Food Protection / Quality Assurance Manager

About the role

The Food Protection/Quality Assurance Manager leads the daily management of the food safety and quality program at the Chariton Distribution Center, which includes an ice manufacturing facility as well as fresh produce, freezer and dry goods warehouses. The role guides and troubleshoots food protection, quality and regulatory compliance issues so the facility exceeds regulatory requirements and Hy-Vee standards, and keeps a complex, multi-temperature operation audit-ready every day.

Key responsibilities

• Manage food safety and quality operations daily to meet company policies, local, state and federal regulations and customer requirements.
• Oversee the distribution center SQF program as the SQF Practitioner.
• With the Food Protection and Compliance Manager, investigate incidents, recalls, regulatory non-compliances and quality issues and document findings.
• Coordinate and assist with food protection and quality training programs.
• Verify daily tasks, work with Ice Plant personnel on daily production paperwork, verify CCPs and regulatory requirements, and oversee the cold chain management system (TempTRIP).
• Counsel and review staff, assist with inspection tours and follow up on inspection deviations.
• Help develop, evaluate and continuously improve food safety and quality systems, including prerequisite programs, SOPs, HACCP and food safety plans.
• Ensure compliance with GMP, SQF and other regulations, and lead direct reports (Quality Control Manager and QC Inspectors) while balancing workload, costs and overtime.

Required profile

• Education in a science field (food science, biology, microbiology, etc.) or equivalent experience.
• 3-5 years of experience in food safety and/or quality assurance preferred; leadership experience in a food production facility preferred.
• Understanding of federal and state food safety regulations, especially FDA.
• Experience with HACCP and/or preventive control programs; SQF or other GFSI programs a plus.
• Knowledge of cleaning chemicals and facility sanitation preferred.
• Physical ability to lift up to 50 pounds occasionally, stand and walk 8-12 hours, and work long hours in extreme temperatures.

Required skills

• HACCP and preventive control programs
• SQF or other GFSI programs
• Use of quality testing tools such as pH meters, Brix meters, chemical titration kits, thermometers and penetrometers
• Organizational, time management and communication skills