Food Safety and Quality Assurance Manager/SQF Practitioner

Taylor Farms; Tracy (CA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

Taylor Farms is seeking a Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager / SQF Practitioner to lead and elevate FSQA in a 24/7 Tracy, CA manufacturing environment. You will drive regulatory compliance, audits, CAPA, and risk-based improvements across operations and leadership.

The ideal candidate brings strong knowledge of USDA/FDA, FSMA, SQF, and preventive controls, with demonstrated ability to engage across shifts and build a culture of food safety and quality excellence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Agriculture, Food Engineering, or related scientific discipline preferred.
• Significant FSQA leadership experience in food manufacturing, preferably within a high-volume, 24/7 operation.
• Strong working knowledge of USDA and FDA regulations, FSMA, HACCP, SQF, preventive controls, and food safety management systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead and continuously improve site FSQA programs, including SQF, HACCP, preventive controls, regulatory compliance, environmental monitoring, sanitation, traceability, allergen control, and product integrity.
• Lead SQF certification and surveillance audits, internal audits, customer audits, regulatory inspections, and corrective action programs.
• Provide visible FSQA leadership across a 24/7 manufacturing operation, maintaining engagement with employees and leaders across all shifts.
• Establish effective CAPA and verification processes that address systemic issues and prevent recurrence.
• Use data analytics, dashboards, KPIs, and trend analysis to identify emerging risks and drive continuous improvement.

Skills

FSQA leadership

SQF

HACCP

Regulatory knowledge

Audits & CAPA

Education

Bachelor's in Food Science

Tools

QMS tools

Microsoft Excel

Data Analytics Tools

Job description

Taylor Farms is a leading producer of salads and fresh foods, recognized across North America for innovation, operational excellence, and a commitment to delivering high-quality products at the peak of freshness. The organization operates in a dynamic, high-growth environment where food safety, product integrity, quality, and customer trust are fundamental to business success.

Role Description

The Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager / SQF Practitioner is a highly visible, hands-on leadership role responsible for advancing food safety, quality systems, regulatory compliance, and operational risk management within a complex, 24/7 manufacturing environment in Tracy, CA.

This leader serves as a trusted FSQA partner to Operations and senior leadership, bringing strong working knowledge of USDA and FDA regulations, FSMA, HACCP, SQF, preventive controls, and food safety management systems. The role requires an experienced practitioner who can confidently navigate regulatory inspections, customer audits, SQF certification, investigations, product holds, corrective actions, and emerging food safety risks.

Success requires more than technical expertise. The ideal leader is engaged, flexible, responsive, and visible across all shifts, building strong relationships with frontline teams while maintaining uncompromising standards. This individual brings a practical, solutions-oriented mindset, excellent written and verbal communication, sound judgment, and the ability to resolve conflict constructively.

The role will lead continuous improvement through data analytics, KPI development, trend analysis, root-cause investigation, CAPA, and system optimization, converting insights into measurable improvements in food safety, quality, and operational performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and continuously improve site FSQA programs, including SQF, HACCP, preventive controls, regulatory compliance, environmental monitoring, sanitation, traceability, allergen control, and product integrity.
• Serve as a key technical resource for USDA, FDA, FSMA, customer, and third-party requirements.
• Lead SQF certification and surveillance audits, internal audits, customer audits, regulatory inspections, and corrective action programs.
• Provide visible FSQA leadership across a 24/7 manufacturing operation, maintaining meaningful engagement with employees and leaders across all shifts.
• Partner closely with Operations, Sanitation, Maintenance, R&D, Supply Chain, and other functions to identify risk and embed food safety into daily execution.
• Lead investigations involving deviations, complaints, non-conformances, holds, recalls, and food safety incidents using disciplined root-cause and risk-based methodologies.
• Establish effective CAPA and verification processes that address systemic issues and prevent recurrence.
• Use quality systems, data analytics, dashboards, KPIs, and trend analysis to identify emerging risks and drive continuous improvement.
• Build and sustain a science-based food safety culture rooted in accountability, operational discipline, learning, and excellence.
• Develop, coach, and empower FSQA team members while strengthening technical capability and leadership depth.
• Communicate effectively with employees at all levels, from frontline production teams through senior leadership.
• Navigate conflict with professionalism and sound judgment, creating alignment while maintaining food safety and regulatory standards.
• Support new products, process changes, equipment improvements, and facility initiatives by integrating FSQA considerations early into decision-making.
• Maintain a proactive, can-do mindset, responding quickly and thoughtfully to operational needs while preserving sound scientific and regulatory judgment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Agriculture, Food Engineering, or related scientific discipline preferred.
• Significant FSQA leadership experience in food manufacturing, preferably within a high-volume, 24/7 operation.
• Strong working knowledge of USDA and FDA regulations, FSMA, HACCP, SQF, preventive controls, and food safety management systems.
• SQF Practitioner experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success leading SQF certification audits, regulatory inspections, customer audits, and corrective action programs.
• Strong understanding of root-cause analysis, CAPA, risk assessment, statistical methods, and quality-system improvement.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze data, identify trends, establish meaningful KPIs, and translate information into action.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively at both the frontline and executive levels.
• Strong interpersonal skills with demonstrated success in conflict resolution, influence, coaching, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Proven ability to build a positive, proactive food safety culture grounded in science, accountability, and operational excellence.
• Highly adaptable, responsive, and comfortable supporting a dynamic operation across multiple shifts.
• Strong proficiency with quality-management systems, Microsoft Office, Excel, data analytics, and related digital tools.
• A visible, engaged leadership style combined with strong technical judgment and a genuine commitment to developing people.