Job DescriptionMain responsibilities:Leads quality and food safety performance across a multi-site manufacturing network, ensuring consistent execution of enterprise FSQA programs and compliance with regulatory, customer, and company requirements. Partners with plant leadership to drive quality system effectiveness, strengthen food safety culture, mitigate risk, and deliver continuous improvement across manufacturing operations.
Quality & Food Safety Performance
- Provides oversight and governance of quality and food safety programs across assigned manufacturing facilities to ensure compliance with regulatory, customer, and company requirements.
- Ensures consistent execution of HACCP, Preventive Controls, GMPs, sanitation, environmental monitoring, allergen control, and quality management programs.
- Serves as a key escalation point for food safety, quality, regulatory, and compliance issues.
Plant Food Safety & Quality Leadership
- Provides leadership, coaching, and development for plant Quality Managers and site FSQA teams.
- Establishes performance expectations, accountability, and capability-building plans to strengthen quality leadership across the network.
- Supports continuous improvement initiatives utilizing lean problem-solving tools and thorough root cause analysis, corrective action and preventative action
- Promotes a strong food safety and quality culture throughout manufacturing operations.
Regulatory, Customer & Audit Compliance
- Ensures facilities maintain readiness for USDA FDA inspectionscustomer, third-party, and internal audits.
- Supports regulatory inspections and customer engagements while driving timely and effective corrective action execution.
- Partners with sites to ensure consistent interpretation and application of regulatory and customer requirements.
Quality Systems Execution & Continuous Improvement
- Drives consistent execution of enterprise FSQA programs and standards across assigned facilities.
- Utilizes quality, food safety, operational, and customer complaint data to identify trends, mitigate risk, and improve performance.
- Leads root cause investigations and corrective action efforts for quality and food safety events.
Supplier & Consumer Quality
- Partners with Procurement to resolve raw material and supplier performance issues impacting quality and food safety.
- Oversees complaint, defect, and performance trending to reduce consumer and customer quality issues.
Business Partnership & Operational Excellence
- Partners with Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, and FSQA leadership to improve product safety, quality, process capability, and operational performance.
- Supports commercialization, process changes, and continuous improvement initiatives by ensuring food safety and quality requirements are effectively incorporated into business decisions.
We are looking for candidates who possess the following:Education Level: - Bachelor's degree in Food Science/Technology, Microbiology, Dairy Science, or related field required.
- Advanced degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Dairy Science, or a related field(preferred)
Experience Level:- 10 plus years of progressive food safety, quality assurance, or manufacturing leadership experience within food manufacturing.
- Experience supporting multiple manufacturing facilities or complex manufacturing operations.
- Minimum 5 years of experience in a food processing plant at a supervisory level or above in food safety & quality assurance or related role is required.
- Experience in one or more of the following manufacturing categories: dairy, frozen desserts, beverage, bakery, sauces, prepared foods, or ready-to-eat foods.
- Experience supporting regulatory inspections, customer audits, and GFSI-certified facilities.
Skills and Experiences: - Strong knowledge of HACCP, FSMA Preventive Controls, cGMPs, sanitation, allergen management, environmental monitoring, and quality management systems.
- Knowledge of USDA, FDA, Seafood HACCP, Acidified Foods, PMO, Food Defense, and related regulatory requirements.
- Experience training and implementation of HACCP or FSMA food safety plans, PCQI, SQF or BRC, vendor qualification, and customer requirement auditing.
- Demonstrated ability to lead quality improvement initiatives across multiple sites.
- Experience utilizing data, KPIs, trend analysis, and root cause methodologies to drive performance improvement.
- Strong leadership, coaching, and talent development capabilities.
- Ability to influence cross-functional teams and drive alignment across multiple manufacturing locations on-site and remotely.
- Strong verbal, written, and presentation communication skills.
- Knowledge of GFSI standards including SQF and BRCGS.
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: Up to 75% PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT: - Work environment includes corporate office and manufacturing plant environments (cold, wet, noisy conditions)
- Exposure to food production areas, processing equipment, and sanitation operations
- Standing, walking, climbing, and PPE required during plant visits
- Fast-paced environment with occasional off-hours support for critical events
We also provide a variety of benefits including:- Competitive wages paid weekly
- Access to up to 50% of your earned wages before payday, via our partnership with Stream
- Associate discounts
- Health and financial well-being benefits for eligible associates (Medical, Dental, 401k and more!)
- Time off (vacation, holidays, sick pay). For eligibility requirements please visit myACI Benefits
- Leaders invested in your training, career growth and development
- An inclusive work environment with talented colleagues who reflect the communities we serve
Our Values - Click below to view video: ACI Values
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A copy of the full job description can be made available to you.
About the TeamPay Transparency:Starting rates will be no less than the local minimum wage and may vary based on criteria such as location, experience, and qualifications.
Candidates with unique qualifications may be considered for compensation above this range. Benefits may include medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance, sick pay, PTO/Vacation Pay or Flexible Time Off, paid holidays, bereavement pay, and retirement benefits (pension and/or 401k eligibility). [If applicable:] Associates in this position may be eligible for a quarterly bonus.
