FSQA Manager II - Demopolis

About Foster Poultry Farms

Foster Poultry Farms has been serving families since 1939. At Foster Poultry Farms, our mission is creating great food and serving great moments. Our vision is to be the best and most trusted food company, empowering and nourishing the lives of those we serve. We measure our success by how well we protect and care for our team, our consumers, our animals, and our environment, while delivering operational excellence and exceptional value to our customers. Foster Poultry Farms is always looking for talented individuals to join the Foster Poultry Farms Team.

Position Summary

The FSQA Manager works directly with the processing plant manager to ensure compliance with Foster Farms', USDA-FSIS's, and customers' requirements. The incumbent administers, executes, and verifies the effective implementation of Food Safety and Quality Assurance (FSQA) policies and programs to ensure the safety, legality, and quality of products. This position manages and develops FSQA Supervisors and an extensive technical staff at the processing plant level to achieve department and company goals. This position has the sole in-plant authority to release or retain products on FSQA Hold for quality or regulatory concerns, thus sound judgment in rendering a product as wholesome and compliant to specifications is required. This position executes processes that ensure safe, reliable, and efficient operations, supporting Foster Poultry Farms' mission, vision, and ACTION guiding principles: Accountability, Collaboration, Truth-Seeking, Initiative, Ownership, and Nimbleness.

Essential Functions

• Functioning as the primary FSQA leader; managing and enforcing the implementation, verification, and validation of Food Safety programs such as HACCP/SSOP Plans; ensuring adherence with GFSI and Company internal audit standards; managing the regulatory relationship with local USDA-FSIS and other regulatory agencies; retaining products that do not conform to finished product specifications or legal requirements; and rendering product dispositions, including the release into commerce.
• Managing the implementation, maintenance, evaluation, and enforcement of: USDA-FSIS regulations including the working relationship with local Inspection Program Personnel; company FSQA policies and programs (environmental monitoring, Good Manufacturing Practices, pest control, allergen control, and finished product specification compliance); and all product monitoring programs that have legal, customer, and company requirements.
• Overseeing all team members at the processing facility (including visitors and contractors) to ensure competence in maintaining food safety and quality compliance. This includes the design, coordination, and execution of required training in collaboration with the Human Resources, Operations, Sanitation, Maintenance, and FSQA teams to promote a culture of food safety and quality.
• Leading pathogen testing root cause investigations in partnership with Operations management to address and correct processing, sanitation, and maintenance-related deficiencies that might impact finished product safety, quality, or regulatory compliance.
• In partnership with Operations management, leading investigations to determine the root cause for finished product quality non-compliance and customer or consumer complaints and correct and prevent manufacturing, mechanical, formulation, or process control deficiencies that may lead to finished product noncompliance.
• In partnership with the site's Operations manager, scheduling meetings, and direct communications with local USDA-FSIS inspectors to coordinate and report resolution of regulatory non-compliance, as well as providing Foster Farms' Corporate management team with data and reports to address all noncompliance trends.
• Evaluating facility specific FSQA programs and procedures to established standards and modifying programs to conform with regulatory requirements and company policies.
• Managing and improving the FSQA data reporting systems, communicating trends and root-cause analyses to Corporate management for noncompliance resolution and process improvement.
• Actively leading team projects to drive continuous improvement in product safety and quality. This may include commercialization projects organized by R&D for new products.
• Actively managing all Company and FSQA Key Performance Indicators to ensure achievement of Corporate FSQA objectives.
• Other duties as assigned.

All personnel employed or associated with Foster Poultry Farms are responsible for the quality and food safety of company products. The food safety and quality policies are summarized and communicated in a company handbook and at training sessions. Each new hire is provided a handbook and attends a food safety training session before beginning work. All employees attend a refresher training session at least once per year. Records are maintained reflecting the distribution of employee handbooks and attendance at the training sessions.

Physical Requirements

Qualified applicants must be able to perform the following physical job requirements, with or without reasonable accommodation:

• Must be able to stand for up to 10 hours on a wet concrete floor
• Must be able to withstand a cold (40-48 degree) environment.
• Must be able to withstand a hot (80+ degree) environment.
• Must be able to safely lift up to 50 lbs.
• Must be able to work in a fast-paced work environment.
• Must be able to climb stairs and/or ladders.
• Must be able to work in confined spaces.
• Must be able to push, pull, bend, kneel, and crouch/squat.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in food or animal science, chemistry, microbiology or related field is required (extensive experience and demonstrated equivalent knowledge may be considered in lieu of formal education).
• Minimum required 5 years of work experience in food processing with supervisory and management experience for food safety and quality systems.
• Previous managerial experience supervising salaried and non-salaried team.
• Proficient use of Microsoft Office products.
• Previous managerial experience supervising salaried and non-salaried team members. This includes demonstrated proficiency coaching, mentoring, and developing management team members' professional skills and knowledge.
• Demonstrated proficiency leading and managing cross-functional teams.
• A thorough, practical, and functional knowledge of USDA/FSIS regulatory requires must be demonstrated.
• Demonstrate a proactive problem-solving and critical thinking approach to FSQA program design, implementation, and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrate initiative and the ability to work independently without regular, direct supervision or instruction.
• Possess strong writing and presentation skills, to communicate at all levels throughout the organization, including with executive management, customers, and government regulatory officials.
• Possess the ability to render sound judgment regarding food safety risks and product disposition.
• Must be able to work flexible hours to ensure adequate supervision of all processing and sanitation work schedules.
• Must have the ability to travel for business-related tasks (site visits and audits of other company-owned manufacturing facilities) or for continuing professional development (educational or industry conferences and Corporate FSQA meetings).
• Must be able to work weekends, holidays, and overtime as needed.
• Must be able to submit and pass a criminal background check, drug screen, and E-verify.
• Must be able to read and write English.

• Must have reliable transportation.
• Must be about to perform basic math functions.
• Must have a solid understanding of OSHA standards and guidelines.
• Decision making ability for the flagging of deviation from procedures.
• Able to work safely and set an example of safe working habits for their coworkers.
• Must wear company provided Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Preferred Qualifications

• An advanced degree is preferred (as this position is considered a key development role for advancement to the Corporate FSQA team).
• The successful applicant will be detail-oriented with a strong analytical aptitude. Experience implementing and teaching Statistical Process Control.
• Experience with SAP and enterprise data management systems.

Foster Poultry Farms ACTION Guiding Principles

• Accountability: Deliver on commitments.
• Collaboration: Achieve more by working as a team.
• Truth-Seeking: Be open-minded and act with humility.
• Initiative: Be proactive and lead with a growth mindset.
• Ownership: Take responsibility for results.
• Nimble: Operate with speed and agility.

Why Join Foster Poultry Farms?

This is a high-impact opportunity to shape the future of maintenance and reliability at a leading food company, directly supporting our mission, vision, and values. You will play a critical role in delivering safe, high-quality food and great moments for millions of families.