FSQA Manager

John Soules Foods; Gainesville (GA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus program

Vacation / Sick days

Medical, Dental, Vision

Telemedicine

Onsite clinic – Tyler and Valley

401(k) with company match

Career development opportunities

Job summary

John Soules Foods seeks a seasoned FSQA Manager in Gainesville, GA to lead the FSQA department, ensure food safety standards, and verify product quality. The role emphasizes team leadership, regulatory compliance, and safety, with focus on training, audits, and cross-functional collaboration.

The ideal candidate will have 5+ years in meat processing/QA, strong HACCP and data analysis skills, and the ability to drive corrective actions and continuous improvements across shifts.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years in food processing and quality management, meat industry preferred.
• Management or supervisory experience with potential to develop staff.
• Experience leading diverse cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead FSQA team, including shift-based supervisors.
• Develop and maintain HACCP, GMPs, SSOPs, and ENV monitoring.
• Coordinate audits (USDA-FSIS, third-party, customer) and CAPA.
• Lead sanitation verification and pre-operational checks.
• Interface with customers during plant tours and audits.
• Oversee training for plant team and FSQA staff.
• Manage product holds, dispositions, and data trends.
• Support major projects and new product launches.

Skills

Food safety

Regulatory knowledge

HACCP development

Microbiology

Sanitation programs

Data analysis

Communication skills

Leadership

Team coaching

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Word proficiency

M3

Redzone

TraceGains

Tools

Microsoft PowerPoint

Excel

Word

M3

Redzone

TraceGains

Job description

John Soules Foods is a thriving family-owned food company that has made a positive difference for its customers and consumers for nearly 50 years. Our purpose and promise of Great Food, Made Simple® drives us. Based in Tyler, Texas, the company is a leading national producer of ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook chicken and beef products and is the number one producer of chicken and beef fajitas in the USA. We proudly serve a broad portfolio of great-tasting, high-quality products sold throughout the US via retail, food service distributors, and restaurants. Our wide array of national customers includes prominent organizations such as Walmart, Costco, Sam’s Club, Sysco, and HEB. The company was established in 1975 by John Soules Sr., and the business is now in the second generation of family leadership. The organization has expanded dramatically over the past decade, and with its continued growth, it now has annual sales of approximately $1 billion. The company employs over 2,000 individuals and has three manufacturing facilities in Gainesville, Georgia; Valley, Alabama; and its headquarters in Tyler, Texas.

Job Title: FSQA Manager

Location: Gainesville, GA

Department: FSQA

Reports to: FSQA Director

Travel: Minimum Travel Required

Job Summary

The FSQA Manager is responsible for the management of the FSQA department, including food safety programs and verification of product quality standards within the facility. Additionally, the FSQA Manager is responsible for ensuring FSQA team member safety and retention KPI’s

Experience

• Minimum 5 years of prior industry experience in food processing and quality management, meat industry USDA-regulated products preferred.
• Former management experience or supervisory experience with demonstrated potential to hire and develop salaried supervisory employees.
• Experience working with and leading diverse and cross-functional teams.

Skills / Proficiencies

• Technical knowledge of food quality/safety procedures and programs, regulatory requirements, microbial hazards, HACCP program development, microbiological laboratory procedures, sanitation procedures, and plant operations.
• Strong interpersonal skills, written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to effectively communicate throughout all levels of the organization.
• Ability to analyze data and information and to make effective and timely decisions.
• Capacity to work with others to identify opportunities.
• Strong leadership and managerial skills and the ability to coach and develop employees.
• Ability to work under pressure and to react to situations with a strong sense of urgency.
• Solid problem-solving, project management, multi-tasking, and prioritization skills.
• Ability to listen and consider all ideas while working in a team environment.
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, and Word proficiency. Experience with M3, Redzone, and/or Tracegains a plus.
• Ability for limited travel to other facilities and for corporate team meetings as needed.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the FSQA team for the facility, with direct reports including the Assistant FSQA Manager (1 st shift) and FSQA Superintendent (2 nd shift)
• Develop, implement, and maintain plant quality and food safety programs, including but not limited to HACCP, Food Safety Plans, GMPs, SSOPs, and Environmental Monitoring Programs.
• Serve as the Food Safety Team leader, identifying and facilitating action plans to address trends and leading CAPA activities for foreign material, customer complaints, and environmental monitoring.
• Lead sanitation verification, including daily pre-operational sanitation inspection, operational sanitation, master sanitation schedules, etc.
• Serve as the primary liaison for on-site USDA-FSIS personnel
• Ensure finished product compliance with customer and label specifications.
• Lead all required third party, customer, and regulatory audits, including BRCGS, Organic, and Child Nutrition.
• Lead process mapping and FSQA criteria assessments to support major facility projects and new product launches.
• Develop, implement, and verify adequate food safety and quality training for plant team members and FSQA staff.
• Lead and participate in internal audits to assess compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements.
• Manage the systematic hold and release of product.
• Authorized to hold non-confirming product and determine product disposition. Must have the ability to make sound judgments and good decisions regarding quality and wholesomeness of product.
• Develop and communicate FSQA data trends and lead root-cause analysis.
• Interact directly with customers during plant tours and audits, visits to customer facilities, and/or for complaints responses.
• Complete special projects, duties, and assignments, as appropriate, including coverage of pre-operational sanitation/start-up and second shift as needed.

Work Environment

This job is carried out in a professional office setting and involves using standard office equipment like laptops, desk phones, and smartphones. Regular visits to production facilities may also be required. During those visits, the employee is occasionally exposed to cold and/or humid conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts. The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, cold temperatures, and electrical shock and vibration risks. The noise level in the work environment is moderate.

Physical Demands

Employees must be able to stand, walk, or sit; use their hands for tasks; reach with their arms; and communicate verbally. Occasional lifting or moving of objects is necessary, along with close, distance, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Additional Requirements For This Position

• Ability to lift 50 pounds
• Ability to climb stairs and walk long distances (1–3 hours per day)
• Work in cold (below 32°F) conditionsReliable transportation required
• May be exposed to aroma of spices used in cooking.

Benefits

• Incentive Pay: This position is eligible for the Company’s bonus plan, with amounts varying based on program terms.
• Vacation / Sick days
• Medical, Dental, Vision Benefits
• Telemedicine
• Onsite Clinic – Tyler and Valley
• Free annual health screening
• 401 (k) with company match
• STD and LTD
• Life insurance & other voluntary benefits
• Career Development: We support professional growth through continuous learning and development opportunities.

Soules Foods is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status.

Applicants with disabilities needing accommodation during the application process can contact Human Resources at the relevant location.

Soules Foods will not discriminate against applicants who discuss their compensation. We also participate in the E-Verify program where required by law.