ResponsibilitiesSr. Manager of Quality & Food Safety The Sr. Manager of Quality & Food Safety is responsible for leading the quality assurance, and food safety program at our Perham, MN facility. This includes working with customers, suppliers, corporate quality team, and manufacturing staff to ensure every product consistently delivers on safety, quality, and brand promise. You will own the site's quality and food safety systems end-to-end, translating customer expectations and regulatory requirements into actionable standards, disciplined execution, and continuous improvement across the plant. Manage, coach and develop 4 quality team members (Technicians and Supervisors) to act as trusted advisors and problem-solvers on the production floor. This role is a senior leadership position reporting to the Plant Director.
Your seat at the table:- Lead and continuously improve the site's Quality and Food Safety Management Systems, including SQF (Safe Quality Foods), Food Safety Plan, GMPs (Good Manufacturing Practices), and SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures).
- Maintain a comprehensive understanding of all products manufactured by the plant as well as the raw materials, packaging materials, and operations required in the manufacturing process including quality specifications and standards.
- Monitor, support and enforce all Shearer's Foods food safety processes and procedures. This includes all AIB standards, SQF standards, and customer specific standards as identified in supporting documentation.
- Serve as the SQF Practitioner and Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI). Participate in weekly Food Safety Inspections.
- Act as a key member of the Food Safety Team, ensuring risks are identified, assessed, and mitigated proactively.
- Investigate and respond to customer complaints. Track complaint and reacts to emerging issues or trends engaging the appropriate functions and process owners (i.e. production, maintenance, PD, etc.) to resolve.
- Ensure all programs are designed and executed to protect the consumer and ensure audit readiness at all times.
- Oversee sanitation and prerequisite programs to ensure hygienic design and execution across the facility.
- Develop and leverage data-driven insights (SPC, trend analysis, defect tracking) to improve performance and reduce variability.
- Establish and align quality objectives with plant and corporate goals, balancing consumer protection, efficiency, and cost.
- Drive structured problem-solving and continuous improvement initiatives focused on defect reduction and customer satisfaction.
- Build a culture of ownership where quality is everyone's responsibility,
- Partner with operations to embed quality at the source, minimizing reliance on inspection.
- Deliver training programs that connect frontline work to real customer impact and brand reputation.
QualificationsWhat you bring to the table:- Minimum requirement of a Bachelor Degree in Food Science, Animal Science, Microbiology, Biology, or other science related degree.
- Minimum of 10 years of overall professional experience in Quality Assurance, Food Safety, and Sanitation.
- Minimum of 5 years in a supervisory or management position in a plant of similar
complexity and size. - Certifications: PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual), SQF Practitioner (or other GFSI), HACCP
- Strong knowledge of FSMA, FDA, and global food safety standards
- Experience working directly with customers and suppliers in a quality capacity
- Demonstrated success using data and statistical methods to drive improvement
- Demonstrated experience leading change
- Broad knowledge and experience in quality and food safety management gained at
successive levels of responsibility in a plant atmosphere. - Demonstrated ability to direct, coach, and train associates as well as plan, monitor and
schedule work. - Experience leading "Best in Class" behaviors with focus on food safety, quality assurance, and plant regulatory compliance.
