Food Safety & Quality Manager

Tropicale Foods, LLC; Lubbock (TX); On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Tropicale Foods, LLC is seeking an experienced Food Safety & Quality (FSQ) Manager to lead the FSQMS, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, customer requirements, and internal quality objectives. The role emphasizes SQF principles, audits, and continuous improvement in product quality and hygiene.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in food safety and quality management, with strong leadership, data-driven decision making, and excellent communication skills to work with

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5-10 years in food safety and quality assurance, with 3-5 years in a management role.
• In-depth knowledge of HACCP, FSMA, and GFSI (SQF).
• Certification in SQF, HACCP, PCQI.
• SQF Internal Audit training is preferred.
• Experience leading SQF audits by 3rd party certifying bodies.
• Knowledge of food microbiology for indicators and pathogens.

Responsibilities

• Provide FSQ leadership, hire, train, teach, assess, coach and mentor FSQ personnel to build a high-performing team.
• Serve as the SQF practitioner with authority to use the SQF code.
• Conduct internal, external, and supplier audits and drive corrective actions for non-conformances.
• Establish and monitor KPIs, driving continuous improvement in product quality and hygiene.
• Interface with customers and regulators during audits and inquiries.
• Collaborate with sanitation team to improve data-driven decisions.
• Ensure compliance to SQF, FDA, and sanitation standards.
• Develop inspection plans to maintain sanitary facilities and audit readiness.
• Oversee environmental monitoring for Listeria and RCA processes.

Skills

Leadership

Audits & CAPA

Data-driven decisions

Communication

Sanitation & hygiene

Education

SQF, HACCP, PCQI certifications

Job description

The Food Safety & Quality (FSQ) Manager is responsible for overseeing and implementing the company's Food Safety Quality Management System (FSQMS) to ensure compliance with regulatory standards, customer requirements, and internal quality objectives. The role requires a deep understanding of food safety principles, SQF standards, and quality management systems.

Responsibilities

Provide FSQ leadership, hire, train, teach, assess, coach and mentor, assess FSQ personnel to build a high-performing FSQ team.

The Food Safety & Quality (FSQ) Manager is the SQF practitioner with the responsibility and authority to use the SQF code

• Conduct audits (internal, external, supplier) and ensure corrective actions are taken for any identified non-conformances.
• Establish and monitor key quality and sanitation metrics (KPIs), driving continuous improvement initiatives to improve product quality, operational efficiency, and hygiene standards.
• Interface with customers and regulatory bodies during audits, inspections, and quality-related inquiries.
• Work closely with the sanitation team, provide guidance based on the data and facts.
• Oversee overall compliance to SQF, FDA , and company Sanitation standards
• Develop and execute daily, weekly and or monthly inspection plans to verify production facilities are consistently maintained in a sanitary condition and audit ready
• Oversee effectiveness of preoperational inspections conducted by FSQ team and trend analysis of data for continuous improvement.
• Execute and maintain a robust Environmental Monitoring Program for Listeria
• Lead and enforce RCA on investigation/vector swabbing when observed suspect Listeria positive
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to execute the company’s FSQ strategy (High Quality Safe Food), aligning with organizational goals and regulatory requirements.
• Develop, implement, enforce and maintain comprehensive FSQA documentation, including SOPs, HACCP plans, and food safety management systems.
• Ensure timely and effective resolution of customer complaints and feedback, driving improvements to prevent recurrence
• Lead root cause analysis and Conduct risk assessments and implement preventive controls to mitigate food safety risks.
• Promote the culture of Food Safety on a day-to-day basis
• Committed to food safety and drive these principles
• Maintain a Deviation/ CAPA Log, engage motivate cross functional team to execute actions in a timely manner
• Develop and maintain a process audit to ensure all operational and quality in-process and finish good monitoring are completed and verified.
• Oversee Quarantine inventory and execute action plan in a timely manner

Requirements

Experience and Skills

To perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Minimum of 5-10 years of experience in food safety and quality assurance, with at least 3-5 years in a management role.
• In-depth knowledge of food safety regulations and quality management systems (e.g., HACCP, FSMA, GFSI (SQF)).
• Certification in food safety minimum of SQF, HACCP, PCQI
• SQF Internal Audit training is preferred
• Experience of leading SQF Audit when audited by 3rd party certifying bodies.
• Knowledge of Food Microbiology for both indicator (Coliform, SPC) and Pathogenic bacteria
• Strong sense of urgency, strategic thinking and use of data when product safety and quality is at risk
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to drive cross-functional collaboration.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving abilities.
• A clear, confident, and concise communicator
• Well-organized and the ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment
• Promote Positive attitude amongst the QA and other functional areas to accomplish the best results.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands and work environment described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential function of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs, balance; stoop, kneel or crouch; talk and hear. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to a general office environment where the noise level is usually moderate. As part of the job requirements employee may be exposed to work in cold temperature (-20 degrees) at times.

Disclaimer

This position description indicates the general nature and level of work expected. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required. Employee may be asked to perform other duties as required. This job description may change from time to time at the discretion of the company.