Assistant FSQ Manager (Countryside)

Job description

Johnsonville Location: Countryside Our No. 1 priority at Johnsonville is providing a safe work environment for every Member we employ. Our industry-leading safety record, coupled with the safety awards we’ve received, demonstrate this commitment. Members of our safety team maintain the safety of Johnsonville Members in our facilities, continuously finding new and better ways to do so. We’re also dedicated to producing only the highest-quality products for consumers worldwide to enjoy – ones we would be proud to serve at our own family table. Our quality team ensures Johnsonville meets or exceeds all standards set by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), of the US Department of Agriculture and other regulatory agencies. Our commitment to quality is unparalleled, thanks to the dedication of each quality team member. Position Overview Johnsonville has an opportunity for an Assistant Food Safety & Quality Coordinator to join our campus FSQ Team at Countryside. This role carries significant ownership for food safety and quality decisions within a complex, high-volume sausage manufacturing and distribution environment. The individual in this position serves as a key Food Safety & Quality leader responsible for protecting consumers, supporting business objectives, and ensuring compliance with regulatory, customer, and company requirements across multiple production areas. This role requires the ability to effectively prioritize competing demands, assess risk, and make timely independent decisions in a fast-paced environment where multiple issues and opportunities may occur simultaneously. The Assistant Food Safety & Quality Coordinator partners closely with Operations, Reliability Excellence, Sanitation, Supply Chain, Regulatory Affairs, and Leadership Teams to drive food safety performance, quality system effectiveness, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement. In addition to technical leadership, this role is responsible for developing and coaching multiple FSQ members while building a culture of accountability, ownership, and proactive problem solving. This position is ideal for an individual seeking to expand leadership capability, influence across a broad operational scope, and prepare for future Food Safety & Quality leadership opportunities. Responsibilities • Own and make timely independent food safety and quality decisions for a complex manufacturing and distribution campus, including product disposition, risk assessment, regulatory compliance, and escalation of issues that may impact consumers, customers, or business operations. • Ensure the daily HACCP documentation is complete, pre-shipments are reviewed, and proper follow-ups are documented • Represent Food Safety and Quality on cross-functional project teams • Partner with Operations, Reliability Excellence, Sanitation, Supply Chain, and facility leadership to identify, assess, and resolve complex food safety and quality issues impacting production performance and customer expectations. • Develop, implement, and maintain Standard Operating Procedures that support product and process safety, product quality, GMP compliance, and applicable regulatory requirements • Maintain ownership of facility food safety plans, quality systems, food defense programs, and regulatory documentation to ensure audit readiness and compliance. • Build capability across the facility by educating and influencing members on food safety expectations, quality standards, decision-making, and proactive problem solving. • Lead internal, third-party, customer, and regulatory audit preparation and response, ensuring strong follow-up, corrective actions, and sustainable preventive controls. • Provide day-to-day leadership, coaching, prioritization, and accountability for Food Safety Quality Leaders and FSQ Technicians, ensuring effective execution of responsibilities across shifts and operational areas • Develop FSQ members by building technical capability, strengthening decision-making skills, providing timely feedback, and creating opportunities for professional growth and increased responsibility • Create an environment of ownership and accountability where FSQ members understand priorities, follow through on commitments, and escalate concerns appropriately. • Build bench strength within the FSQ team by identifying growth opportunities, sharing technical knowledge, and preparing members for increased responsibility Education Bachelor's Degree in Food Science, Meat Science, Microbiology or a related field required Experience 2-4 years of experience in a quality leadership position is desired Experience in food required; meat/poultry processing preferred Experience working under regulatory systems, USDA preferred Skills • Strong working knowledge of food safety systems, including HACCP, preventive controls, GMPs, sanitation, allergen control, environmental monitoring, and USDA regulatory expectations • Ability to lead and sustain quality management systems that drive audit readiness, customer confidence, product consistency, and continuous improvement • Data-driven problem solver with the ability to use quality metrics, root cause analysis, trend reviews, and continuous improvement tools to prevent recurrence and improve performance • Clear, confident communicator who can influence across Operations, Sanitation, Maintenance, Supply Chain, leadership teams, regulatory partners, and customer-facing situations • Proficiency with digital tools and systems used to manage documentation, production data, quality records, corrective actions, communication, and performance tracking • Experience leading, coaching, and developing multiple team members while creating accountability, building capability, and driving consistent execution of standards and expectations • SQF Practitioner certification, HACCP certification, Preventive Controls Qualified Individual training, or other relevant food safety certifications preferred • Strong understanding of sanitation, hygienic design, environmental controls, and verification practices in a ready-to-eat or meat processing environment • High level of ownership, judgment, organization, and follow-through when making decisions that impact food safety, product quality, members, customers, and consumers • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously while maintaining strong judgment, organization, responsiveness, and attention to detail in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. • Experience with systems such as SAP, Redzone, Microsoft 365, electronic quality management systems, laboratory information systems, or other production and quality data platforms preferred • Adaptability and willingness to support business needs across shifts, production areas, audits, project work, and other facilities within the organization as needed Other Requirements Must be at least 18 years old Occassional work on off-shifts as needed Rotational weekend work required Travel: 10% of your time Benefits and Compensation Members have potential for a monthly bonus and 401k with a company match. Members also have access to terrific benefits including affordable medical, dental and vision coverage; flexible spending accounts; disability and life insurance; and fertility and adoption assistance. Johnsonville also offers competitive paid time off, including paid parental time off, as well as access to the 24/7 onsite fitness center, and onsite medical clinic! Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location. Applicants must be eligible to work in the country where this job is located, without requiring sponsorship now or in the future. About our Company Since 1945, our family-owned band of sausage-makers has invented better ways to make, eat and prepare crave-able sausage. Today, we are 4,000+ Members strong. We sell our famous sausage in all 50 United States and more than 40 countries. We have a culture built on the idea that if we make developing your talents our top priority, great business results will follow naturally. We call it The Johnsonville Way. It has been our secret sauce for decades, and we hope you get to experience it for yourself! Johnsonville is an equal opportunity employer, including Vet/Disability. We embrace the principles of Equal Opportunity Employment and do not discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic, including protected veteran and disability status.