Sr. Manager, Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA) | Kalamazoo, MI
Lead food safety and quality for a growing food and pet food manufacturer! GPAC is partnered with an established organization looking for a strategic Sr. Manager, FSQA to own food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance across the company. You'll report to the VP of Operations and help shape how the FSQA department grows.
Why this role
- Enterprise-level influence: set FSQA strategy and priorities for the whole company, not just one plant.
- Build something: design and grow an integrated FSQA department, so you get to put your mark on the team.
- Leadership visibility: partner directly with executive leadership, Operations, Sales, Supply Chain, and R&D.
- Variety: work across affiliated sites, co-manufacturers, and contract warehouses, including onboarding new partners.
What you'll do
- Lead and develop corporate and site FSQA teams.
- Strengthen food safety and quality systems to meet GFSI, FSMA, customer, and regulatory requirements.
- Lead customer, certification, and regulatory audits and drive corrective action.
- Oversee HACCP and preventive controls, labeling, and import/export compliance (FDA, AAFCO, APHIS).
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Animal Science, Biology, or a related field; equivalent experience considered.
- 10+ years in food safety, quality assurance, or regulatory roles within food, pet food, animal nutrition, ingredients, or related manufacturing.
- 5+ years leading teams and driving accountability across departments or locations.
- Experience leading GFSI certification, regulatory inspections, customer audits, and corrective action programs.
- Strong knowledge of FDA, FSMA, HACCP, preventive controls, GMPs, supplier controls, sanitation, traceability, and recalls.
- Experience with AAFCO labeling and import/export requirements.
- Multi-site, co-manufacturer, contract warehouse, or supplier quality experience preferred.
- Willingness to travel up to 30% and respond to critical issues outside normal hours when needed.
Certifications (or ability to obtain)
- SQF Practitioner or equivalent GFSI qualification
- PCQI
- HACCP
- Internal Auditor
- Advanced SQF Practitioner or comparable GFSI training
Compensation & Benefits
- $110,000 to 135,000 base salary
- Comprehensive benefits package- health benefits are supreme
- 401(k) plus profit sharing
- Long-term career growth and leadership development
If you're qualified and interested, please send your confidential resume to Brittany at brittany.hamilton@gogpac.com for immediate consideration!
All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, age, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable laws or regulations.
GPAC (Growing People and Companies) is an award-winning search firm specializing in placing quality professionals within multiple industries across the United States since 1990. We are extremely competitive, client-focused and realize that our value is in our ability to deliver the right solutions at the right time.