Senior Quality & Food Safety Leader - Plant Excellence

Shearer; Perham (MN); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Shearer’s Foods in Perham, MN seeks a Sr. Manager of Quality & Food Safety to lead QA and Food Safety programs at the site.

You will partner with customers, suppliers, and the corporate quality team to ensure safety, quality, and brand promise across all products. The role oversees SQF, GMPs, SOPs; serves as PCQI and SQF Practitioner; drives data-driven improvement, coaching four quality staff, and shaping a culture where quality is owned by all.

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in a science field; PCQI, SQF Practitioner, and HACCP certifications.
• Minimum 10 years in Quality Assurance, Food Safety and Sanitation.
• Minimum 5 years in a supervisory/management role in a similarly sized plant.
• Strong knowledge of FSMA, FDA, and global food safety standards.
• Experience with customers and suppliers in quality capacity; data-driven improvement.
• Proven ability to lead change and manage plant-wide QA/Safety programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead and continuously improve Quality and Food Safety Management Systems (SQF, Food Safety Plan, GMPs, SOPs).
• Maintain understanding of products, raw materials, packaging, and manufacturing requirements.
• Enforce all food safety processes and procedures per audits and customer standards.
• Serve as SQF Practitioner and PCQI; participate in weekly Food Safety Inspections.
• Investigate and respond to customer complaints; drive corrective actions across functions.
• Ensure audit readiness and oversee sanitation and prerequisite programs.
• Develop data-driven insights (SPC, trend analysis) to reduce defects and variability.
• Set quality objectives aligned with plant and corporate goals; lead structured improvements.
• Foster a culture of ownership and embed quality at the source with operations.
• Deliver training connecting frontline work to customer impact and brand reputation.

Skills

Quality Assurance

Food Safety

Regulatory knowledge

Data analysis

Leadership

Education

Bachelor Degree in Food Science, Animal Science, Microbiology, Biology, or other science related degree

PCQI Certification

SQF Practitioner Certification

HACCP Certification

FSMA & FDA knowledge

Tools

GFSI knowledge

SOP development

Data analysis tools (SPC)

Job description

Shearer’s Foods in Perham, MN seeks a Sr. Manager of Quality & Food Safety to lead QA and Food Safety programs at the site.

You will partner with customers, suppliers, and the corporate quality team to ensure safety, quality, and brand promise across all products. The role oversees SQF, GMPs, SOPs; serves as PCQI and SQF Practitioner; drives data-driven improvement, coaching four quality staff, and shaping a culture where quality is owned by all.