FSQA MANAGER

gpac is partnered with a growing organization in the food and pet food manufacturing industry seeking an experienced Sr. Manager, Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA) to lead enterprise food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance initiatives.

This position will oversee corporate and site-level FSQA teams, strengthen food safety and quality systems, manage regulatory and certification requirements, and support manufacturing operations and external partners.

The ideal candidate is a strategic FSQA leader with strong technical expertise, proven team leadership, and experience driving compliance and continuous improvement across multiple facilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, develop, and hold corporate and site FSQA teams accountable.
• Establish enterprise FSQA strategies, objectives, performance metrics, and improvement plans.
• Oversee food safety and quality management systems across manufacturing sites, co-manufacturers, and contract warehouses.
• Ensure compliance with applicable FDA, FSMA, HACCP, GMP, GFSI, SQF/BRC, and customer requirements.
• Lead customer, regulatory, certification, and internal audits.
• Oversee preventive controls, risk assessments, corrective actions, validation, verification, and continuous improvement.
• Manage labeling, product specifications, regulatory documentation, and applicable AAFCO requirements.
• Support import/export compliance and applicable APHIS requirements.
• Oversee complaint investigations, root-cause analysis, supplier quality, traceability, recall preparedness, and product disposition.
• Lead FSQA due diligence and onboarding for new manufacturing and warehousing partners.
• Partner with Operations, R&D, Supply Chain, Sales, Customer Service, and executive leadership.
• Manage FSQA budgets, team development, succession planning, and performance reporting.
• Identify emerging regulatory risks and implement appropriate compliance and risk-mitigation strategies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Animal Science, Biology, or a related technical field; equivalent relevant experience considered.
• 10+ years of experience in food safety, quality assurance, or regulatory affairs within food, pet food, animal nutrition, ingredients, or related manufacturing.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing teams, developing FSQA programs, and driving accountability across departments or locations.
• Experience leading GFSI certification programs, regulatory inspections, customer audits, and corrective action initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of FDA regulations, FSMA, HACCP, preventive controls, GMPs, supplier controls, sanitation, traceability, and recall management.
• Experience with labeling and regulatory frameworks, including AAFCO, along with applicable import/export requirements.
• Multi-site manufacturing, co-manufacturer, contract warehouse, or supplier quality experience preferred.
• Strong communication, analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to influence cross-functional teams and make sound, risk-based decisions.
• Willingness to travel up to 30% and respond to critical FSQA issues outside normal business hours when needed.

Preferred Certifications

• SQF Practitioner or equivalent GFSI qualification.
• Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI).
• HACCP certification.
• Internal Auditor training.
• Advanced SQF Practitioner or comparable GFSI training.

Compensation & Benefits

• $110,000–$135,000 base salary, depending on qualifications.
• Comprehensive benefits package.
• 401(k) and other benefits, as applicable.
• Opportunity to lead enterprise-level FSQA strategy and team development.
• Professional growth and long-term career development.

If you are an experienced food safety, quality, and regulatory leader looking for an opportunity to make a meaningful impact across manufacturing operations, reach out to Shevon at shevon.robb@gogpac.com or call or text 816-434-8921 for a confidential conversation.