Food Safety and Quality Assurance Manager

JonnyPops; Elk River (MN); On-site; USD 130,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A frozen food producer in Elk River, MN, is seeking a Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager. This role involves overseeing quality assurance programs, ensuring compliance with safety standards, and leading the quality assurance team. The ideal candidate has extensive experience in food production quality management and must hold a PCQI certification. Join a growing brand committed to innovation and quality.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in quality/manufacturing/sanitation management roles with experience in food production.
• PCQI certification required.
• Understanding of Food Safety and Regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Ensure daily plant quality and food safety operations follow company policies.
• Manage Quality Supervisors and Plant Quality Engineers.
• Coordinate and manage 3rd party audits.

Skills

Problem solving

Communication

Leadership

Continuous improvement

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, Food Science, Dairy Science or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

Job description

Overview

This job description is provided by JonnyPops. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

$130,000.00/yr - $150,000.00/yr

Direct message the job poster from JonnyPops

Please apply directly to Andie at [e-mail].

Who We Are

At JonnyPops, our team is empowered to make an impact at work every day from producing high-quality, innovative frozen novelties to spreading kindness one pop at a time. We look for bright and ambitious individuals who seek out challenges, thrive in fast-paced and high-growth environments, align with our core values, and get fulfilment from seeing their work transform the world around them.

Based in Elk River, MN, JonnyPops develops, manufactures, distributes, and markets frozen novelties. Retailers from coast to coast including Target, Costco, Publix, Kroger, Cub, along with thousands of regional and local grocers make JonnyPops part of their assortment.

Growing from a dorm room start-up in 2012, JonnyPops’ mission is to make "A Better Pop for a Better World!" JonnyPops leads the frozen novelties space in innovation and uses simple ingredients with no artificial dyes. Every pop stick includes a kind deed, spreading kindness every day.

Joining JonnyPops is an exciting opportunity to be part of a high-growth brand and have a direct impact on the company’s success. Join our team and help us make “A Better Pop, for a Better World!”

Job Summary

The Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager is responsible for Quality Assurance Programs at JonnyPops and will ensure food safety and quality of all products produced. This role oversees the development, implementation, and maintenance of food safety and quality systems, including HACCP, GMPs, SQF and customer requirements. The FSQA Manager will lead the plant quality assurance team, work closely with operations, R&D, and supply chain, and act as the site’s primary point of contact for regulatory and third-party audits.

Responsibilities

• Ensure daily plant quality and food safety operations follow company policies, procedures, customer requirements, local, state, and federal regulations.
• Manage Quality Supervisors and Plant Quality Engineers and provide daily floor leadership of food safety to the Plant.
• Coordinate and manage 3rd party audits.
• Ensure proper product testing standards and protocols are correctly executed at the plant.
• Ensure daily plant testing and laboratory protocols are adhered to.
• Provide reports and relevant information to top management on the effectiveness and suitability of the food safety management system.
• Interpret, analyze, and communicate quality issues using root cause analysis and initiate corrective measures.
• Serve as liaison with regulatory bodies and audit personnel.
• Provide quality, sanitary, and other product certificates as needed for clients and export purposes.
• Collaborate with R&D and operations on product development, line trials, and change management processes.
• Track, report, and review Quality Performance Indicators to drive continuous improvement via monthly Food Safety Meetings.
• Actively monitor and manage cost of quality to suggest improvements.
• Maintain and support KPIs to measure and control quality systems and processes for improvement.
• Develop quality knowledge for all plant employees; coach and model quality standards.
• Qualified to complete essential functions as a Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI).
• Act as the primary SQF Practitioner for the site.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, Food Science, Dairy Science or related field
• 5+ years in quality/manufacturing/sanitation management roles with experience in food production. Experience with dairy or frozen novelties is a plus.
• PCQI (preventive controls qualified individual) for Human Foods certification required.
• Understanding of Food Safety and Regulatory requirements.
• HACCP training completed.
• Experience with SQF highly desired.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Full understanding of FDA/USDA regulations and GMP in a food manufacturing facility.
• Understanding of GFSI audit requirements.
• Training in or experience with FSMA / Food Defense.
• Experience with Redzone quality and production system is a plus.
• Ability to connect with and influence plant management and workforce.
• Continuous improvement experience.
• Experience with in-house lab testing for safety compliance.
• Ability to work beyond standard business hours, including holidays, weekends, or different shifts.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to convey technical information clearly.
• Strong planning and organization skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Ability to perform basic mathematical calculations and interpret lab results.
• Spanish language ability is a plus.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

Physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may stand, sit, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; talk and hear, and reach with hands or arms. The employee may climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee may lift and/or move up to 30 lbs. Works in variable temperature environments including office, laboratory, production, cooler, or warehouse settings.

• Primarily on-site within a food manufacturing facility.
• Occasional travel for external training or meetings.
• Exposure to noise, machinery, and temperature variations.

Additional Requirements

• Curiosity and a willingness to embrace a "test and learn" mentality for continuous improvement.
• Alignment to our mission to spread kindness — JonnyPops is a kindness-based company.
• Versatility, flexibility, and the ability to adapt to changing priorities with enthusiasm.

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Management and Quality Assurance
• Industries: Food and Beverage Manufacturing