Manager, Food Safety

KeHE Distributors; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 81,000 - 129,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health/Rx

Dental

Vision

FSA/HSA

Life insurance

401(k)

Paid time off

STD/LTD

ESOP

Holiday pay

Job summary

KeHE Distributors is seeking a Manager, Food Safety and Quality Assurance to lead a strong food safety culture within the Distribution Center. You will develop and implement FSQA systems, drive audits, and partner with operations to ensure top-tier compliance and performance.

You will supervise a team, manage third-party audits, and investigate incidents, with a focus on continuous improvement and alignment with KeHE’s mission and values.

Qualifications

• Five years’ experience in food industry QA.
• Associates degree in food science, quality systems or related field.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Experience with SQF/GFSI programs preferred.
• PCQI certification is required.
• Experience chairing FDA inspections and SQF audits is desirable.
• Minimum 1–3 years managing teams.

Responsibilities

• Serve as subject matter expert on food safety standards and regulatory compliance.
• Develops and maintains FSQA systems to ensure audits and certifications.
• Implements sanitation programs and liaises with 3rd party teams.
• Leads annual 3rd party audits and corrective actions.
• Leads investigations with IC for cheese and other products.
• Cross-functional collaboration to integrate food safety across operations.
• Monitor KPIs and communicate performance to leadership.
• Conduct regular audits and identify improvement opportunities.
• Track vendor performance and escalate trends.
• Lead performance evaluations and coaching.
• Drive continuous improvement of FS&Q systems across departments.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Communication

Collaboration

MS 365

Food safety

cGMPs

Documentation

Adaptability

Time management

Leadership

Education

Associates degree in food science/quality systems

Bachelor's degree preferred

PCQI certification

Tools

Microsoft 365

Job description

• Pay Range: $80,500.00/Yr. - $128,800.00/Yr.
• Shift Days: , Shift Time:
• Benefits on Day 1
• Health/Rx
• Vision
• Flexible and health spending accounts (FSA/HSA)
• Supplemental life insurance
• 401(k)
• Paid time off
• Short term & long term disability coverage (STD/LTD)
• Employee stock ownership (ESOP)
• Holiday pay for company designated holidays

Why Work for KeHE?

• Full-time
• Pay Range: $80,500.00/Yr. - $128,800.00/Yr.
• Shift Days: , Shift Time:
• Benefits on Day 1
• Health/Rx
• Dental
• Vision
• Flexible and health spending accounts (FSA/HSA)
• Supplemental life insurance
• 401(k)
• Paid time off
• Paid sick time
• Short term & long term disability coverage (STD/LTD)
• Employee stock ownership (ESOP)
• Holiday pay for company designated holidays

Overview

Good people, working with good people, for our common good.

Sound good?

KeHE-a natural, organic, specialty and fresh food distributor-is all about "good" and is growing, so there's never been a more exciting time to join our team. If you're enthusiastic about working in an environment with a people-first culture and an organization committed to good living, good food and good service, we'd love to talk to you!

Primary Responsibilities

The Manager, Food Safety and Quality Assurance develops and maintains a strong food safety and quality culture throughout the Distribution Center. The Manager develops initiatives to implement, track, and deliver on KeHE food safety and quality measures with a continuous improvement mindset. The Manager collaborates with the operations teams to ensure best-in-class food safety and quality at all times. As with all positions at KeHE Distributors, we expect that all actions will be consistent with KeHE’s Mission, Vision, and Values.

Essential Functions

DUTIES, TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serve as the subject matter expert on applicable food safety standards and regulatory compliance.
• Develops, maintains, and executes Food Safety Quality Assurance (FSQA) systems, knowledge, and practices to ensure compliance with food safety regulations, company policies, external and customer audits, and 3rd party certification.
• Implements and monitors sanitation programs to meet internal and regulatory standards. Main contact for 3rd party sanitation team, verifying effectiveness and recommending changes based on performance.
• Leads annual 3rd party audit, manages corrective actions, and develops culture of “audit ready at all times”.
• Lead investigations and RCCA on spills, own product damage policy and verify accountability
• Leads investigations with IC for fresh/specialty cheese for proper slotting, spoils, returns, and shelf life
• Collaborates cross-functionally to integrate food safety standards across all operations.
• Monitors, improves, and communicates food safety performance using key performance indicators (KPIs) to site leadership and corporate FS functions.
• Conducts regular audits and inspections to ensure compliance and identify continuous improvement opportunities.
• Tracks vendor performance and escalates trends and incidents to corporate team.
• Conducts performance evaluations, provides feedback, and supports team goal setting.
• Leads continuous improvement of food safety and quality systems across all departments.
• Other duties and projects as assigned.

Minimum Requirements, Qualifications, Additional Skills, Aptitude

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

• Excellent communication skills for all levels of team members, including front-line associates, peers, customers, vendors, and executives.
• Collaborative, continuous improvement mindset.
• Proficient in Microsoft 365 or similar programs.
• Thorough knowledge of food safety, Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs).
• Thorough knowledge of sanitation procedures.
• Self-starter with the ability to work without close supervision.
• Adaptable to changing business needs.
• Ability to influence others to achieve shared results.
• Ability to read and understand technical documents.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum five years’ experience working in the food industry in a food safety and quality assurance role.
• Associates’ degree in food science, quality systems or a related field required.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Experience implementing SQF/GFSI programs preferred.
• Experience “chairing” Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspections and SQF audits highly desired.
• Minimum 1-3 years of experience managing teams.
• Preventative Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) certification required.
• Food Defense Coordinator experience highly desired.
• Experience with internal audit procedures highly desired.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.
• The ability to lift, lower, and carry 12 to 50 pounds throughout the day.
• The ability to push and pull throughout the day.
• The ability to stand, walk, climb, and sit throughout the day.
• While performing the duties of this position, you are subject to a warehouse and production environment, with varying temperatures from very cool to very warm.

Equal Employer Opportunity Statement

KeHE Distributors provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, religion or faith, sex, gender, age, ancestry, national origin, mental or physical disability or medical condition, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other category protected under federal, state, or local law. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training as well as the administration of all Human Resources and Talent Acquisition processes.