Food Safety Quality Manager

Johnsonville; Holton (KS); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor is seeking a senior leader to own the food safety and quality systems at a meat processing facility. You will drive regulatory compliance, lead audits, and oversee the animal welfare program while fostering continuous improvement across safety, quality, and process controls.

The role requires strong leadership, deep HACCP knowledge, and experience in meat/poultry operations. You will coach teams, manage budgets, and partner with cross-functional groups to ensure top-tier product safety

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in food-related field required or preferred.
• Experience leading quality in meat/poultry processing is required.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, regulatory requirements, and animal welfare programs.
• Proficiency with data management, SPC, and Microsoft Suite.

Responsibilities

• Lead the plant food safety and quality system and administer programs, procedures, and policies.
• Drive continuous improvement in food safety and quality metrics and corrective actions.
• Coordinate internal, customer, regulatory, and SQF audits with cross-functional teams.
• Coach and develop FSQ team members and manage contractor performance.
• Plan FSQ capital projects and budgets aligned with network strategies.

Skills

Food Safety Leadership

HACCP

Regulatory Compliance

Data Management

Statistical Process Control

Project Management

Team Leadership

Six Sigma/Lean

SAP

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Food Science/Meat Science/Microbiology or related

Tools

Microsoft Office

SAP

Job description

Responsibilities

• Foster a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement, striving for zero IFR year after year
• Promote Johnsonville Culture and work with members to drive strategic continuous improvement efforts tied to food safety and quality risks or incidents in the animal harvest and fresh sausage processes
• Lead the plant food safety and quality system through administration of the written food safety and quality programs, procedures and policies.
• Collaborate with teams to achieve continuous improvement within the food safety and quality performance with key performance metrics, identify trends and process variation and driving corrective actions.
• Lead and administer the facility’s Animal Welfare System and Programs.
• Ensure regulatory compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, including USDA- FSIS, Federal and State requirements.
• Lead cross‑functional teams to excel at all site internal, customer, regulatory, and SQF audits, ensuring effective preparation, execution, and follow‑up.
• Demonstrate the ability to apply technical acumen applied to meat food safety and quality systems.
• Use your technical expertise to train members on food safety principles, quality systems, and regulatory requirements.
• Actively participate in network wide project work as applied to food safety, quality, animal welfare and process related improvements.
• Directly coach and develop Food Safety and Quality team members.
• Lead and manage the performance of third‑party contractors, such as pest control and sanitation providers.
• Lead FSQ capital pipeline planning and budget development efforts to align facility investments with network food safety and quality strategies.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Food Science, Meat Science, Microbiology or related field preferred
• 5 years of experience in a quality leadership role required
• Experience in food required; meat/poultry processing and harvest preferred
• Proficient at influential leadership and the ability to grow direct and indirect members required
• Knowledge and understanding of food safety, HACCP systems, USDA/FDA, Animal Handling and Welfare programs and regulatory requirements and have established regulatory relationships
• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite required
• Understanding of Safe Quality Food program preferred
• Experience with fresh product shelf life and microbiology
• Knowledge of continuous improvement processes (Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, etc.)
• Experience working in SAP Business Operating System desired
• Proficient with data management and Statistical Process Control
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Project management and team leadership skills

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in food safety and quality systems, including HACCP and regulatory compliance, while effectively leading teams to achieve continuous improvement in food safety metrics and animal welfare programs.

Hard Skills

• Food Safety
• Quality Systems
• Microbiology
• Data Management
• Statistical Process Control
• Project Management
• Animal Welfare Programs
• Fresh Product Shelf Life
• Microsoft Suite Proficiency
• SAP Business Operating System

Soft Skills

• Influential Leadership
• Coaching and Development
• Team Leadership
• Collaboration
• Communication