Food Quality Assurance Manager- Longview, TX

Compass Group, North America; Longview (TX); On-site; USD 55,000 - 83,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement Plan

Health and Wellness Programs

Discount Marketplace

Pet Insurance

Voluntary Benefits (Critical Illness,

Disability Insurance

Job summary

Fresh & Ready Foods, part of Compass Group, seeks a Quality Manager to lead SQF and food safety programs in a Ready-to-Eat facility. You will drive continuous improvement, ensure regulatory compliance, and protect brand integrity.

You will lead a high-performing Quality team, oversee labeling, audits, and CAPA processes, and partner with suppliers and customers to meet stringent standards in a lean, data-driven environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in microbiology, food science, engineering, or related field.
• 10+ years of food manufacturing experience (5+ years in management)
• SQF Practitioner
• HACCP certified
• Strong Excel and data-analysis skills
• USDA manufacturing experience

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a high-performing Quality team and foster a safety-focused culture.
• Ensure FSQA training aligns with business priorities and develop IDPs.
• Translate strategic goals into operational plans and drive continuous improvement.
• Lead QC tools (7 QC, RCA, PDCA, 8D) and manage CAPA processes.
• Maintain SQF and HACCP systems and documentation.
• Collaborate with customers and suppliers to meet quality expectations.

Skills

Bachelor's degree

10+ years

SQF Practitioner

HACCP certified

Excel & data analysis

USDA manufacturing

Education

Bachelor's degree in science

Job description

Fresh & Ready Foods

• Pay Range: [[cust_StartingPayRate]] per hour to [[cust_MaxPayRate]] per hour. *Internal Employee Referral Bonus Available

Please note that employees in this role will work in a temperature-controlled environment with exposure to cold conditions for extended periods of time.

Job Summary

Quality Manager - Food Safety & Quality (SQF)

Reports to : Director of Food Safety & Quality

Environment: Ready-to-Eat (RTE) Food Manufacturing Facility

Position Summary

The Quality Manager provides leadership and hands-on oversight for all Safe Quality Food (SQF) and food safety programs within a Ready-to-Eat (RTE) food manufacturing environment. This role ensures strong systems, disciplined processes, and a culture that protects consumers, customers, and brand integrity. You will drive continuous improvement, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence while developing a high-performing Quality team.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Culture

• Foster a positive, growth-focused environment where employees develop and succeed.
• Lead by example to build a proactive, "can do" culture focused on safety and quality.
• Support organizational change by removing barriers, motivating teams, and resolving conflicts.

Training & Development

• Ensure FSQA training aligns with business priorities and QHSE objectives.
• Conduct training needs assessments, create curricula, evaluate effectiveness, and develop IDPs for Quality staff.

Quality Systems & Improvement

• Translate strategic goals into operational plans and measurable improvement initiatives.
• Lead structured problem-solving using 7 QC Tools, RCA, PDCA, 8D, and similar methods.
• Manage the labeling team to ensure accurate and compliant finished-goods labels for RTE production.
• Analyze audit results, KPIs, and statistical data to identify trends and drive corrective and preventive actions.
• Conduct hazard assessments and risk analyses; track and verify closure of corrective actions.
• Promote lean, process-focused approaches to improve product safety and consistency.
• Drive excellence in process control, product integrity, and supplier quality using Lean, Six Sigma, APQP, PPAP, and SPC.
• Maintain SQF and HACCP systems and all required documentation.
• Lead Quality Alerts (QAL), Corrective Action Requests (CAR), and Quality Improvement Team (QIT) processes.

Customer & Supplier Partnership

• Build strong relationships through proactive communication and on-site engagement.
• Anticipate customer needs and integrate expectations into the quality system.
• Partner with supply teams on supplier performance, development, and risk mitigation.

Skills & Experience Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in microbiology, food science, engineering, or related field
• 10+ years of food manufacturing experience (5+ years in management)
• SQF Practitioner
• HACCP certified
• Strong Excel and data-analysis skills
• USDA manufacturing experience

Desirable Characteristics

• High-energy, hands-on, results-driven leader
• Strong integrity, independent problem-solver, forward-thinking mindset
• Thrives in fast-paced RTE operations
• SPC experience preferred

Physical Demands

Regular standing, walking, sitting, reaching, and communication required; accommodations available.

Work Environment

Exposure to moving mechanical parts, cold temperatures, and moderate to loud noise typical of RTE manufacturing; accommodations available.

Travel Requirements

Willingness to travel to company facilities, customer sites, and supplier locations.

Associates at Fresh & Ready Food Group are offered many fantastic benefits.

Full-time and part-time positions offer the following benefits

to associates: Retirement Plan, Associate Shopping Program, Health and Wellness Programs, Discount Marketplace, Identity Theft Protection, Pet Insurance, Voluntary Benefits, including Critical Illness Insurance, Accident Insurance, Hospital Indemnity Insurance, Legal Services, and Choice Auto and Home Program

Full-time positions also offer the following benefits

to associates: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance/AD, Disability Insurance, Commuter Benefits, Employee Assistance Program, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

About Compass Group: Achieving leadership in the foodservice industry

Compass Group is an equal opportunity employer. At Compass, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Associates fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.

Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Disclaimer: this job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks, or requirements associated with this position. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity.

Certain positions may require Florida Level 2 background screening. Details: https://info.flclearinghouse.com/

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Fresh and Ready Foods maintains a drug-free workplace.