Food Safety Lead | SQF Practitioner & Compliance Champion

The Judge Group; Forest Park (IL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with match

Paid time off

Life and disability insurance

Professional development support

SQF/HACCP certification support

Job summary

The Judge Group is seeking a Food Safety Team Lead / SQF Practitioner for a USDA-inspected food manufacturer in the Chicagoland area. You will lead SQF compliance, coordinate HACCP, GMP, and SSOP programs, and act as the liaison to USDA/FSIS while supporting cross‑department collaboration.

You will train staff, oversee audits, manage third‑party inspections, monitor product specifications, and drive continuous improvement in food safety and quality.

Qualifications

• Experience as SQF Practitioner in a USDA-inspected facility.
• Proven ability to lead HACCP, GMP, SSOP programs and employee training.
• Strong liaison with USDA/FSIS and internal QA across departments.

Responsibilities

• Manage the SQF application process and implement SQF requirements with the QA Manager.
• Ensure compliance with HACCP, SSOP, GMP, and SQF programs and manage USDA-mandated programs.
• Own communication with USDA and FSIS and lead third-party inspections.
• Oversee training and cross-training for department staff on HACCP, GMP, SOPs, QAPs, and safety policies.
• Support QA and cross-train to cover during absences and ensure adherence to all rules.

Skills

SQF Practitioner

Food Safety

HACCP

GMP

SSOP

USDA/FSIS liaison

Audits & inspections

Training & development

Cross-department collaboration

Communication

Job description

The Judge Group is seeking a Food Safety Team Lead / SQF Practitioner for a USDA-inspected food manufacturer in the Chicagoland area. You will lead SQF compliance, coordinate HACCP, GMP, and SSOP programs, and act as the liaison to USDA/FSIS while supporting cross‑department collaboration.

You will train staff, oversee audits, manage third‑party inspections, monitor product specifications, and drive continuous improvement in food safety and quality.