Food Safety Quality Manager

We are looking for a Food Safety Quality Manager to lead food safety and quality assurance efforts for a manufacturing operation in Woodbridge, New Jersey. This role is responsible for strengthening site-wide compliance programs, protecting product integrity, and ensuring readiness for regulatory, certification, and customer expectations. The position works closely with production, maintenance, and product development teams while guiding quality staff in inspection, verification, and continuous improvement activities.

Benefits: M,D,V,PTO,401K

Responsibilities:

• Lead the development, validation, and ongoing oversight of the facility’s food safety program, including hazard evaluation, preventive measures, monitoring activities, and required documentation.
• Oversee certification compliance by maintaining controlled records, coordinating internal review activities, and preparing the site for third-party and customer assessments.
• Manage core quality and food safety support programs such as sanitation, environmental testing, pest prevention, allergen controls, supplier qualification, traceability, recall readiness, and equipment calibration.
• Ensure manufacturing practices and product controls align with applicable food regulations, labeling standards, and industry requirements for dairy and soft cheese production.
• Direct regulatory, certification, and customer audit activities, and drive corrective and preventive actions through thorough investigation, root cause analysis, and follow-up verification.
• Supervise the team responsible for evaluating raw materials, in-process production, plant conditions, and finished goods through inspection, sampling, and testing activities.
• Review quality metrics and product performance data to identify trends, establish practical standards, and improve consistency and reliability across operations.
• Investigate consumer and customer quality concerns, translate findings into actionable improvements, and track recurring issues to reduce future risk.
• Deliver training and coaching on food safety principles, good manufacturing practices, quality expectations, and compliance procedures for cross-functional teams.
• Partner with production, maintenance, and R&D to assess food safety risks related to new products, ingredients, process changes, and equipment implementation.
• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience in food safety and quality management.
• At least 3+ years of experience in food manufacturing quality or food safety roles, with dairy or soft cheese exposure strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience building or maintaining a food safety plan and supporting certification programs in a regulated manufacturing environment.
• HACCP certification is required.
• PCQI certification is required or must be obtained within an established timeframe after starting employment.
• SQF Practitioner certification is preferred or must be completed within a defined period following employment.
• Bilingual communication skills in English and Spanish are required.
• Strong leadership, analytical, documentation, and communication abilities, including experience with root cause analysis, statistical review, and digital compliance systems such as Microsoft Office and quality management tools.