Food Safety and Quality Assurance Manager

SSP America; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 104,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plan

Dental plan

Vision plan

Life insurance

Paid time off

401K with company match

Employee assistance program

Job summary

SSP Group is seeking a Food Safety and Quality Assurance Manager for the Phoenix Airport (PHX) with a strong background in food safety and quality in a fast-paced restaurant environment. You will act as the main contact for safety inquiries, guide inspections, and lead corrective actions across airport locations.

You will collaborate with senior operations and corporate teams to foster a robust food safety culture, develop training programs, and ensure regulatory compliance, including FSMA and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in food science, microbiology, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in a food safety and quality assurance role.
• Airport or hospitality industry experience preferred.
• Experience with FSMA and FDA Food Code compliance.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop food safety teams.
• Certified PCQI and HACCP with experience writing HACCP plans.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary contact for all food safety inquiries and guide on inspections, audit metrics, and corrective actions.
• Collaborate with senior operations to foster a food safety culture and liaise with local operations and the corporate team.
• Review analyses and audits of food safety, sanitation, and quality controls for airport locations.
• Respond to audit and complaint deficiencies, perform root-cause analysis, and implement corrective actions.
• Analyze data from the annual Food Defense Assessment to identify areas for improvement and ensure compliance.
• Develop and deliver monthly allergen and food safety training aligned with company objectives.
• Build relationships with regulators, suppliers, and stakeholders to support collaboration and compliance.
• Deliver HACCP plans for production kitchens and ensure alignment with FSMA requirements.

Skills

PCQI

HACCP

Data analysis

Regulatory audits

Team leadership

Education

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

Job description

Food Safety and Quality Assurance Manager

Join Our Team!

Are you a results-oriented food service leader with a strong foundation in food safety and the ability to manage complex operations?

We have an exciting opportunity for a Food Safety and Quality Assurance Manager at Phoenix Airport (PHX). If you thrive in a fast-paced food environment and are ready to take on a challenging and rewarding role, we want to hear from you!

What You'll Do:

• Serve as the primary point of contact for all food safety-related inquiries and provide expert guidance on historical and market data for food safety and health inspections, audit and complaint metrics, status of corrective actions, and trends and projections.
• Work collaboratively with senior operations management to foster a "food safety culture" that prioritizes operational excellence. Serve as the day-to-day liaison between local operations personnel and the corporate team, providing support with company and regulatory compliance inquiries and recommending policies, standards, and procedures.
• Exercise your authority to review analysis and specialized audits and reports on food safety, operational assessments, sanitation inspections, and overall quality controls for assigned airport restaurant locations. Proactively identify and address potential risks to ensure operational excellence.
• Take initiative to partner with senior management operations team members to effectively and timely respond to and resolve audit and complaint deficiencies, such as those related to Steritech, regulatory health inspection citations, and guest complaints. Perform comprehensive systemic and root cause/trend analysis to identify underlying issues and implement corrective actions.
• Analyze the data and content from the annual Food Defense Assessment based on the SSP America Checklist Inspection to identify areas for improvement and ensure compliance with food safety standards.
• Proactively develop and deliver frequent (i.e., monthly) allergen and relevant food safety training and education initiatives that are aligned with current food safety challenges, local needs, and strategic company objectives. Tailor training programs to address specific areas of concern and ensure that all team members are adequately informed and equipped to handle food safety matters.
• Develop a strong communication cadence with all internal and external stakeholders to ensure that everyone is informed and aligned on food safety initiatives and progress. Build strong relationships with regulatory agencies, suppliers, and other key stakeholders to facilitate collaboration and address challenges effectively.
• Deliver Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans for production kitchens, considering equipment, ingredients, operations, and planned processes for new menus or processes being considered for site-specific FSMA locations. Ensure that HACCP plans are comprehensive, accurate, and aligned with regulatory requirements.
• Conduct annual Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) reviews to ensure trends, concerns, documentation program compliance, and documentation of deviations and corrective actions are addressed.
• Analyze data and content from the annual Food Defense Assessment based on the SSP America checklist inspection to identify areas for improvement and ensure compliance with food safety standards.
• Perform environmental monitoring within the location for data trending and microbial data to identify potential hazards and implement preventive measures.
• Assist the airport with annual 'mock recalls' to trace a food ingredient from the supplier to the end restaurant location, and where applicable, through an FSMA commissary location. Conduct an annual review of production kitchen systems to identify and resolve documentation deficiencies.
• Accept ownership and accountability of position responsibilities and consistently strive to deliver innovative results for internal teams and customers that establish trust, high standards, credibility, and quality performance.

What We're Looking For:

• Educational Background: Bachelor's degree in food science, microbiology, or related fieldrequired.
• Experience: Minimum 5 years of experience in a food safety and quality assurance role within the food service industry, with a focus on restaurant operations. Experience in the airport or hospitality industry is preferred.
• Proven track record of implementing and managing food safety programs in complex environments.
• Experience with regulatory audits and inspections, including FSMA and FDA Food Code compliance.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop food safety teams.
• Certifications:Certified Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) and HACCP Certification, with experience writing HACCP plans.
• Technical Skills:Strong knowledge of food safety regulations and standards, including HACCP and PCQI principles.
• Proficiency in data analysis and reporting.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to effectively interact with various stakeholders.

Why Join Us?

• Dynamic Environment: Work in the fast-paced and exciting setting of a major airport and its commissary kitchen.
• Growth Opportunities: Develop your career in a supportive and challenging environment working for one of the largest restaurant operators in the world!
• Competitive Compensation: $103,900 - $115,000 / year + bonus and Health, Dental, Vision and Life Plans, Paid Time Off, 401K with company match, Employee Assistance Program.

Diversity and Inclusion is a priority at SSP. We are an equal opportunities employer committed to engaging all our people, so they feel valued and motivated; we champion diversity, promote inclusion, and ensure equality. We respect and protect human rights and prevent discrimination; and we positively impact our communities. We encourage and welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates regardless of background, gender, race, religious beliefs, disability, sexual identity and orientation.