Manager, Food Safety Quality (COP) (Hybrid: Onsite and Remote Work)

Food Safety Quality Manager

This position is responsible for managing the food safety and quality risks of the designated product categories. The FSQ Manager will partner with cross-functional teams to define product specifications and evaluate manufacturers and exclusive branded product within the category. The FSQ Manager will proactively work with exclusive brand suppliers to build process controls to reduce/eliminate food safety and quality risk failures to deliver with excellence to our customers.

This position has been segmented as Hybrid meaning there is a combination of three onsite days per week and the rest remote.

Responsibilities:

• Ensures compliance of all assigned suppliers to US Foods requirements regarding food safety, quality and regulatory compliance, approving/suspending/restricting/disqualifying as required. Responsible to monitor approximately 50-100 vendor facilities depending on the category supported. (10-50 vendors)
• Collaborates with all existing vendors within the category to maintain product specifications for branded products to ensure consistent adherence to food safety and quality requirements. This requires teaming up with the category management team to hold suppliers accountable to US Foods requirements.
• Conducts vendor facility risk assessments both through reviewing documentation and by conducting on-site inspections for site approvals.
• Technical expert for assigned product categories in the following areas: regulatory performance standards, critical to quality attributes, applicable state laws, processing techniques, environmental monitoring and general microbiology.
• An active member of the merchandising cross functional category team enabling commercial success through maintenance of food safety standards and food regulatory compliance requirements while balancing innovation and commercialization needs.
• Provides and educates cross functional partners with food safety and quality subject matter expertise including policies and regulations (including those specific to their categories such as FSIS, Low Acid Canned Food Processing, Pasteurized Milk Ordinance, etc.)
• Must be technical expert for specific regulatory programs related to assigned product category
• Partners with Product Development to design new products and define product specifications and plays a key role in the product review process. Provides ongoing diligence by ensuring product conformity to defined specifications and managing the internal and supplier approval process.
• Participates in plant trials and/or first productions, as appropriate, for new products. Accountable for ensuring that the product meets the brand standard at both the food safety and quality level.
• Actively manages supplier, customer and internal feedback to move US Foods to a proactive/predictive state in managing product quality and driving continuous improvement.
• Analyze complaint and product evaluation data to identify trends and opportunities with products and vendors to drive continuous improvement. Compile and issue quarterly FSQ scorecard to assigned vendors.

Qualifications:

Education/Training:

• B.Sc. in applicable field of science for the role, (e.g. food science, dairy science, meat science, animal science, plant science, engineering, microbiology, etc.) or commensurate degree
• PCQI/HACCP certified
• Auditor certification strongly preferred

Related Experience:

• Minimum 5 years Food Safety Quality management experience with responsibility for developing, implementing and managing food safety programs and policy.
• Demonstrated knowledge with FDA (FSMA) & USDA regulatory requirements and food safety systems.
• 2 years experience in a food manufacturing environment

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Strong leader and mentor
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize; required
• Deep understanding of environmental monitoring programs
• Deep knowledge/understanding and application of FSMA/Preventive Controls, Food Safety Plan design, measurement, documentation and training; required.
• Strong interpersonal skills required, including the ability to relate and positively influence at all organizational levels

Travel:

• Up to 20--30% travel Some travel may be out of the country.

Benefits for this role may include health insurance, pre-tax spending accounts, retirement benefits, paid time off, short-term and long-term disability, employee stock purchase plan, and life insurance. Compensation depends on relevant experience and/or education, specific skills, function, geographic location, and other factors as applicable by law (for example: state minimum wage thresholds). The expected base rate for this role is between $85,000 - $140,000.

***EOE Race/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Age/Genetic Information /Protected Veteran/Disability Status***