About Pet Food Solutions

Location: Clinton, IN
Department: Food Safety / Quality Assurance
Reports To: President
Job Type: Full-Time

Job Summary
The Manager of Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA) is a senior leader responsible for setting the strategic direction and execution of all food safety, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance initiatives across the organization. This individual will oversee the development and implementation of robust quality and food safety systems while aligning with corporate objectives and customer expectations. With deep expertise in food or feed processing environments—including rendering or oil handling operations—the Manager must lead cross-functional teams, influence executive leadership, and cultivate a strong culture of compliance and continuous improvement throughout the business.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for the company’s food safety and quality assurance programs across all facilities.
• Set long-term goals for quality systems and regulatory compliance in collaboration with the President and executive leadership.
• Develop and enforce corporate policies for HACCP, SFSF, GMPs, sanitation, allergen control, traceability, and environmental monitoring.
• Serve as the primary contact for regulatory bodies and lead all FDA, USDA, EPA, and third-party inspections and audits.
• Champion a proactive quality culture throughout all levels of the organization, from executive team to plant-floor staff.
• Collaborate closely with operations leadership to embed food safety principles into rendering, oil processing, and other industrial production workflows.
• Collaborate with operations and supply chain leadership to proactively identify and address quality and food safety risks within the industrial production environment (e.g., logistics, oil separation, thermal processing, etc).
• Design and implement training programs for all operational staff focused on food safety, quality standards, and regulatory compliance.
• Oversee customer complaint investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective/preventive action processes.
• Oversee lab testing, environmental monitoring, and verification/validation activities for process controls.
• Drive continuous improvement through data analysis, process optimization, and KPI tracking.
• Stay abreast of industry trends, emerging risks, and regulatory changes; ensure company remains ahead of compliance and certification standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical field (Master’s degree preferred).
• Minimum 8–10 years of progressive experience in food safety/quality assurance, with at least 3–5 years in a senior leadership or director-level role.
• Experience leading an FDA and/or USDA audit.
• Proven leadership within industrial food manufacturing, preferably in high-risk environments such as rendering, oil handling, or byproduct processing.
• HACCP and PCQI certifications required; SFSF and Food Defense training preferred.
• Demonstrated success in leading cross-functional teams, managing change, and influencing at the executive level.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to balance quality standards with operational and financial goals.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with byproduct processing, fat/oil refining, or animal feed manufacturing.
• Experience reading and interpreting technical documents such as specifications, procedure manuals, and technical data sheets.
• Strong background in process improvement (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma) and risk-based decision making.

Working Conditions

• Office and plant environments; frequent presence in production areas.
• May require travel to multiple sites for oversight, training, audits, or executive meetings.
• Must comply with all company safety and hygiene standards and wear appropriate PPE when in production areas.