Programs.
• Investigate consumer comments and support corrective actions.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Analytical thinking

Statistical process control

Root cause analysis

Communication with regulators

Training & development

Education

Bachelor's degree in food science, microbiology, or related field

PCQI certification

GFIS program certification; SQF practitioner certified preferred

Job description

Provide food safety leadership to ensure compliance with federal, state, Kroger food safety, and quality requirements as they relate to the manufacturing, storage, and distribution of food and non-food products. Ensure a clean, safe manufacturing facility and necessary training, development and proactive solutions for lab techs, sanitation crew, facility management and hourly associates on food safety and sanitation programs and processes. Develop procedures, inspect, and coordinate all facility and grounds cleaning and sanitation functions. Support plant safety and environmental sustainability initiatives, as well capital projects and Total Productive Maintenance activities. Demonstrate the company's core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion, and safety.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership in areas of food safety, sanitation, product quality standards and related regulations and oversee management of these areas at all times
• Serve as liaison for governmental inspections, participate in corporate compliance inspections/audits, & lead effort to maintain audit readiness
• Maintain plant sanitation through environmental/product testing & physical inspections
• Ensure Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) are followed & pest control program compliance by leading routine walkthroughs & supporting food safety/quality initiatives
• Ensure Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point, Hazard Analysis & Risk-based Preventive Controls, Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures, allergen programs, formulations, & finished product consistently meet specification
• Train & resource Quality Assurance staff
• Ensure effective annual training of Safe Quality Foods (SQF), GMPs, Food Safety Modernization Act, & Food Safety Programs
• Prepare/update plant work instructions and verify record keeping is timely and accurate/meets necessary regulations
• Ensure all records are completed/approved for preventive controls, laboratory, sanitation, production, & verification checks
• Ensure receiving procedures for incoming/outgoing ingredients adhere to quality/safety standards
• Investigate consumer comments & support resulting action plans
• Assist Corporate Food Technology with product development/audits & calculation of raw materials
• Provide production with continuous improvement support
• Lead investigations of non-conforming events driving to root cause(s) & effective resolution
• Manage change control & hold programs to enable risk assessment & decisions
• Participate in the annual budgeting process & identify key capital projects
• Perform data analysis to identify trends or find leading indicators to enable proactive decisions
• Coordinate factory & external lab testing of samples; generate Certificate of Analysis
• Manage all site analytical & micro activities, ensuring Good Laboratory Practices are followed
• Provide feedback to suppliers to improve relationships & resolve quality issues
• Assist management in all Safe Quality Food policies & requirements
• Support the development, implementation, maintenance, & ongoing improvement of the SQF Systems
• Accountable to the Kroger Manufacturing Food Safety & Quality Principles
• Supervise & coach direct reports in the performance of their duties; complete performance reviews/provide feedback
• Ability to work cooperatively in high paced and sometimes stressful environment
• Ability to manage conflict in a reasonable, nonconfrontational and cooperative manner
• Ability to act with honesty and integrity regarding customer and business information
• Ability to follow directions and seek assistance when necessary to resolve customer and business issues
• Provide support and assistance through direct interaction with minors, individuals with special needs, and/or older adults
• Must be able to perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in food science, microbiology, or related field
• Preventative Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) certification
• GFIS related program certification; SQF practitioner certified preferred
• 5+ years of food/beverage quality assurance or related lab experience
• Ability to read, analyze, & interpret scientific/technical journals, financial reports, & legal documents
• Ability to apply statistical process control concepts.
• Strong analytical & critical thinking skills (Root Cause Analysis)

Desired Qualifications

• Thorough knowledge of food safety & microbiological concepts
• Plant QA Assistant Manager or QA Supervisory experience