FSQA Manager
We are recruiting for an FSQA Manager to lead food safety, quality systems, and audit readiness at a food manufacturing facility near Burlington, NC. This is a hands-on, floor-facing leadership role, not a compliance-only or maintenance-mode position. The quality function here is still building, so this person will build systems, improve accountability, and mature the department, not simply maintain an already-mature one.
As a member of the plant leadership team, this role owns food safety, quality systems, sanitation discipline, documentation, CAPA, customer complaints, holds/releases, product disposition, environmental monitoring, and traceability, working closely with Production, Sanitation, Maintenance, Warehouse, R&D, and plant leadership.
What you'll do:
- Serve as the expert for all internal and external audits, including FDA, Kosher, BRC, and GFCO, and coordinate corrective actions resulting from audits
- Achieve production KPIs for quality and hygiene
- Implement and enforce GMP instructions
- Propose and implement continuous improvement initiatives
- Cultivate a culture where quality and product safety are front of mind
- Drive the plant toward exceptional hygiene and quality status
- Ensure the plant achieves targeted quality across all end products
- Ensure compliance with FSMA/FDA regulations and IFS standards
- Review and respond to customer complaints, determining root cause and enacting corrective actions
- Own holds/releases, product disposition, EMP, and traceability
- Collaborate cross-functionally to keep the plant audit-ready at all times
- Provide training tools and documentation
- Manage the pest control program
- Lead and develop QA supervisors, technicians, lab, and sanitation-adjacent staff
What you need:
- Food manufacturing Quality Manager, FSQA Manager, or Senior Quality Manager background
- Bakery, snack, confectionery, RTE, CPG, or high-speed automated food production experience ideal
- SQF, BRC, FSSC, GFSI, FDA/FSMA, HACCP, PCQI knowledge
- Credible sanitation experience: SSOPs, pre-op, verification, corrective actions, EMP, sanitation accountability
- Proven team leadership: has actually led QA supervisors, techs, lab, and/or sanitation staff
- Master's degree in food science, food technology, chemistry, or biology, or a Bachelor's in the same fields with 8+ years of applicable experience
- 3-5+ years of food industry or related experience
- Authorized to work in the US without sponsorship
Schedule: Fully onsite, near Burlington, NC. Occasional domestic and international travel required.