Position Overview
We are seeking a highly skilled and hands-on Senior Food Safety & Quality Assurance Specialist to join our FSQA team. This role will provide critical support to our customers, internal operations, and cross-functional teams in a fast-paced co-packing environment. The ideal candidate will have the expertise to manage consumer complaint investigations, internal foreign material incident reviews, product sensory evaluations, and customer requests — while exercising sound judgment to balance feasibility and value.
This position is designed to take on substantial workload from the QA Manager, providing both leadership and day-to-day operational support.
Key Responsibilities

Customer Support & Communication

• Serve as a key point of contact for customer quality-related inquiries.
• Investigate and respond to consumer complaints in a timely, thorough, and professional manner.
• Field and assess customer requests, including those beyond standard scope, and provide balanced, value-based recommendations.

Investigations & Corrective Actions

• Lead internal investigations into foreign material and quality incidents, collaborating with cross-functional teams to determine root causes and implement corrective actions.
• Maintain detailed, accurate, and compliant documentation for all investigations and follow-ups.

Product & Process Oversight

• Conduct and document product sensory evaluations for customer approval, quality verification, and continuous improvement.
• Monitor and support food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance throughout production.
• Participate in pre-operational inspections, GMP audits, and process verification checks as needed.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Operations, Customer Service, Sales, Maintenance, and Supply Chain teams to address quality concerns and support new product launches.
• Provide technical expertise in food manufacturing processes to troubleshoot and prevent quality issues.

Training & Leadership

• Support FSQA team development through coaching and knowledge-sharing.
• Act as a back-up for QA Manager in their absence.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or related field (or equivalent industry experience).
• Minimum 5 years of FSQA or R&D experience in food manufacturing.
• Strong working knowledge of HACCP, GMPs, regulatory requirements (FDA/USDA), and customer quality programs.
• Proven experience leading investigations and preparing detailed, defensible reports.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills to manage customer expectations.
• Hands-on approach — willing to work on the floor to support QA inspections and issue resolution.

Preferred:

• Bilingual in English and Spanish.
• Experience in co-packing or contract manufacturing environments.
• Formal training in sensory evaluation, root cause analysis, and problem-solving methodologies.

Key Competencies

• Investigative mindset — thorough, detail-oriented, and persistent.
• Customer diplomacy — able to build trust while tactfully managing overreaching requests.
• Collaboration — effective working across departments to drive solutions.
• Adaptability — comfortable balancing strategic work with hands-on operational support.

Work Environment

• Primarily on-site in a manufacturing setting with exposure to temperature variations, moving equipment, and food allergens.
• Occasional evening or weekend work may be required based on production needs or urgent customer issues.

Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $70,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In perso

Please refer the Job description for details