Food Safety & Quality Assurance Team Leader, Food Plant

Location: Middletown
Posted on: June 23, 2025

Job Description:

A career at Whole Foods Market is more than just the work you do- it's about your personal growth and creating meaningful change. Our purpose is to nourish people and the planet. That means improving how people eat, funding grants for school gardens, providing access to fresh and healthy food to people living within food deserts, alleviating poverty in developing countries, and so much more. Working with us means you are making a difference within your community and beyond. We aren't just a grocery store: we're world-changers. And with your help, we will continue to set the standards of excellence and revolutionize the grocery industry. The Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA) Team Leader is responsible for managing and supervising the FSQA team in the metro food production facility. Responsibilities: Lead the daily operations of the FSQA team, including assigning tasks, providing guidance and training, ensuring all FSQA standards are met and safety protocols are followed. Establish a culture that prioritizes food safety and quality at the facility. Design, implement, and manage quality assurance programs and procedures to ensure product quality and consistency. Develop and enforce quality standards and specifications for raw materials, in-process materials, and finished products. Oversee environmental monitoring program and other swabbing programs as required to conform to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), and Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) guidelines. Monitor all Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs) and update them frequently as dictated by business needs or the USDA, including cross training Team Members on SSOPs. Act as the primary liaison for all internal and external food safety and quality issues (customer complaints, USDA, Food & Drug Association (FDA). Uphold all Whole Foods Market, USDA, and FDA program standards and work closely with USDA inspector. Oversee Pest Control Program and work with third party provider to remedy pest-related issues. Follow, comply with, and enforce established procedures, including health and sanitation guidelines and adherence to safe work practices. Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation and records of all quality assurance and food safety activities with daily audits to verify compliance. Handle food safety crises, including product recalls, contamination incidents, and other emergencies. Interview, select, train, develop, counsel, and manage performance for Team Members in a way that builds and sustains a high-performing and engaged team. Collaborate with Team Member Services on Team Member relations including proper documentation, investigations, corrective actions, and resolve team concerns and/or issues. In collaboration with subject matter experts, maintain comprehensive knowledge of, and ensure compliance with, relevant regulatory rules and standards, including Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), USDA, State Department of Agriculture, HACCP, FSMA, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Department of Labor, Health and Sanitation regulations, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Weights and Measures. Build a positive work environment of outstanding teamwork and mutual respect. Qualifications: BA/BS degree in food science, microbiology, animal sciences, or a related field preferred OR equivalent combination of education and FSQA experience within a food manufacturing facility. 2 years of FSQA facility experience within a food production environment and 12 months of supervisory FSQA experience in the food manufacturing industry. PCQI and HACCP certified preferred. Proven track record of success in an FSQA leadership role in the food manufacturing industry. Ability to develop, implement, and manage food safety and quality assurance programs. Experience in conducting internal and external audits and inspections to ensure compliance with food safety and quality standards. Proficiency in analyzing data from quality tests, audits, and inspections to identify trends, non-conformities, and areas for improvement. Intermediate computer skills; proficiency in select Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint); and ability to learn custom applications. Basic understanding of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) processes within a food manufacturing environment. Ability to work well with others, self-motivated, and capable of working independently with little supervision. Ability to work a flexible schedule based on the needs of the facility, including nights, weekends and holidays as required. Ability to build strong partnerships with key stakeholders including Team Members, customers suppliers, and regulators. A genuine passion for food and a deep commitment to our purpose to nourish people and the planet. Physical Requirements / Working Conditions: Must be able to lift 50 pounds. Must adhere to company dress code, standards of production kitchen dress, and personal protective equipment (PPE). Must be able to perform the essential functions of the job, with reasonable accommodation. Hand use: single grasping, fine manipulation, pushing and pulling. Work requires the following motions: bending, twisting, squatting, and reaching. Exposure to FDA approved cleaning chemicals. Exposure to temperatures: 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Ability to work in wet and dry conditions. May require the use of ladders. At Whole Foods Market, we provide a fair and equal employment opportunity for all Team Members and candidates regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, marital status, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic. Whole Foods Market hires and promotes individuals solely based on qualifications for the position to be filled and business needs. The wage range for this position is $79,040.00-$135,200.00 Annual, commensurate with experience. Whole Foods Market offers "Whole Benefits". Whole Benefits may include health insurance, retirement plan benefits, eligibility for a store discount, paid time off and access to other benefit programs. Eligibility for Whole Benefits is determined under the terms of the applicable Whole Benefits plan at a person’s date of hire. For additional information, visit our Whole Foods Market Careers site: https://careers.wholefoodsmarket.com/benefits. At Whole Foods Market, we provide a fair and equal employment opportunity for all Team Members and candidates regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, marital status, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic. Whole Foods Market hires and promotes individuals solely based on qualifications for the position to be filled and business needs. Whole Foods Market works with job sites like Indeed, LinkedIn, and ZipRecruiter to promote opportunities at our company. Please be aware that other career sites may not be accurate or up to date and may even be fraudulent. We encourage and recommend all candidates to apply via our site.

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