Quality & Food Safety Manager in Manteno, Illinois at Urban Farmer LLC

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, coach, develop, and support Quality Technicians and Quality Leads during assigned shifts.
• Promote a culture where Food Safety, Quality, Accountability, Transparency, and Teamwork are prioritized in every decision.
• Provide training and ongoing coaching related to GMPs, HACCP, Food Safety, Allergen Controls, Sanitation, and Quality Systems.
• Develop and execute training verification programs to ensure employees understand and consistently follow established procedures.
• Partner with Operations leadership to address quality concerns, improve processes, and drive employee engagement.

Food Safety & Quality Systems

• Serve as the facility's SQF Practitioner and maintain compliance with all SQF Code requirements.
• Manage and continuously improve the facility's Food Safety Plan, HACCP programs, prerequisite programs, allergen controls, and preventive controls.
• Conduct annual validations, verifications, risk assessments, and program reviews to ensure system effectiveness.
• Ensure compliance with all USDA, FDA, SQF, GMP, HACCP, Gluten Free Certification, customer, and company requirements.
• Maintain all quality and food safety documentation, records, and reporting requirements.
• Support product commercialization and new product launches by ensuring quality and food safety requirements are met.

Production Support & Product Quality

• Maintain a strong floor presence and provide real-time support to Production and Operations teams.
• Verify products meet established specifications, customer requirements, and food safety standards throughout the manufacturing process.
• Provide guidance during process deviations, product non-conformances, and quality investigations.
• Review production documentation for accuracy, completeness, and compliance.
• Partner with Production teams to identify opportunities for process improvements and defect reduction.
• Ensure all quality checks, inspections, and monitoring activities are completed accurately and on time.

Regulatory Compliance, Audits & Customer Requirements

• Lead site readiness activities for SQF, USDA, FDA, customer, third-party, and regulatory audits.
• Participate in internal audits, mock recalls, traceability exercises, and food safety assessments.
• Oversee customer Certificates of Analysis (COAs), product release documentation, and customer compliance requirements.
• Ensure corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs) are properly documented, implemented, and verified for effectiveness.
• Investigate customer complaints and quality incidents, identify root causes, and implement sustainable corrective actions.

Environmental Monitoring, Sanitation & Pest Control

• Manage environmental monitoring, microbiological testing, and product testing programs.
• Analyze testing trends and drive corrective actions to mitigate food safety risks.
• Partner with the Sanitation team to verify cleaning effectiveness and maintain sanitary conditions throughout the facility.
• Oversee the Pest Control Program and work directly with service providers to ensure program effectiveness and compliance.
• Support environmental, sanitation, and food safety investigations and resolution efforts.

Hold & Release Program

• Administer and oversee the facility Hold and Release Program.
• Ensure all product dispositions are supported by appropriate documentation and comply with company and customer requirements.
• Collaborate with Operations and Supply Chain teams to minimize product risk while protecting customer and consumer safety.

Continuous Improvement

• Utilize data, trends, and performance metrics to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Drive root cause analysis and corrective action processes using structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives that enhance food safety, quality, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
• Assist in establishing and monitoring departmental KPIs and performance metrics.

Additional Responsibilities

• Comply with all GMP, Food Safety, Quality, and Plant Safety requirements.
• Immediately report food safety, quality, or safety concerns through appropriate channels.
• Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education & Experience

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Associate's or Bachelor's Degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Biology, Quality Assurance, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years of Quality Assurance or Food Safety experience within a food manufacturing environment.
• Previous Management experience preferred.
• SQF Practitioner certification or equivalent SQF system experience required.
• Experience with HACCP, GMPs, USDA, FDA, allergen management, environmental monitoring, and food safety systems required

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods throughout the shift.
• Ability to spend a minimum of 80% of working time on the production floor.
• Ability to lift, push, pull, and carry up to 50 pounds on a regular basis.
• Ability to work in varying temperatures, including refrigerated and manufacturing environments.
• Ability to safely work around production equipment, moving machinery, and sanitation chemicals.
• Must be able to wear required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and comply with all sanitation and food safety requirements.