Quality & Food Safety Manager, Snack Food Mfg.

As a Quality & Food Safety Manager at Shearer’s, you’ll be responsible for leading the quality assurance initiatives within our facility in Perham, Minnesota. This includes managing the audit processes for SQF and FSMA compliance, ensuring that all food safety regulations and good manufacturing practices are upheld, and training staff on these crucial standards. You’ll also monitor food safety processes, investigate customer complaints, and promote a safe working environment.

To qualify as a Quality & Food Safety Manager at Shearer’s, candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree in food science, microbiology, chemistry, engineering, or a related field. Additionally, a minimum of three years of experience in quality assurance within a food manufacturing facility, alongside HACCP certification and Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) status, is required. SQF Practitioner certification is preferred.

Shearer’s prioritizes food safety across all operations by implementing rigorous quality assurance programs at our manufacturing facilities. As a Quality & Food Safety Manager, you’ll oversee the Food Safety Plan and ensure compliance with AIB, SQF, and customer-specific standards via regular inspections and audits. We focus on creating a culture of safety and quality through employee training and adherence to safety guidelines.

Joining Shearer’s as a Quality & Food Safety Manager comes with a comprehensive benefits package which includes medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, flexible spending accounts, retirement savings plans with matching contributions, and both short- and long-term disability options. We also emphasize work-life balance with numerous opportunities to volunteer in your local community.

As a Quality & Food Safety Manager at Shearer’s, you'll play a crucial role in managing customer complaints by investigating issues, tracking trends, and collaborating with various departments such as production and maintenance to ensure effective resolution. Your leadership will help reinforce quality standards and make certain our snacks remain among the best in the market.

When answering this question, highlight your direct experience implementing SQF and FSMA standards in previous roles. Provide examples of audits you’ve conducted, staff training sessions you’ve led, and specific instances where you improved compliance in a food manufacturing environment.

For this question, discuss your time management strategies and tools you use to keep tasks organized. Provide examples of how you’ve prioritized quality assurance duties while managing immediate production demands, ensuring all food safety protocols are strictly adhered to.

Prepare to discuss a specific situation where you addressed a food safety issue. Highlight your investigative process, how you coordinated with the safety team, and the steps you took to address customer concerns while complying with regulations. This shows your ability to act decisively under pressure.

Discuss various training methods you’ve employed, such as hands-on workshops, e-learning tools, or team-led workshops. Sharing success stories about how your training improved compliance or safety awareness among employees can help underscore your effectiveness as a trainer.

Describe your commitment to continuous learning through industry publications, attending seminars, and participating in professional organizations. Mention any specific resources you follow and how you apply this knowledge to enhance food safety protocols in your role.

Explain your approach to auditing quality processes, including preparation steps, documentation review, and staff interviews. Discuss your focus on collaborative feedback during audits to foster an environment of continuous improvement.

Share your communication strategies, including regular training sessions, visual management tools like signage, and one-on-one coaching. Highlight your focus on fostering an open dialogue where employees feel comfortable discussing food safety concerns.

Illustrate the importance of collaboration with various departments, such as production and maintenance, to ensure comprehensive food safety practices. Share examples of successful team initiatives that led to measurable improvements in quality and safety.

Frame your answer around the need to address disagreements constructively. Emphasize your dedication to open communication and how you would seek to understand the other person's perspective while focusing on the end goal of ensuring food safety.

Discuss challenges such as evolving regulations, technological advancements in the industry, or supply chain complexities. Share your thoughts on how you would address these challenges to maintain high food safety standards in the manufacturing process.