Hybrid Senior Manager of Food Safety and Quality Assurance na Culver Franchising System, LLC

Culver Franchising System, LLC is looking for a strategically-minded Senior Manager of Food Safety & Quality Assurance to become a key leader in our Supply Chain team. In this role you will play a vital part in fostering and supporting the function and team who focused on continued development, implementation and successful advancement of effective food safety and quality assurance strategies by partnering with suppliers, distributors and internal cross function teams, including restaurant franchisees, to advance the Culver’s brand.  This person will become the champion of food safety and quality safety in high-risk categories such as produce, proteins, and dairy utilizing their specialized education and experience.

Essential Functions:

• Foster and Reinforce Food Safety Standards
  • Establish food-safety and quality standards and associated monitoring systems to support the business and advance the brand, with hyper focus on high-risk categories such as produce, proteins, dairy and commercially prepared foods
  • Own and manage Food Safety Quality Assurance (FSQA) documentation for assigned categories, including product specifications, risk assessments, third-party audit reviews, allergen and labeling documentation, and vendor food safety and QA program materials
  • Perform routine and "for cause" on-site assessments of suppliers and distribution partners within assigned categories, document findings and corrective actions in detailed audit reports
  • Lead product removals and recalls for assigned categories, including communication with distribution center partners
  • Investigate and resolve food safety and quality issues with suppliers and restaurants related to assigned products, including customer complaints
  • Oversee vendor performance tracking and scorecard programs for assigned categories; analyze Food Quality Reporting data to identify trends and share results with suppliers
  • Where specifically necessary, connect with local and state legislative requirements concerning QA practices and food safety changes to reinforce with suppliers and internal stakeholders
  • Develop and implement a matrix/scorecard system to ensure the highest food safety standards with our supplier partners
• Ensure Compliance with the Culver's Standards
  • Conduct supplier QA facility visits to monitor and audit safety issues; be diligent and aware of escalating safety concerns as appropriate
  • Effectively and efficiently utilize reputable and qualified third-party audit as appropriate and effectively manage these relationships
  • Collaborate with Supply Chain team members to ensure Culver’s brand standard compliance while taking decisive ownership to quickly escalate or resolve issues
• Conduct Sensory Evaluation of Core and New Products
  • Work with the Menu Development Team by collaborating and challenging where needed to ensure expected supplier quality programs are in place; raising FSQA concerns throughout the innovation, renovation, or simplification of food/packaging/equipment development process
  • Participate in creating and qualifying contingency supply plans
• Serve as Gatekeeper and Finalize Decisions on Product Recalls
  • Initiate a thorough risk assessment and collaborate to determine risk severity
  • Manage the recall/withdrawal process by engaging all key stakeholders to protect the brand
  • Collaborate with CFS Risk Management team on any end-to-end supply issues and/or restaurant operational-food safety issues
  • Investigate and manage emerging issues from suppliers and work with public relations to address them proactively with franchisees, media, and other stakeholders
  • Continuously measure, improve, and evolve the Culver’s Product Recall process and execution
• Lead and Refine the Execution of the Food Service Incident Management (FSIM) Quality Reporting Tool and Process
  • Leverage data from FSIM tool to inform the Category Team of quality issues
• Lead and Develop Team Members – employ successful communication and coaching to enable individual and team success and engagement
  • Share reporting outcomes with suppliers on quality performance

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in Food Science, Microbiology or a related field
• 5+ years experience in Food Safety and Quality Assurance, Microbiology, and/or Food Science including implementing and/or maintaining a Quality Management System (QMS) and audit experience using USDA and FDA as well as GFSI benchmarked schemes. Equivalent experience of education and experience acceptable along with 3 years of experience as a people-manager
• FSQA experience in a food manufacturing/processing environment; in the restaurant and/or food service industry preferred
• Training, certification and experience conducting supplier assessments both on-farm and in facilities including GMP assessments for packing and processing facilities; meat and dairy focused.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills and the ability to collect and utilize data to create reports for management
• Excellent organizational, written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate within all levels of the company and with suppliers
• Ability to monitor the Food Safety Incident Management System, including some weekends and holidays.
• Able to travel 30-40% of the time.

Additional Information:

To be considered for this opportunity, please make sure to attach your resume to your application.

Starting Pay Range: $110,000-$120,000 per year, commensurate with experience.
Classification: Exempt/Salary, full-time position.

This role includes a generous incentive bonus based on business results and individual success. We also offer workplace flexibility including flexible work hours and a hybrid work model. Join us at our beautiful Support Center in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin right on the Wisconsin River, just a short drive from Madison!

Culver Franchising System is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we use E-Verify to confirm the identity and employment eligibility of all new team members.