At KeHE, we’re obsessed with creating solutions, unboxing potential, and serving others – and it all starts with you. As an employee-owned distributor of natural and organic, specialty, and fresh products, we’re committed to making a positive impact and scaling our success together. With a culture that fosters development and opportunity, you’ll be embarking on a career that’s moving forward. When you join KeHE, you’re becoming part of a team that is a force for good.

The Manager, Food Safety and Quality Assurance develops and maintains a strong food safety and quality culture throughout Mountain Man. The Manager develops initiatives to implement, track, and deliver on KeHE and Mountain Man quality measures with a continuous improvement mindset. The Manager collaborates with the production and warehouse teams as the operations are running to ensure best-in-class food safety and quality at all times. As with all positions at KeHE Distributors, we expect that all actions will be consistent with KeHE’s Mission, Vision, and Values.

DUTIES, TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serve as the subject matter expert on applicable food safety regulations and regulatory compliance.
• Safe Quality Food (SQF) practitioner for the site.
• Develops, maintains, and executes Food Safety Quality Assurance (FSQA) systems, knowledge, and practices to ensure compliance with food safety regulations, company policies, and external audits, including customer, certification, Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), and regulatory.
• Collaborates cross-functionally to integrate quality standards across all operations.
• Collaborates during the product development (R&D) stage to set, maintain, and adapt food safety and quality standards/processes across all new and existing SKUs.
• Oversees food safety risk assessments and implements necessary controls.
• Monitors, improves, and communicates quality control performance using key performance indicators (KPIs) to site leadership and corporate quality functions.
• Conducts quality control and food safety checks during shift start-up, changeovers, and shut-down.
• Conducts regular audits and inspections to ensure compliance and identify continuous improvement opportunities.
• Analyzes quality data to identify trends and areas for continuous improvement.
• Maintains relationships with vendors to ensure adherence to quality requirements.
• Leads third-party and customer audits and manages corrected actions.
• Serves as a resource for operational issues, process improvements, and new product launches.
• Conducts performance evaluations, provides feedback, and supports team goal setting.
• Leads continuous improvement of food safety and quality systems across all departments.
• Develops and implements training for all food safety and quality programs.
• Implements and monitors sanitation programs to meet stringent SQF and GFSI standards.
• Other duties and projects as assigned.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

• Excellent communication skills for all levels of team members, including front-line associates, peers, customers, vendors, and executives.
• Collaborative, continuous improvement mindset.
• Proficient in Microsoft 365 or similar programs.
• Thorough knowledge of food safety, Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs).
• Thorough knowledge of sanitation procedures.
• Self-starter with the ability to work without close supervision.
• Adaptable to changing business needs.
• Ability to influence others to achieve shared results.
• Ability to read and understand technical documents.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum seven years’ experience working in the food industry in a food safety and quality assurance role.
• Associates’ degree in food science, quality systems or a related field required.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Experience implementing SQF/GFSI programs preferred.
• Experience “chairing” Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspections and SQF audits highly desired.
• SQF Practitioner certification required.
• Minimum 1-3 years of experience managing teams.
• Preventative Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) certification required.
• Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) certification highly desired.
• Food Defense Coordinator experience highly desired.
• Experience with internal audit procedures highly desired.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.
• The ability to lift, lower, and carry 12 to 50 pounds throughout the day.
• The ability to push and pull throughout the day.
• The ability to stand, walk, climb, and sit throughout the day.
• While performing the duties of this position, you are subject to a warehouse and production environment, with varying temperatures from very cool to very warm.