Quality Assurance and Food Safety Manager

Job Description:

We carry a full line of fresh produce and offer custom solutions to creatively meet every need. Our fresh-cut capabilities, centralized geographic location, dedicated shipping lines, state-of-the-art facilities, and dedicated team ensure produce is prepared to the highest standards of quality and food safety – and our quality guarantee ensures we’re caring for people to the best of our ability. We stop at nothing to provide each and every customer with the freshest, highest-quality produce and products possible.

- Fresh-cut Potatoes - Peeled Onions - Cut Fruit - Sliced & Diced Peppers - Fresh-cut Lettuce & Salad Blends - Fresh-cut Fruit and Veg Blends & Kits - Specialty Fruit & Veg - Herbs - Spices -

General Summary
The QAFS Manager is responsible for leading and managing all quality assurance and food safety programs at the Oklahoma City manufacturing facility. This role ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, customer standards, and internal specifications while driving continuous improvement in product quality, food safety systems, and operational excellence.

The ideal candidate is a proactive leader with strong regulatory knowledge, experience in manufacturing environments, and a passion for building food safety culture across teams.

Key Responsibilities:
Quality Management

• Develop, implement, and maintain Quality Management Systems (QMS).
• Oversee product specifications, quality standards, and inspection procedures.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions (CAPA).
• Manage internal audits and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Monitor KPI’s related to quality performance and report trends to leadership.

Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance

• Lead and maintain HACCP, HARPC, and/or Preventive Controls programs.
• Ensure compliance with FDA and state regulations.
• Serve as the Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI), if certified.
• Oversee environmental monitoring and sanitation verification programs.
• Lead and manage third-party audits (SQF) and regulatory inspections.
• Maintain recall readiness and crisis management protocols.

Team Leadership and Training

• Supervise QA and food safety personnel.
• Train plant employees on food safety, GMPs, and quality standards.
• Foster a culture of accountability, compliance, and continuous improvement.
• Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Supply Chain, and Customer Service.

Supplier and Customer Quality

• Approve suppliers and manage supplier quality documentation.
• Handle customer complaints and lead investigations. Trend results.
• Support customer audits and technical documentation requests.

Job Specifications:
Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Biology, Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in quality/food safety within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of FDA regulations (FSMA,cGMPs).
• Experience leading audits (SQF/BRC/FSSC/ISO).
• Proficient using computer applications including Microsoft PowerBi, Word, Excel, and email.
• Proven leadership and team management experience.
• PCQI certification
• HACCP certification
• SQF Practitioner or similar certification

Preferred:

• Experience with cold chain management
• Experience in food or beverage manufacturing.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred in produce environments.

Core Competencies:

• Regulatory expertise
• Risk assessment and mitigation
• Root cause analysis
• Audit management
• Data-driven decision making
• Leadership and team development
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Work Environment:

• Onsite in a manufacturing facility in Oklahoma City, OK
• Combination of office and production floor presence.
• Willingness to work extended hours or multiple shifts on occasion.
• Willingness to travel on occasion

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