Food Safety & Quality Manager

Piedmont Candy Company; Royal Park (NC); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation package

Professional growth & leadership dev

Collaborative team environment

Heritage company with growth plans

Job summary

Piedmont Candy Company is seeking a Food Safety & Quality Manager to design, lead, and oversee all food safety and quality programs. You will manage HACCP, GMPs, allergen control, traceability, recall, and sanitation verification while coordinating with Operations, HR, and Maintenance.

You will serve as PCQI, lead internal and external audits, and mentor a small team of QA Technicians and coordinators to embed quality in every process.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Safety, Quality, Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years’ experience in food manufacturing with leadership in Food Safety and/or Quality.
• Strong knowledge of FDA regulations and BRC/GFSI standards requirements.
• Experience managing HACCP and GMP programs.
• Proven success leading audits with regulators and customers.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage all food safety and quality programs, including BRC certification, HACCP plans, GMPs, allergen control, traceability, recall, and sanitation verification.
• Lead development, revision, and validation of HACCP and food safety plans.
• Direct the Food Safety & Quality Coordinator in supporting program documentation and daily compliance activities.
• Lead preparation and defense for regulatory, certification, and customer audits (FDA, BRC).
• Serve as the site’s designated PCQI for FDA-compliant food safety plans.
• Provide training support to HR for occupational health & safety programs.
• Mentor the team to ensure alignment and development.
• Partner with Operations, Maintenance, and HR to deliver GMPs and compliance training.
• Lead root cause analysis and CAPA for product quality and food safety issues.

Skills

Leadership

Audits

Regulatory knowledge

Training

Mentoring

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science or related field

Tools

HACCP

GMPs

PCQI

BRC/GFSI standards

Job description

At Piedmont Candy Company, we’ve been crafting sweet, nostalgic smiles for generations, and now we’re building the future of our business with that same care and commitment.As we scale, we’re making bold investments in automation, modernization, and people. Compliance with FDA and BRC standards is critical to our success, and so is building a culture where safety and quality go hand in hand.This is a pivotal moment in our journey, and we’re seeking a Food Safety & Quality Manager who will bring leadership, technical expertise, and strategic oversight to our Food Safety and Quality programs. If you’re energized by building strong compliance systems, leading audits, and mentoring a growing team, this is an opportunity to make a direct and lasting impact.We operate with the agility of a close-knit team while aligning with the discipline and ambition of a growing business. If you’re ready to help safeguard our products, our people, and our future, we invite you to explore your future with Piedmont Candy.Position Summary:The Safety & Quality Manager will be responsible for the design, leadership, and oversight of the company’s Food Safety and Quality programs. This includes regulatory compliance (FDA, BRC), audit readiness, training, and continuous improvement. The role will lead a small team (Food Safety & Quality Coordinator & QA Technicians) and partner closely with Operations, HR, and Maintenance to ensure safety and quality are built into every process.Key Responsibilities:Own and manage all food safety and quality programs, including BRC certification, HACCP plans, GMPs, allergen control, traceability, recall, and sanitation verification.Lead the development, revision, and validation of HACCP and food safety plans.Ensure programs are audit-ready and effective, working closely with cross-functional leaders.Direct the Food Safety & Quality Coordinator in supporting program documentation and daily compliance activities.Lead preparation and defense for regulatory, certification, and customer audits (FDA, BRC).Serve as the site’s designated Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI), responsible for developing, reviewing, and validating food safety plans in compliance with FDA requirements.Ensure a certified PCQI is always present or available during operating hours.Provide ongoing support to HR related to occupational health & safety programs.Supervise and mentor the Food Safety & Quality Coordinator and QA Technicians, ensuring alignment and development.Partner with Operations, Maintenance, and HR to deliver effective training programs for GMPs, food safety, and compliance.Lead root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions (CAPA) for both product quality and food safety issues.Monitor compliance metrics, identify trends, and recommend improvements to reduce risk and enhance performance.Build a proactive culture of quality and food safety through communication, accountability, and employee engagement.Qualifications:Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Safety, Quality, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).5+ years’ experience in food manufacturing, with leadership in Food Safety and/or Quality.Strong knowledge of FDA regulations and BRC/GFSI standards requirements.Proven success leading audits and interacting with regulators and customers.Experience managing HACCP and GMP programs.Strong communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills; ability to influence across functions.Certifications such as HACCP, PCQI, SQF/BRC Practitioner preferred.What We Offer:A collaborative, forward-thinking team environment.The opportunity to lead critical programs that safeguard our people, products, and reputation.Competitive compensation and benefits package.Professional growth and leadership development opportunities.The chance to join a company with a proud heritage, exciting growth plans, and a strong commitment to quality and safety.