Food Safety & Quality Manager

• Develop, implement, and maintain the Food Safety Management System (FSMS), HACCP plans, and prerequisite programs.

• Develop, implement, and maintain the Food Safety Management System (FSMS), HACCP plans, and prerequisite programs.
• Ensure compliance with FDA regulations, customer requirements, and applicable food safety certification standards.
• Lead food safety audits, inspections, risk assessments, investigations, and corrective actions.
• Maintain effective sanitation, environmental monitoring, pest control, and product traceability programs.
• This role is the audit representative for the company.

• Establish and maintain product specifications, quality standards, testing procedures, and product release requirements.

• Establish and maintain product specifications, quality standards, testing procedures, and product release requirements.
• Oversee quality control throughout extraction, processing, pasteurization, concentration, storage, and shipment.
• Monitor product characteristics, including Brix, acidity, color, flavor, microbiological quality, and pulp content.
• Manage nonconforming products, customer complaints, product holds, and corrective actions.
• Partner with Operations to improve product consistency, reduce quality losses, and optimize processing performance.

• Direct laboratory operations, analytical testing, sampling procedures, and equipment calibration.

• Direct laboratory operations, analytical testing, sampling procedures, and equipment calibration.
• Ensure accurate, reliable, and timely reporting of quality and food safety data.
• Maintain testing documentation, Certificates of Analysis, and product records.

• Lead, develop, and hold accountable quality assurance and laboratory personnel.

• Lead, develop, and hold accountable quality assurance and laboratory personnel.
• Establish performance expectations, training programs, and a strong facility-wide food safety culture.
• Drive root cause analysis, corrective and preventive actions, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Utilize data, technology, automation, and process standardization to improve quality, efficiency, and cost performance.
• Collaborate with plant leadership to identify risks, implement improvements, and achieve operational objectives.

• Establish and monitor key performance indicators for food safety, product quality, regulatory compliance, and cost of poor quality.
• Manage customer specifications, quality complaints, audits, and technical communications.
• Provide timely performance reporting and recommendations to plant leadership.
• Manage departmental resources, laboratory expenses, and quality-related costs.

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in food manufacturing quality assurance or food safety, preferably in citrus or beverage processing.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Juice HACCP, FDA FSMA regulations, GMPs, sanitation, and food safety management systems.
• Experience leading teams, managing audits, conducting root cause analysis, and implementing corrective actions.
• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and cross-functional leadership skills.
• Proficiency in quality data analysis, reporting systems, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; use hands to handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

• Maintain regulatory compliance and effective food safety controls.
• Improve first-pass product quality and reduce customer complaints.
• Reduce quality-related product losses, rework, and operating costs.
• Ensure timely completion of corrective actions, audits, and employee training.
• Strengthen data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement across the facility.
• This position may require long hours during the fruit season. Including working weekends and nights.