Sr Manager Food Safety (food/beverage manufacturer) chez Baldwin Richardson Foods

WHO WE ARE

Baldwin Richardson Foods is focused on enriching the flavor of life. As a full-service liquid products supplier and strategic partner to the food and beverage industry, Baldwin Richardson Foods combines its formulation expertise and unique packaging options with robust processing capabilities to produce high-quality sauces, toppings, syrups, fillings, and shelf-stable beverages for the world's most iconic Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs), Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) brands, and food service companies. Its state-of-the-art Innovation & Culinary Center transforms trends and culinary inspiration into legendary products through an award-winning commercialization process. The company also manufactures and markets Mrs. Richardson's dessert sauces and Nance's mustards/condiments in addition to producing finished goods for the private label sector. BRF maintains its headquarters and a manufacturing facility in Macedon, New York; with a Culinary Innovation Center in Westmont, Illinois; and offices and manufacturing facilities in Williamson, New York; Pennsauken, New Jersey; and Corona, California. This role reports into our Macedon, NY manufacturing plant.

WHAT WE NEED

The Senior Manager, Food Safety provides enterprise-wide leadership of food safety programs for a multi-site manufacturer of syrups, sauces, fillings, and aseptic beverages (both low-acid and high-acid). This position is responsible for developing, implementing, and sustaining robust food safety systems across the organization.

The role has direct oversight of the corporate regulatory team and corporate sanitation function, ensuring that all sites operate to the highest standards of food safety, regulatory compliance, and hygienic design. This includes leadership in LACF regulations, aseptic processing validations, and thermal processing standards. The ideal candidate is a recognized subject matter expert with the ability to influence across functions and drive a culture of food safety excellence.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

Enterprise Food Safety Leadership & Technical Expertise:

• Lead, in partnership with Site Quality Managers, the development and implementation of Food Safety Plans, HACCP systems, prerequisite programs, and all food safety-related programs to meet regulatory and customer requirements.
• Support and guide Plant Quality Managers in preparation for and execution of third-party and regulatory audits, including FDA, NYS, Cal DPH, and SQF.
• Ensure sites properly execute procedures to maintain food safety and regulatory compliance across FSMA, HACCP, GMP, Pest Control, Allergen Control, Chemical Control, Formula Control, mock trace and recall, LACF, and environmental monitoring programs.
• Ensure all food safety and regulatory processes are documented, standardized, and kept current across all facilities.
• Lead the design, implementation, and continual improvement of corporate food safety programs, ensuring consistency and alignment across all locations.
• Serve as the company’s Process Authority for LACF and aseptic processing, overseeing validation studies, scheduled process filings, and process deviation evaluations.
• Act as the subject matter expert on thermal processing technologies, including low-acid and high-acid aseptic processing, equipment, and methodologies.
• Provide guidance on process design, equipment selection, and troubleshooting.
• Stay informed on industry best practices, emerging technologies, and regulatory changes, integrating them into company operations as applicable.

Thermal Processing Design, Validation & Optimization:

• Develop and implement thermal processing parameters, including time and temperature profiles, to ensure product safety and quality.
• Collaborate with R&D, production, and QA to design and optimize thermal processing systems that meet regulatory requirements and product specifications.
• Conduct feasibility studies to evaluate new technologies or process improvements in thermal processing.
• Plan and execute heat penetration studies to validate processing parameters and confirm proper heat distribution in all container types.
• Analyze heat penetration data, interpret results, and recommend adjustments or improvements to thermal processing systems.
• Lead validation efforts for low-acid aseptic processing and packaging systems, ensuring all processes meet FDA regulations and commercial sterility requirements.
• Serve as the primary liaison to third-party Process Authorities and coordinate regulatory filings and validation activities.

Regulatory Compliance:

• Lead and develop the corporate regulatory team, ensuring consistent application of regulatory requirements across all facilities.
• Oversee all regulatory compliance activities, including FDA (21 CFR Part 113 & 114), FSMA, USDA, state, and applicable international regulations.
• Direct scheduled process filings, product registrations, labeling compliance, and regulatory submissions.
• Serve as the senior corporate contact for all regulatory agency interactions, inspections, and inquiries, ensuring appropriate representation and timely resolution of issues.
• Establish and maintain robust documentation and records systems for all regulatory activities, ensuring readiness for audits and inspections.

Sanitation & Hygienic Design Leadership:

• Lead and develop the corporate sanitation team, providing enterprise-wide strategic direction for sanitation programs and hygienic design standards.
• Establish corporate sanitation policies, SSOPs, allergen cleaning validation protocols, and master sanitation schedules for consistent execution across all sites.
• Oversee the company’s Environmental Monitoring Program at the enterprise level, ensuring program design, execution, and verification meet both regulatory and customer standards.
• Partner with plant teams to evaluate sanitation performance, analyze data trends, and implement improvements to reduce risk and enhance operational efficiency.
• Champion hygienic design principles for new equipment and facility modifications to ensure long-term food safety compliance.

Continuous Improvement:

• Monitor process data, performance indicators, and quality metrics to identify opportunities for process optimization.
• Drive initiatives to improve energy efficiency, product quality, and operational effectiveness in thermal processing.
• Participate in new product development, process scale-up, and equipment upgrade projects.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL 

• Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science, Food Engineering / Biological Systems Engineering, Microbiology, Chemical Engineering (with food process focus), or related discipline.
• Ten (10) plus years of Food Industry Experience
• Seven (7) plus years’ experience with HACCP, SQF, GFSI, FDA and USDA audits
• Five (5) plus years people management experience
• Five (5) plus years of experience in Aseptic Processing & Packaging of low-acid and high-acid foods is required.
• Five (5) plus years of experience in Thermal Processing in food manufacturing is required.
• Five (5) plus years of experience in Sanitation is required.

 At BRF, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. Your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

You’ll also receive a comprehensive benefits package including a low premium and out of pocket cost medical, dental and vision coverage, 401k with company match, generous sick and vacation time, 9 paid holidays, birthday and floating holidays, volunteer time and more!

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