Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

Head of Quality – USDA Food Manufacturing | Independence, IA

This Jobot Job is hosted by: Stanton Sikorski
Are you a fit? Easy Apply now by clicking the "Apply Now" buttonand sending us your resume.
Salary: $100,000 - $150,000 per year

A bit about us:

We are a rapidly growing, next-generation food processor rooted in excellence, integrity, and community. From our 125,000+ sq ft USDA- and FDA-certified facility, we specialize in fresh protein processing and freezing—no slaughter performed onsite. At peak capacity, we operate with a team of 230, producing over 800,000 pounds weekly and supporting an annual output exceeding 150 million pounds. Backed by experienced leadership and $15 million in planned facility upgrades, we are positioned for long-term, sustainable growth and continued innovation across operations.

Why join us?

• Mission-Critical Function: Own quality and food safety programs that directly impact customer satisfaction and brand reputation
• Competitive Base Salary + Performance Bonuses + Quarterly Profit Sharing
• Full Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, 401(k) with Match, PTO
• High-Impact Role: Join at a pivotal moment to shape the quality function of a fast-growing, high-demand operation
• Executive Visibility: Report directly to senior leadership and influence plant-wide performance
• Strong Culture: Team-oriented environment with a focus on excellence, trust, and accountability

Job Details

• Lead, coach, and develop the Quality and Food Safety team, building scalable programs to meet expanding production targets
• Champion a proactive culture of quality and compliance across all departments, ensuring rapid response to quality issues and customer feedback
• Analyze quality metrics and root cause data to drive corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) and long-term improvement
• Oversee all aspects of Quality Assurance and Food Safety for a USDA-regulated protein manufacturing operation
• Ensure ongoing compliance with USDA, FDA, HACCP, GMP, and internal quality systems
• Prepare for and lead successful external audits, third-party certifications, and regulatory inspections
• Drive continuous improvement through the development and implementation of quality systems and SOPs
• Hire, train, and manage team members while instilling a culture of excellence, accountability, and high performance
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Operations, R&D, Supply Chain, and Executive Leadership to ensure product integrity and operational efficiency
• Influence strategic decisions related to product quality, food safety, and regulatory compliance

Looking For:

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, or a related field preferred but not required
• 7+ years of experience in food quality assurance, including some leadership experience
• Proven background in USDA-regulated food manufacturing

Preferred:

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, or related discipline
• Experience with poultry, meat, or protein-based manufacturing
• HACCP certification; PCQI and SQF Practitioner credentials a plus
• Demonstrated success leading external audits and third-party inspections (e.g., SQF, BRC)

Interested in hearing more? Easy Apply now by clicking the "Apply Now" button.

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