Director of Food, Safety & Quality (FSQ)

Company Description

When it comes to being wild, we know a thing or two. We’re not afraid of trying something new or the hard work it takes to make it happen. It’s in our DNA. We’ve turned a family recipe into a new snacking category. And the wilderness into the world’s largest meat snack business, that’s still proudly family owned and operated.

We’re a company built by innovators, and are driven to not only satisfy your hunger, but to also feed your journey – whether that journey is on the road, on the run, at the campground, at the playground, in the office or in the moment. It’s a journey we share with you. It’s the journey forward of our people, of our communities, of our category…with a reverence for quality and an irreverence for the status quo.

At Jack Link’s Protein Snacks, we see every moment of every day as an opportunity to move forward, to forge new ground. To realize our vision of becoming the World’s #1 Protein Snack Company. We never give up. You never give up. Together, we keep going. Are you wild enough to join us?

Jack Link’s Protein Snacks is a global leader in snacking and the No. 1 meat snack manufacturer worldwide. Family-owned and operated with headquarters in Minong, Wisconsin, Jack Link’s Protein Snacks also has a large corporate hub in Downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. The company is made up of over 4,000 passionate team members, across 11 countries, who share an uncompromising commitment to delivering awesome products and feeding the journey of those who move things forward. The Jack Link’s Protein Snacks portfolio of brands includes, Jack Link’s, Lorissa’s Kitchen, MATADOR Jerky, BiFi and Peperami.

Job Description

JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY

Food Safety and Quality leadership position for a large Ready-to- Eat, USDA Inspected facility. Sets expectations both the Food Safety and Quality (FSQ) staff and cross functional teams in delivering food safety and quality standards for industry leading, branded food products. Determines the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of all quality systems as they relate to achieving corporate FSQ objectives and delivering outstanding consumer experience for JL products.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Executes the Food Safety and Quality plan to ensure compliance with regulations, product specifications and organizational standards
  • Develop and maintain HACCP, SSOP Prerequisite Plans and ensure compliance with 9 CFR, Chapter III, Part 416 – Sanitation, Part 417 – Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Systems. 
  • Maintain scientific supporting documentation and validation results. 
  • Manage the microbiological, chemical and organoleptic testing of both finished product and in-process product and sanitation confirmation.
  • Reviews results, determines product disposition & timely release. 
  • Ensures Listeria environmental monitoring and control program execution including corrective actions, record keeping, and reporting 
  • Develop, review, monitor, and maintain all ingredient and process control systems. 
  • Develop and maintain SQF program and leads organization through certification and ongoing maintenance of program.
  • Review, monitor, and maintain all ingredient and process control systems
  • Conduct a mock recall bi-annually to verify the effectiveness and accuracy of data gathering and record keeping functions. 
  • Acts as the technical resource for facility during trouble shooting or process changes.
• Establish and manage FSQ Laboratory sampling, testing and documentation.
  • Ensures methods of microbiological and chemical analysis are conducted correctly and Good Laboratory Practices are followed.
  • Maintains documentation, prepares reports and analyzes testing data from laboratory
• Ensure all state, local, and federal Food Safety regulatory issues are adhered to. 
  • Function as the liaison between Operations and the USDA. 
  • Communicate with USDA-FSIS concerning regulatory issues 
  • Responds to NR’s and maintains tracking and reports  
  • Monitors regulatory changes and responds accordingly.
• Manages non-conforming product or process issues.
  • Monitors incoming inspection of materials and manages deviations through the Supplier Corrective Action Reporting process.
  • Conducts consumer complaint investigation, corrective actions, record keeping, and reporting. 
  • Addresses deviations from expectations with attention to detail and urgency.
• Training and development
  • Actively involved with onboarding of Operations team members creating a strong foundational understanding of GMP’s and SSOP’s leading toward a commitment to a reliable Food Safety Culture.
  • Identifies, hires and develops FSQ team members to deliver the highest product quality stan