SR Manager - Corporate Food Safety and Quality

Senior Manager, Corporate Food Safety & Quality

The Senior Manager, Corporate Food Safety & Quality is responsible for leading and strengthening enterprise-wide food safety and quality systems across Blue Diamond Growers's manufacturing network and co-manufacturing partners. This role provides corporate oversight, technical leadership, and governance to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, internal standards, and customer expectations while driving continuous improvement and risk reduction. The position plays a critical leadership role in transitioning production to co-manufacturers, enhancing site-level accountability, and embedding a proactive food safety culture across the organization.

Corporate FSQA Governance and Oversight - 40%

• Establish and maintain corporate food safety and quality policies, standards, and programs aligned with FSMA, USDA, Almond Board of California and global regulatory requirements.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable regulations, including FDA (21CFR117), state requirements and international standards.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for regulatory inspections and customer audits.
• Provide oversight to ensure effective implementation of FSQA systems at all manufacturing sites and co-manufacturers.
• Develop FSQA KPIs with analytics and reporting cadence.
• Lead internal audits and verification activities to ensure compliance and effectiveness.
• Oversee the management of the Quality Assurance Laboratory to ensure compliance with regulatory, ISO 17025 and ensures customer expectations are being followed.

Food Safety Risk Management - 35%

• Identify, assess, and mitigate food safety risks across raw materials, processing, and finished products (with emphasis on low-moisture foods and almonds)
• Ensure robust preventive controls, including
• Process controls (e.g., pasteurization validation)
• Allergen management
• Environmental monitoring programs (EMP)
• Crisis Management & Incident Response
• Lead or support food safety and quality incident investigations
• Apply structured problem-solving methodologies (e.g., FACTS-based approach)
• Develop communication strategies for internal and external stakeholders
• Ensure timely and effective resolution and documentation
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for food safety or quality incidents
• Administers Company's pasteurization program to ensure adherence to the Almond Industry Pasteurization Rule. Works with Process Authority in completing pasteurization validation studies.
• Oversees the management of the Company's Environmental Monitoring Program and Allergen Control Program. Facilitates monitoring efforts between QA Laboratory and the Production Facilities.

FSQA Continuous Improvement & Program Development - 15%

• Drive standardization and simplification of FSQA
• Develop metrics, KPIs, and dashboard to measure FSQA performance
• Lead initiatives to improve product quality, reduce waste, and enhance operational efficiency

Training & Development

• Provides and facilitates training of Company personnel and contract staffing. Training to included but not limited to: HACCP, Food Safety, Food Security, Food Quality and Laboratory Policies and Procedures.
• Provides technical assistance and expertise for other departments, customers and regulators.

Performs other duties and responsibilities as required or assigned by Supervisor.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Engineering, or related field (Master's preferred)
• 10+ years of experience in Food Safety & Quality within food manufacturing or CPG
• 5+ years experience in quality auditing in a supervisory capacity.
• Experience with low-moisture foods and/or nut processing strongly preferred
• Demonstrated experience managing co-manufacturers and supplier quality programs
• Quality Auditing training certificates (ASQ or CQS) are preferable
• Strong oral and written skills to be able to provide clear and concise instructions. Ability to interact with people at all levels and promote a teamwork environment. Provide leadership and motivation while maintain an impartial attitude

Technical Expertise

• Deep knowledge of FSMA, preventive controls, and HACCP principles
• Experience with environmental monitoring programs (EMP), allergen controls, and validation/verification
• Established knowledge and/or experience in quality tools, quality auditing, HACCP, GMPs, statistical analysis, process controls, scientific methodologies, GLPs, laboratory equipment/instruments and laboratory policies.
• Strong understanding of microbiological risks in low-moisture foods (e.g., Salmonella)
• Familiarity with GFSI standards (SQF, BRC, etc.)
• Must accomplish and promote quality, accuracy and quantity of work performance.

Leadership & Skills

• Strong leadership and influencing skills across cross-functional teams
• Proven ability to drive accountability without direct authority
• Excellent problem-solving and root cause analysis capabilities
• Strong communication skills, including executive-level reporting
• Provides reliable judgments and decision making.
• Takes initiative.

Key Success Metrics

• Regulatory and audit compliance performance
• Reduction in food safety and quality incidents
• Co-manufacturer compliance and performance scores
• Effectiveness of FSQA programs (EMP, preventive controls, etc.)
• Improvement in food safety culture and site accountability

Administration and Operations:

• Good organizational skills and possess the ability to manage multiple programs and projects.
• Adhere to required/specified policies, procedures, time schedules and budgets.
• Maintain hard copy and electronic copies of procedures, quality records, research, etc.

Physical Demands:

Job requires travel to other facilities (Turlock, Salida, Oakdale and/or McClellan). Must be able to physically move throughout the facility including climbing multiple flights of stairs, ladders, elevated catwalks and tight access areas. Able to work at a desk for extended periods of time doing analytical work or preparing reports on a computer. On call 24 hours a day for emergency situations. Weekend work not uncommon.

Work Environment:

Work in a laboratory environment with biological hazards, hazardous chemicals and toxic materials. Work in the plant environment with associated hazards of moving equipment, slippery floors, dust, high noise and adverse temperature and humidity gradients.

Special Equipment Used:

Knowledge of computer applications and laboratory instrumentation.

Why Blue Diamond?

In addition to working at the world's largest, state-of-the-art almond manufacturer, we offer a safe and collaborative team environment, with numerous opportunities for free training and career advancement. Check out the BDG Benefits, Health & Wellness Guide HERE.

Grow Your Career. Partner With Us. We Are The Almond People!

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Blue Diamond Growers (BDG) is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. BDG provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, color, age, religion, protected veteran or disability status, or genetic information. BDG also complies with all provisions of the U.S. Government's Executive Order 11246 dated September 24, 1965 and the rules, regulations and relevant orders of the Secretary of Labor.