FSQ RTE Manager

Job Description

The FSQ RTE Manager (Technical Authority) is the single point of authority for food safety within all Ready-to-Eat (RTE) production and packaging operations.

This role is responsible for ensuring that no contamination pathway exists between environmental, personnel, or process risks and finished product. The position operates as a real-time risk controller, making immediate decisions on product safety, production continuation, and release.

In this structure:

• Sanitation executes cleaning (Plant Manager)
• FSQ RTE defines standards and approves effectiveness

This role is accountable for closing the gap between: 👉 what should happen vs. what actually happens on the floor.

Key Responsibilities

Real-Time Food Safety Authority

• Make final decisions on:
  • Product release / hold
  • Line startup approval
  • Production shutdowns
• Lead escalation and response to:
  • Deviations
  • Sanitation failures
  • Environmental risks

Hygienic Zoning Design & Enforcement

• Define and enforce:
  • RAW → RTE separation
  • Personnel and material flow
  • Controlled entry/exit points
• Audit zoning behavior daily:
  • Boot wash compliance
  • Tool segregation
• Eliminate all cross-contamination pathways

Sanitation Standards & Validation

• Define sanitation expectations:
  • 7-step cleaning system
• Validate cleaning effectiveness through:
  • Direct observation
  • ATP and micro results
• Reject sanitation that does not meet standard

Pre-Operational Control

• Own pre-op verification standards
• Audit high-risk equipment and repeat issue areas
• Ensure no production begins under unsafe conditions

Environmental Monitoring & Pathogen Control

• Partner with Micro Lab Manager to:
  • Interpret trends
  • Identify harborage points
• Lead response to Listeria risks
• Eliminate repeat contamination zones

High-Risk Vector Control

• Define and enforce controls for:
  • Drains
  • Condensation
  • Equipment niches
• Enforce drain segregation and no-spray policies

Floor Leadership & Enforcement

• Maintain strong floor presence
• Correct GMP violations immediately
• Hold operations, sanitation, and maintenance accountable

Ensure the RTE process is scientifically sound, controlled, and safe

What They Own

Process & Food Safety Authority (Highest Risk Area)

• Kill step (smokehouse lethality)
• Cooling, drying, post-lethality handling
• RTE contamination prevention (Listeria risk)

Process Validation

• Thermal validation
• Challenge studies
• Scientific basis of controls

Qualifications

• 8+ years in food safety/QA leadership
• RTE food experience (strongly required)
• Deep expertise in:
  • HACCP, FSMA, GMPs
  • Hygienic zoning
  • Sanitation systems
• Proven ability to:
  • Enforce standards
  • Make high-pressure decisions

KPIs

• RTE environmental positive rate
• Pre-op pass rate and repeat issues
• Zoning/GMP compliance
• Food safety incidents
• Audit performance

Additional Information

The salary range for this role is $94,000- $106,000 (Salary.) Actual salaries will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to external market data, internal equity, location, and candidate skill set and experience. Base pay is just one component of Jack Link's Total Rewards package for Team Members. Other rewards may include annual incentive and program-specific awards. Jack Link's provides a variety of benefits to eligible Team Members, including medical, dental and vision benefits, life and disability insurance, 401k participation, paid holidays, and paid time off.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to be successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The work environment is a plant / office setting with varying degrees of temperatures and noise levels. Exposure to manufacturing equipment movement and wet / slippery floors. Travel may be required.