Plant Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager

Smithfield Foods, Inc.; Sioux City (IA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation package

Tuition assistance

Be Well wellness programs

Professional development & training

Job summary

Smithfield Foods, Inc. is seeking a Food Safety & Quality Assurance Plant Manager in Sioux City, IA. You will lead all FSQA programs, drive compliance with USDA/HAACP, and oversee sanitation, SQF systems, and the FSQA team.

You will report to plant and corporate FSQA leadership, driving continuous improvement and regulatory excellence. The role emphasizes regulatory expertise, team leadership, and proactive risk mitigation in a fast-paced meat processing environment with travel up to 10% and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university.
• 5+ years’ relevant experience in the food industry; plus leadership/management experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all food safety, quality, and regulatory programs to ensure USDA/FDA compliance.
• Lead root cause investigations, corrective actions, and inspector relationships.
• Design and manage sanitation programs with audits and microbial testing.
• Lead SQF Food Safety and Quality Plans development and reassessment.
• Supervise FSQA staff with scheduling, performance reviews, and training.

Skills

Team leadership

Regulatory compliance

English communication

Problem solving

Auditing & documentation

Root cause analysis

Regulatory agencies communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

SAP

QMS systems

FSIS/USDA compliance tools

Job description

Have a seat at our table. When you join Smithfield, you become part of something special – a company that's sustainably feeding people around the world, producing good food the right way with respect for our people, animals, communities and planet.

With opportunities across locations and functions, a culture grounded in our Core Four values - gratitude, communication, respect and accountability - and a strong commitment to learning, collaboration, and innovation, Smithfield offers challenging and rewarding careers where you can grow, contribute and make a real impact.

THE VALUE YOU’LL BRING:

The position summary states the general nature and purpose of the job. Overall accountabilities are defined in this section. Are you a results-driven Food Safety & Quality Assurance professional who thrives in fast-paced environments and knows how to spot risks before they become problems? At Smithfield Foods, you’ll take the lead in ensuring our products—like Smithfield, Eckrich, and Nathan’s Famous—meet the highest standards of safety, quality, and compliance. As Plant FSQA Manager, you’ll manage all food safety and quality programs at the facility. You’ll lead sanitation checks, enforce USDA and HAACP regulations, track products from start to finish, and implement corrective actions when needed. You’ll also oversee the plant’s quality systems, ensuring everything we produce is safe, consistent, and customer-ready. In this role, you’ll report to both plant and corporate FSQA leadership—driving continuous improvement, team performance, and regulatory excellence. Ready to lead with impact? Join Smithfield and help deliver quality that’s trusted nationwide.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

• Ensure Regulatory Compliance & Verification: You’ll oversee all food safety, quality, and regulatory programs to ensure USDA/FDA compliance, accurate documentation, and audit readiness. You’ll lead root cause investigations, implement corrective actions, and maintain strong relationships with USDA inspectors.
• Drive Food Safety & Quality Improvement: You'll work closely with FSQA and Operations teams to prevent HACCP, SSOP, and product or process failures. Through continuous improvement initiatives, you'll develop plans, strengthen process controls, and train staff to uphold high standards.
• Lead Sanitation Programs: You’ll design and manage the facility’s sanitation program—including audits, microbial testing, and performance tracking. When issues arise, you’ll take prompt, data-driven action to ensure cleanliness and compliance.
• Manage SQF Systems: You’ll lead the development, maintenance, and reassessment of SQF Food Safety and Quality Plans. You'll ensure the system stays current, compliant, and well-communicated to all relevant team members.
• Supervise and Develop Your FSQA Team: You’ll manage staffing, schedules, performance reviews, and training for FSQA personnel. In the absence of key team members, you’ll ensure all responsibilities are covered through cross-training and effective delegation.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.

WHAT WE’RE SEEKING:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four‑year college or university and 5+ years’ relevant experience in the food industry; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 2+ years of demonstrated experience in team management/development or project leadership, required.
• Must have the ability to complete required applicable forms in English, which requires the ability to read and write in English.
• Technical Knowledge and Regulatory Compliance: Possesses hands‑on experience with microbiological testing of meat and poultry products, along with a solid understanding of foodborne pathogens, microbiological and limited chemistry testing. Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of USDA, FSIS, HACCP, and SSOP requirements, and familiarity with QMS systems, SAP, and various database and inventory software tools.
• Communication and Analytical Skills: Demonstrates strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to address inquiries from regulatory agencies, customers, and internal stakeholders. Skilled in decision‑making, problem‑solving, and responding to quality and compliance issues in a timely and effective manner. Maintains a high standard of documentation and compliance.
• Proven ability to work in a fast‑paced, team‑oriented environment with professionalism and adaptability.
• Willingness to travel up to 10% and work extended hours or weekends as needed.

OTHER SKILLS THAT MAKE YOU STAND OUT:

• USDA/HACCP Certification
• SQF Certified
• Expert Knowledge and understanding of quality assurance principles, food science and meat processing, SPC and statistics
• Bilingual skills are a valuable asset, allowing you to communicate effectively in diverse, multicultural environments and enhance team collaboration.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The physical demands described here are representative of those an employee should possess to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Office and plant setting. The plant environment will include wet or humid conditions (non-weather related), extreme cold and heat (non-weather related), working near moving mechanical parts, exposure to fumes or airborne particles, and chemicals. Noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but can be loud when in the production area. Occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision includes close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus. Frequently required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear.

Relocation Package Available Yes

EEO INFORMATION

Smithfield is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, gender identity, protected veterans status, status as a disabled individual or any other protected group status or non-job characteristic as directed by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment selection process, please call us at 757-357-1595.

At Smithfield, good food starts with good people. "Good food. Responsibly.®" is more than just our tagline; it's what we do. We provide good jobs. We take good care of our animals. We are good stewards of the environment. We do good in our local communities. Smithfield is proud to offer robust, flexible and affordable benefit plans and programs to support our team members and their loved ones, and with out-of-pocket costs, on average, 20 percent less than plans offered by other employers.

Beyond our medical plans, our Be Well programs offer tools and resources to enhance your quality of life, at no additional cost. These programs are uniquely tailored to our Smithfield team and provide support for elective surgeries, weight loss, mental health, cancer, kidney disease, diabetes, smoking cessation, asthma, maternity management and more.

Our company invests in your future. We offer comprehensive training and professional development programs designed to help you reach your full potential. Through LinkedIn Learning, employees can access on‑demand courses, professional certificates, and skill‑based training to build capabilities aligned with career and business needs.

Our partnership with Guild supports your continuing education with tuition assistance covering English language learning, high school completion, and degree programs, while our leadership development initiatives nurture high‑potential talent.

We also offer unique benefits like our Smithfield Scholarship Program for employees’ children.

Headquartered in Smithfield, Virginia, since 1936, Smithfield Foods, Inc. is an American food company with a leading position in packaged meats and fresh pork products. With a diverse brand portfolio and strong relationships with U.S. farmers and customers, we responsibly meet demand for quality protein around the world. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com. We believe in the power of protein to end food insecurity and have donated hundreds of millions of food servings to our communities. Smithfield boasts a portfolio of high-quality iconic brands, such as Smithfield®, Eckrich® and Nathan's Famous®, among many others. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com and connect with us on Facebook, X, formerly known as Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.