FSQA Leader – Ready-to-Eat Protein Manufacturing

CSG Talent; United States; On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

CSG Talent partners with a leading protein manufacturer to recruit an experienced FSQA Manager to oversee food safety, quality assurance and regulatory compliance in an RTE plant.

The role leads HACCP programs, environmental monitoring, audits, and continuous improvement, partnering with Operations and Engineering to embed food safety into daily production. The ideal candidate has proven FSQA leadership, USDA-FSIS/FDA knowledge, and a track record of building strong safety cultures.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in FSQA leadership within a food manufacturing environment.
• Experience with ready-to-eat protein manufacturing and post-lethality products.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, GMPs, sanitation programs and food safety management systems.
• Experience with USDA-FSIS regulatory requirements and inspection processes.
• Understanding of Listeria control and environmental monitoring.
• Experience auditing for customers, regulators and third parties.
• Ability to lead FSQA teams and influence cross-functional stakeholders.
• Data-driven approach to trends, risk reduction and plant performance.

Responsibilities

• FSQA Leadership: Lead all site-level food safety and quality assurance activities, ensuring compliance with company standards, regulatory requirements and customer expectations.
• Regulatory Compliance: Maintain compliance with applicable USDA-FSIS, FDA and other relevant federal and state regulations, depending on product classification and facility requirements.
• HACCP & Preventive Controls: Develop, implement and maintain HACCP plans, prerequisite programs and other applicable food safety systems.
• Ready-to-Eat Food Safety: Oversee food safety controls specific to RTE manufacturing, including post-lethality interventions, environmental monitoring, pathogen control and prevention of Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
• Environmental Monitoring: Lead environmental monitoring programs, ensuring appropriate sampling, trend analysis, investigation and corrective actions.
• Quality Assurance: Manage product quality programs, specifications, finished-product inspections, testing and non-conformance management.
• Sanitation Oversight: Partner with Sanitation leadership to ensure effective cleaning and sanitation programs, verification activities and corrective actions.
• Audit Management: Lead customer, regulatory and third-party audits, ensuring site readiness, successful outcomes and timely closure of findings.
• Continuous Improvement: Analyze quality trends, customer complaints, microbiological results and food safety incidents to identify root causes and implement sustainable improvements.
• Team Development: Lead, coach and develop the FSQA team, establishing clear expectations, accountability and technical competency.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Production, Operations, Maintenance, Sanitation and Engineering to embed food safety and quality into everyday manufacturing processes.
• Corrective & Preventive Actions: Oversee investigations, root-cause analysis and CAPA programs to prevent recurrence of food safety and quality issues.
• Documentation & Reporting: Maintain accurate food safety records, regulatory documentation, quality metrics and management reporting.
• Customer & Supplier Quality: Support customer requirements, supplier approval programs, raw material controls and the investigation of product or ingredient-related issues.
• Food Safety Culture: Promote a culture of accountability, compliance and continuous improvement across all levels of the facility.

Skills

FSQA Leadership

Regulatory Compliance

HACCP

Listeria Control

Audits & CAPA

Cross-functional Leadership

Education

Food Science / Food Safety / Microbiology degree

Job description

CSG Talent partners with a leading protein manufacturer to recruit an experienced FSQA Manager to oversee food safety, quality assurance and regulatory compliance in an RTE plant.

The role leads HACCP programs, environmental monitoring, audits, and continuous improvement, partnering with Operations and Engineering to embed food safety into daily production. The ideal candidate has proven FSQA leadership, USDA-FSIS/FDA knowledge, and a track record of building strong safety cultures.