# Food Safety and Quality Assurance Manager > Keller Executive Search · Suffolk, United States · Full-time · Posted 2026-07-24 **Salary:** USD 100,000–120,000 **Workplace:** on_site **Department:** R-MW ## Description Our client is an established, family-owned food manufacturer based in the Suffolk, Virginia area. The company has operated for more than 100 years and serves customers across the United States and in more than 20 countries. They are hiring a Food Safety and Quality Assurance (FSQA) Manager to lead all food-safety and quality programs at the facility. You will serve as the designated SQF Practitioner and the company's authorized representative for food-safety and regulatory matters. You will keep the facility compliant with federal, state, customer, and third-party requirements, and you will build a strong food-safety culture across every department. ### What You Will Do - Serve as the facility's main food-safety and regulatory contact during recalls, inspections, third-party audits, and customer inquiries. - Keep the facility compliant with FSMA, FDA, USDA, customer specifications, and third-party standards such as SQF and Halal. - Act as SQF Practitioner, chair the annual SQF management review, and report status to senior leadership. - Oversee the food-safety and quality management system, including HACCP and food-safety plans, preventive controls, sanitation, allergen control, pest control, calibration, and document control. - Develop, maintain, and test the FDA-mandated Food Defense Plan, and serve as the Food Defense Qualified Individual and trainer. - Lead the crisis-management and business-continuity plan and run an annual simulation. - Validate and verify preventive controls and critical control points, and keep scientific evidence of effectiveness. - Manage foreign-material prevention, including metal and X-ray detector validation, plus net-weight and fill-control checks. - Design and review sampling programs for raw materials, in-process products, finished goods, and environmental surfaces. - Investigate deviations, non-conformances, and customer complaints using root-cause analysis and CAPA. - Run traceability and recall programs, including mock recalls and full-system verification. - Lead the FSMA supply-chain program and the food-fraud (VACCP) vulnerability assessment. - Maintain certifications and records for Kosher, Halal, and other specialty claims. - Prepare, review, and sign food-safety and regulatory documents such as Letters of Guarantee and allergen, GMO, and Prop 65 statements, working with leadership or legal counsel as needed. - Support Sales, Marketing, and R&D so labels meet FDA rules and customer needs. - Supervise, coach, and develop the QA team, and drive food-safety awareness and accountability at every level. ## Requirements ### **Essential** - Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Biology, or a related field. - 3 to 5 years of food-safety and quality experience in food manufacturing. - SQF Practitioner certification, or the ability to obtain it. - Internal Auditor Training for GFSI schemes, or the ability to obtain it. - Food Defense Qualified Individual or Intentional Adulteration training, or the ability to obtain it. - Strong knowledge of FDA and USDA regulations, FSMA, and GFSI certification schemes. - Excellent leadership, communication, and analytical skills. ### **Strongly Preferred** - PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual) certification. - HACCP certification. ### **Preferred** - Bilingual (English and Spanish). - Experience managing Kosher, Halal, and other third-party certifications. - Knowledge of allergens, aflatoxin, food defense, and nut-specific hazards. - Experience with electronic document control and record-retention systems. - Calibration-program management for critical monitoring devices. - Proficiency in Microsoft Office and quality-system software. ### Work Environment and Physical Requirements - Work is performed in a manufacturing environment that processes peanuts, with exposure to peanut dust and allergens, moving machinery, moderate noise, and varying temperatures. - Ability to stand or walk for prolonged periods, up to 10 to 12 hours per shift. - Frequent bending, stooping, crouching, and reaching. - Ability to lift and carry objects commonly up to 50 pounds, and occasionally up to 75 pounds, with or without assistance. - Ability to climb stairs or ladders as needed. - Use of personal protective equipment such as gloves, safety glasses, hairnets, and hearing protection. - Ability to visually inspect products and to stay alert and responsive in a fast-paced environment. ## Benefits - 100,000 to 120,000 USD per year - 401(k) - Medical, dental, and vision insurance - Life and AD&D insurance - Supplemental coverage - Auto allowance - Paid vacation, PTO, and paid holidays Keller is a recruitment agency that provides services to clients ranging from startups and non-profits to multinational corporations. Keller emphasizes ethical search processes, attentive candidate care, and leadership placements that support long-term client outcomes. To learn more about the firm and about our candidate services - please visit [https://www.kellerexecutivesearch.com/executive-recruiters-headhunters-virginia-beach-chesapeake-and-arlington-virginia/](https://www.kellerexecutivesearch.com/executive-recruiters-headhunters-virginia-beach-chesapeake-and-arlington-virginia/) **Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Policy** **Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:** Both Keller Executive Search and our clients are Equal Opportunity Employers. For all positions, whether with Keller Executive Search or our clients, qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, skin color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other legally protected status. **Commitment to Diversity:** Keller Executive Search and its clients are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment where all individuals are valued and respected. **Reasonable Accommodations:** Both Keller Executive Search and our clients are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities and pregnant individuals. We engage in an interactive process to determine effective, reasonable accommodations. **Compensation Information:** For client positions, compensation information is available in the job post. If not provided, it will be shared during the interview process in accordance with applicable laws. When required by law, salary ranges will be included in job postings. Actual salary may depend on skills, experience, and comparison to current employees in similar roles. Salary ranges may vary based on role and location. **Compliance with Laws:** Both Keller Executive Search and our clients comply with federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all employment terms and conditions, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. **Workplace Harassment:** Both Keller Executive Search and our clients expressly prohibit any form of workplace harassment based on race, skin color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. **E-Verify Participation:** Keller Executive Search and/or our clients may participate in E-Verify. Information about E-Verify participation will be provided during the application process where applicable. **Privacy and Pay Equity:** - California Residents: For more information about the categories of personal information we collect for recruiting and employment purposes, please review our Privacy Policy. - Colorado, Nevada, New York City, California, and Washington Residents: Compensation information is available in the job post or will be provided during the interview process if not initially available. - Both Keller Executive Search and our clients are committed to pay equity and conduct periodic pay equity analyses in accordance with applicable laws. **State-Specific Information:** - Rhode Island: We do not request or require salary history from applicants. - Connecticut: We provide wage range information upon request or before discussing compensation. - New Jersey: We do not inquire about salary history unless voluntarily disclosed. **Veteran Status:** Both Keller Executive Search and our clients provide equal employment opportunities to veterans and comply with applicable state laws regarding veteran preference in employment. If you are a veteran, please inform us during the application process. **Genetic Information:** In accordance with federal and state laws, both Keller Executive Search and our clients do not discriminate based on genetic information. We do not request or require genetic information from applicants or employees, except as permitted by law. **Local Laws:** Both Keller Executive Search and our clients comply with all applicable local laws and ordinances regarding employment practices in the areas where we operate. Keller Executive Search and our clients may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in the recruitment and candidate evaluation process. These tools are used exclusively to support human decision-making by helping to review and assess candidate qualifications and materials. AI is never used to automatically reject, disqualify, or make final hiring decisions about candidates. All AI-assisted evaluations are reviewed by experienced recruitment professionals, and all hiring decisions are made by qualified human recruiters. Our use of AI is designed to enhance fairness, consistency, and efficiency while maintaining our commitment to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination principles. **Note:** This job posting may be for a position with Keller Executive Search or one of our clients. The specific employer will be identified during the application and interview process. Employment laws and requirements may vary depending on the employer and location. ## Apply [Apply at Keller Executive Search](https://apply.workable.com/keller-executive-search/j/D5B761F0B1/apply) --- Powered by [Workable](https://www.workable.com)