SUMMARY: Kayem’s Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager plays a key leadership role in ensuring the highest standards of food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance across all operations. This position is responsible for leading a team of FSQA Technicians, driving continuous improvement in food safety programs, partnering with cross-functional departments, and maintaining audit readiness. The ideal candidate will combine deep knowledge of USDA and GFSI standards with strong leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills to uphold product integrity, support operational excellence, and foster a culture of quality throughout the organization.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Other duties may be assigned as needed:
- Lead and manage FSQA Technicians, ensuring team alignment with departmental goals and regulatory requirements.
- Direct the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of Quality and Food Safety programs, including HACCP, Foreign Material Control, Regulatory Compliance, and Food Defense in accordance with local, state and Federal requirements.
- Act as the primary contact for regulatory agencies (USDA, State and Local Health Departments), ensuring timely resolution of concerns and uninterrupted operations.
- Lead audit readiness efforts for internal, customer and GFSI audits, maintain documentation and certifications (e.g. BRC).
- Maintain and update documentation related to food safety, quality, and lab procedures and certifications (e.g., BRC).
- Collaborate with Operations, Sanitation and maintenance leadership to reduce product variability, enhance compliance, advance food safety/quality standards.
- Represent FSQA in cross-functional meetings and initiatives and support issue resolution and oversee trial or test runs(Operations, Sanitation, Maintenance, R&D, Commercialization). Foster a culture of quality excellence.
- Manage the Plant Improvement Plan (PIP) in coordination with Maintenance to ensure timely completion.
- Lead Investigations of non-conformances, customer complaints and unusual occurrences. Conduct root cause analysis and implementation of corrective actions. Provide corrective action reports to FSQA leadership.
- Oversee QA laboratory programs and equipment (pest control, Listeria testing, QA holds, SSOP’s R&D testing/sampling) and manage lab equipment
- Oversee routine inspections of production areas to ensure adherence to food safety and quality standards.
- Develop and deliver QA training programs to QA personnel and other stakeholders.
- Maintain training records, conduct performance evaluations and
- Prepare the organization for evolving regulatory and customer expectations by enhancing food safety and quality systems to meet federal, state, and local requirements.
- Promote and sustain continuous improvement initiatives within the FSQA department.
- Facilitate communication across all levels of management to maintain process control and prevent product failures.
- Stay current with USDA/FDA regulations and industry standards.
- Serve as deputy to FSQA leadership and perform other duties or special projects as assigned.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:
- Associate degree in Food Science or related field required; Bachelor’s degree preferred.
- Minimum 8 years of experience in processed meat production, with at least 3 years in a supervisory or managerial FSQA role.
- Comprehensive knowledge of USDA, FSIS, HACCP, SSOP, and GFSI standards.
SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES
- Strong leadership and team development capabilities.
- Proactive problem-solving with sound judgment and a hands-on approach.
- Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- High sense of urgency and resilience.
- Effective communication across all organizational levels.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and virtual collaboration tools (Teams, Zoom).
- Quick learner with adaptability to new technologies and compliance requirements.
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to refrigerated (35-40 degrees) and wet conditions.
The noise level in the plant is usually loud.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, sit climb or balance, and smell.
The employee must regularly lift and/ or move up to 25 pounds
Company Overview
Kayem Foods is a family owned and operated craft meat business that has been making New England’s favorite franks, sausages, and prepared meats in Chelsea, Mass. since its founding by Kaz Monkiewicz back in 1909. Well over 100 years later, we are the largest meat processor in New England and still pushing our craft to the next level – tweaking recipes to have the perfect flavors and extending our expertise into delicious new areas and collaborations – such as Kayem’s Night Shift Brewing Small Batch Beer Brats. One thing will never change, it’s our “Old World” food philosophy: to only make food we would share with our own friends and family. We offer the opportunity for professional growth and to make a difference in a flexible and collaborative environment.
Kayem offers competitive wages and benefits to full time employees. Kayem benefits include:
- Healthcare Insurance, and Dental (pre-tax and effective first day of employment)
- Vision (pre-tax and effective the 1st day of the month after start of employment)
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Plan (Health Care Reimbursement and Dependent Care (effective 1st day of employment)
Reimbursement)
- Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (effective 1st day of employment and no cost to employee)
- Safe Harbor 401(K) Retirement Plan (with employer matching contributions of up to 3% plus 50% of your contributions up to 5%)
- Vacation Pay, Paid Time Off (PTO) and Holidays
- Education Reimbursement (eligible after 6 months of continuous employment and up to $3,000 for career development)
- Opt-Out Medical Rebate, Doctor on Demand, and Wellness Initiatives for those who are eligible!
(Please NO staffing agencies or external recruiter calls)
Pay Range
The base pay range for this role is $85,000-$120,000 USD/annually.
The listed salary range represents Kayem Foods’ good faith estimate for this position and represents the minimum and maximum for new hire pay ranges. Ranges are reviewed on a regular basis. An employee’s rate of pay within the range is determined by their qualifications, relevant experience, and demonstrated performance over time. In addition to those factors, we believe in the importance of pay equity and consider internal equity of our current team members as a part of any final offer. Hiring at the maximum of the range would not be typical to allow for future and continued wage growth. This position is eligible for our comprehensive benefits package and is eligible for an annual wage review. Kayem Foods complies with all federal, state, and local minimum wage laws.
