Corporate Food Safety – Quality Assurance Manager

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Illinois, +4 more states.

📋 Description

• Ensure that food safety and quality systems are scientifically sound and adhere to USDA regulations, policies, directives, and facility notices.

• Conduct audits of written policies, their enforcement, implementation, product environments, and regulatory reports.

• Create, review, and revise food safety and quality policies in alignment with USDA, FDA, customer contracts, Safe Quality Foods 2000 system level 3, and corporate standards.

• Provide training for Food Safety and Quality Assurance staff, as well as plant employees.

• Assist facilities during customer audits and regulatory evaluations.

• Offer expertise in smokehouse calibration and operations, sanitary equipment design, identification of microbiological harborage, quality plans, and product regulatory requirements.

• Investigate emerging industry issues utilizing online resources, scientific literature, and workshops.

• Identify and execute cost-effective, scientifically valid solutions.

• Analyze, interpret, and assess in-process analytics data using scientific methodologies.

• Author and develop cost-efficient system enhancements.

• Conduct ongoing data analysis to detect trends and address systemic or departmental issues.

• Collaborate with Operations Divisional Vice Presidents to integrate cost-effective technologies.

• Propel continuous improvement initiatives and objectives across the plant and organization.

• Lead employee development and coaching efforts to foster a positive work experience.

⛳️ Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year institution and over 5 years of relevant experience in the food industry, or a comparable combination of education and experience.

• At least 2 years of proven experience in team management, development, or project leadership.

• Strong knowledge of food manufacturing processes, quality assurance principles, food science, meat processing, SPC, and statistics.

• Experience with continuous improvement tools and principles to achieve results.

• Relevant familiarity with government regulatory standards in food processing, particularly USDA and FDA, is essential.

• Ability to document expertise in designing and executing quality/technical projects.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, inventory management software, manufacturing software, and SAP.

• Exceptional leadership, decision-making, problem-solving, writing, interpersonal, communication, planning, organizational, multitasking, and project management abilities.

• Must be willing to travel up to 70% of the time.

• Must be able to complete required forms in English, including reading and writing proficiency.

• Capability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic setting and cultivate strong professional relationships.

• Previous experience with multi-site responsibilities and perishable goods is a plus.

• At least 4 years of experience in a USDA-regulated manufacturing management role is preferred.

• Flexibility to work alternate shifts and some weekends.

• Ability to convey information to diverse audiences.

• Fundamental mathematical skills necessary for managing KPIs.

• Ability to function in various plant environments that may be wet, humid, hot, cold, noisy, chemical-laden, and mechanically active; hearing protection is required.

• Occasionally lift or move items weighing up to 50 pounds.

• Frequently required to stand, walk, use stairs, climb ladders, reach, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, talk, and hear.

🏝️ Benefits

• Relocation Package Available.

• Comprehensive, flexible, and affordable benefit plans and programs.

• Medical plans.

• Be Well programs at no extra cost, offering support for elective surgeries, weight management, mental health, cancer, kidney disease, diabetes, smoking cessation, asthma, and maternity management.

• Extensive training and professional development opportunities.

• LinkedIn Learning on-demand courses, professional certificates, and skill-based training available.

• Guild tuition assistance for English language learning, high school completion, and degree programs.

• Leadership development initiatives.

• Smithfield Scholarship Program available for employees’ children.