FSQA Manager

Cérélia North America; Hazelwood (MO); On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Cérélia North America in Hazelwood, MO, is seeking an FSQA Manager to lead FDA and USDA food safety programs (HACCP, GMP, and GIP) for the U.S. operations.

This hands-on role provides direction for the QA teams and ensures SQF-based systems are developed, implemented, and sustained. You will partner with the Plant Manager and R&D, drive risk analysis and corrective actions, guide audits, training, and continuous improvement, and foster a culture of safety, quality, and teamwork on a fast‑paced

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of related experience with leadership in FSQA.
• University degree in food sciences, microbiology, chemistry or related field.
• Proven ability to lead teams and drive improvements in safety and quality.
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead FDA/USDA food safety programs (HACCP, GMP, GIP) for US operations.
• Oversee SQF program design, implementation and maintenance at the Hazelwood facility.
• Coordinate internal audits and regulatory audits with management and customers.
• Provide training and coaching to QA staff and production teams.
• Drive corrective actions and preventive actions to close gaps in quality.

Skills

Food safety leadership

HACCP knowledge

GMP awareness

Quality systems

Communication

Education

University degree in food sciences

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Job Title: FSQA Manager

Department: Food Safety and Quality Assurance (FSQA)

Reports To: Director, FSQA

FLSA Status: Exempt

Cérélia's newly established Frozen Breakfast Business Unit – US Waffle - is driving an ambitious growth strategy, backed by two manufacturing facilities, Liberty, SC, and Hazelwood, MO. To effectively support the rapid scaling of operations at our state‑art Hazelwood facility, US Waffle is seeking a dynamic and skilled FSQA Manager to join our team in Hazelwood, MO.

This role is responsible for managing FDA and USDA food safety programs (HACCP, GMP and GIP Programs) for business operations in the United States. This position will also work closely with the Plant Manager to lead food safety programs in global North America. The position provides leadership and direction for the quality assurance program teams in our Hazelwood, Missouri facility, with a focus on ensuring overall success of food safety compliance, the integrity of the company’s SQF based food safety and quality system and is a champion for the consistent quality of Cérélia products.

Your experience and skills are supported by the ability with the vision to bring forth a systematic process to deliver break‑through results in the areas of food safety, quality, safety, productivity, efficiency, customer service, safety and morale. Collaborative leadership style that embraces teamwork with a hands‑on approach, the sharing of ideas and the engagement of a workforce to deliver results. You measure your success by the success of the teams you lead, company you work with and the business partners you serve.

This is a hands‑on leadership role that requires strong floor presence, real‑time decision making, and the ability to drive results in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Food Safety & Quality Assurance process within the plant, overseeing the government requirements for the HACCP/FSEP/GMP program with an in-depth knowledge of production and quality systems
• Identify and coordinate quality initiatives and decision making with senior management, other departmental supervisors in order to ensure that food safety is not compromised
• Prepare food safety risk analysis and implementing corrective and preventative actions
• Designated SQF practitioner and responsible to ensure the SQF systems are developed, implemented, reviewed and maintained
• Provide leadership to the quality department development and implementation on appropriate training programs for various functions and food safety
• Lead the internal audit/re‑assessment process to determine the effectiveness of the quality program and identify potential health and hygiene issues for immediate resolution and continuous improvement
• Assist in the development of accident prevention and compliance programs and assists in risk identification, taking appropriate action to minimize risk
• Perform validation of prerequisite and HACCP Plans
• Review product specifications and process meeting with quality assurance operational objectives, audit and regulatory requirements
• Prepare the audit documentation and participate in customer, government and third‑party audits
• Implement the quality processes in production, meeting customer and quality standards
• Oversee validation of the quality process and new product development procedures to identify deviations from quality standards
• Oversee the non‑compliance practices, non‑conformances product and product complaint and ensure quick and thorough investigation and take prompt corrective actions
• Maintain and update GMP policies and procedures and the quality assurance program
• Supervise the staff in the Food Safety & Quality Assurance Department, including the Supervisors, Food Safety & Quality Assurance and provide feedback, guidance and coaching ensure that Quality Assurance staff is properly trained and resourced
• Ensure thorough and effective annual training of Safe Quality Foods (SQF), Good Manufacturing Practices GMPs and Food Safety Programs
• Assure that record keeping is accurate and meets SQF and government regulations
• Investigate consumer comments, collaborate with production on resulting action plans
• Assist R&D with product development, product audits and calculation of raw materials
• Provide support to production in continuous improvement effort
• Liaison and relationship building with customers, including customer & supplier visits to provide feedback to improve relationships and resolve quality issues
• Assist the staff management team in all Safe Quality Food policies and requirements
• Supervise and coach direct reports in the performance of their duties; complete performance reviews and provide feedback to direct reports
• Adhering to all policies, procedures and programs of the company (GMP, Quality, Food Safety and Health & Safety etc) at all times.
• Other related duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of related experience, including proven leadership experience
• University Degree in food sciences, microbiology, chemistry and food processing experience and knowledge, with relevant food safety expertise
• Ability to improve an organizations people, processes and systems
• Strong communication, facilitation and leadership skills
• Strong analytical ability with a bias for making decisions
• High level of integrity
• Proven ability in organizing and leading a team of managers to achieve performance targets and create a climate of cooperation
• Ability to deal effectively with all levels of hourly and management personnel
• Willingness and proven ability to make decisions and hold people accountable for their performance
• Computer skills – Excellent MS Office skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Ability to create and maintain an environment that is fun to come to even given stretch targets - no-bureaucratic type of attitude
• Leader that measures their own success by that of the company they work for, individuals and teams they lead and professionals they partner with both internally and externally
• Experience in Health & Safety Programs an asset
• Lean six Sigma and/or Lean Manufacturing trained a plus

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

DIRECT REPORTS

• QA Technicians Employees
• Responsible for mentoring, performance management, and development of direct reports

POSITION TYPE/EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK

• This is a Full Time, permanent position
• Exempt position 40 hours per week, and it may require working additional hours depending on business need requirements
• This is an on‑site position and not a candidate for remote work