Quality Manager - Ready to Eat

Meijer Inc.; Middlebury (IN); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Weekly pay

Scheduling flexibility

Paid parental leave

Paid education assistance

Team member discount

Meijer Rewards

Job summary

Meijer Inc. is seeking a Site Food Safety and Quality Leader to oversee the food safety and quality programs for high-risk manufacturing operations.

The role ensures regulatory, customer, and certification compliance, and leads food safety plans and prerequisite programs across operations, sanitation, and product development. It serves as the primary contact for inspections and drives continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• 5+ years of quality leadership in food manufacturing.
• Experience in ready-to-eat, deli, bakery, or similar operations preferred.
• Strong knowledge of food safety plans, GMPs, sanitation, environmental monitoring, allergens, and audits.
• Experience with investigations, CAPA, traceability, recalls, and risk-based dispositions.
• Demonstrated leadership of cross-functional teams and data analysis.
• Experience with regulated manufacturing environments and certification programs.
• HACCP, PCQI, SQF certifications required.

Responsibilities

• Lead and continuously improve the site's food safety and quality management system.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory, customer, and third-party requirements; primary site contact for inspections.
• Oversee product and material compliance: specifications, labeling, packaging verification, testing, dispositions.
• Provide technical leadership for manufacturing operations: critical controls, sanitation, traceability, recalls.
• Support product launches, shelf-life validation, and risk-based quality decisions across categories.
• Lead internal audits, CAPA, KPI reporting, training, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Oversee laboratory/testing and microbiological risk management for site operations.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional teams

Technical communication

Data analysis

Influence operational performance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, Microbiology, Biology, Chemistry, or related field

Job description

As a family company, we serve people and communities. When you work at Meijer, you’re provided with career and community opportunities centered around leadership, personal growth and development. Consider joining our family – take care of your career and your community!Meijer RewardsWeekly payScheduling flexibilityPaid parental leavePaid education assistanceTeam member discountDevelopment programs for advancement and career growthPlease review the job profile below and apply today!Reporting to the Director of Food Safety for Manufacturing, this role leads site food safety and quality programs for high-risk manufacturing operations. The position is responsible for maintaining regulatory, customer, and certification compliance; leading food safety plans and prerequisite programs; and partnering across operations, sanitation, maintenance, supply chain, and product development to ensure safe, legal, and high-quality products. This role serves as the primary site contact for inspections and audits and drives continuous improvement through effective quality systems, technical leadership, and risk-based decision making.Onsite position with Monday-Friday 8am-5pm schedule. On call as needed. Occasional travel.What You'll Be Doing:Lead and continuously improve the site food safety and quality management system, including food safety plans, prerequisite programs, sanitation controls, environmental monitoring, document control, and records management.Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory, customer, and third-party requirements; serve as the primary site contact for inspections, audits, corrective actions, and follow-up activities.Primary point of contact for regulatory inspections and provide guidance to site leadership regarding implementation of regulatory compliance.Oversee product and material compliance activities, including specifications, labeling, packaging verification, process controls, testing, calibration, and disposition of nonconforming product.Provide technical leadership for manufacturing operations, including verification of critical controls, sanitation and hygienic design programs, traceability, recall readiness, complaint investigations, and continuous improvement initiatives.Support product launches, process changes, shelf-life and validation activities, and risk-based quality decisions across multiple product categories and manufacturing systems.Lead internal audits, root cause analysis, CAPA, KPI reporting, site training, and cross-functional collaboration to strengthen food safety culture and operational performance.Provide oversight for laboratory or external testing support, microbiological risk management, and specialized process controls relevant to the site's operations.This job profile is not meant to be all inclusive of the responsibilities of this position; may perform other duties as assigned or requiredWhat You Bring with You (Qualifications):Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, Microbiology, Biology, Chemistry, or a related field, or equivalent experience.5+ years of quality leadership experience in food manufacturing required.Progressive experience in food safety and quality within a manufacturing environment; experience in ready-to-eat, deli, bakery, or similar operations preferred.Strong knowledge of food safety plans, GMPs, sanitation systems, environmental monitoring, allergen controls, audit readiness, and quality management practices.Experience leading investigations, internal audits, CAPA, complaint management, traceability, recall readiness, and risk-based product disposition decisions.Demonstrated leadership of cross-functional teams, technical communication, data analysis, and the ability to influence operational performance.Experience with regulated manufacturing environments, certification programs, laboratory oversight, and specialized process controls relevant to the facility preferred.HACCP, PCQI, SQF, certifications required.