A Food Quality Manager ensures that all manufactured food products are safe, legal, and meet stringent quality standards from raw ingredients to final consumption. They oversee quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) teams, enforce safety protocols, and manage regulatory compliance to protect public health and company reputation.Key ResponsibilitiesRegulatory Compliance: Develop, implement, and maintain food safety and quality management systems (QMS) like HACCP, ISO 22000, and GMP.Inspections & Testing: Oversee daily testing of raw materials and finished goods to ensure adherence to defined specifications.Audit Management: Act as the primary plant liaison during state, federal, and third-party regulatory inspections (e.g., SQF, BRC).Traceability & Root Cause Analysis: Maintain farm to fork traceability and lead root-cause analysis for any non-conformance issues or customer complaints.Team Leadership: Train, mentor, and manage QA/QC operatives, ensuring routine hygiene and process checks are accurately documented.Qualifications & Education Education: A Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.Experience: Typically 5+ years of progressive experience in food quality assurance, manufacturing, or safety operations. Certifications: Strong working knowledge and certifications in GFSI-recognized schemes (e.g., SQF, BRC).