Food Safety and Quality Assurance (FSQA) Manager

Albert Uster Imports, Inc. (“AUI”) is a privately held gourmet food company headquartered in Gaithersburg, MD with warehouse locations in Kansas City, Las Vegas, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Gurnee, and Gaithersburg. Founded in 1968, AUI offers over 1,400 products from around the world and serves leading hotels, restaurants, casinos, cruise lines, airlines, and manufacturers. The company operates a national direct selling organization of over 60 sales professionals and a team of culinary experts.

About the role

The Food Safety and Quality Assurance (FSQA) Manager is responsible for managing AUI’s total Food Safety & Quality Management system and ensuring achievement of Good Distribution Practice (GDP) in the “Warehouse & Distribution” sector. This role leads FSQA processes, customer complaint investigations, and cross-departmental collaboration with Logistics, Purchasing, Innovation, Culinary, Customer Experience, and Marketing teams. The FSQA Manager reports directly to the Senior Director, FSQA & Compliance and fosters customer loyalty through proactive quality assurance and problem resolution.

This is a hybrid role based in Gaithersburg, MD, requiring in-person work Monday through Wednesday, with optional telework on Thursday and Friday.

Responsibilities

• Ensure proper monitoring and documentation across all seven distribution centers and the repacking department in alignment with the Food Safety Program.
• Oversee process management and product quality/food safety compliance, including red flag testing, sample check programs, and laboratory testing.
• Coordinate and document shipping tests for new products and maintain records for monthly self-inspections (food defense, cleaning, sanitation, FIFO, temperature control, etc.).
• Support and prepare for FDA, USDA, and customer (2nd Party) audits and inspections.
• Ensure proper product receiving controls and maintain accurate records and corrective actions related to food safety and regulatory compliance.
• Manage the re-certification of seven distribution centers according to GDP standards, acting as the GDP Practitioner for verification, validation, and employee training.
• Ensure proper monitoring of pest control, temperature control, cleaning & sanitation, shelf-life management, and product receiving & delivery.
• Own and update the Food Safety Plan as required post-incidents or compliance changes.
• Manage and maintain product information/specifications for all AUI products and communicate updates to relevant departments.
• Investigate and resolve customer complaints related to food safety and product quality, collaborating with suppliers and customer service.
• Manage AUI’s supplier quality assurance program, including annual reviews and Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP) for new and existing suppliers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Safety and Quality Management, or equivalent.
• 3 to 5 years of experience managing plant food safety & quality assurance programs (e.g., GDP) in an international wholesale distribution environment.
• Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) certification.
• Knowledge of FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act) and FSVP (Foreign Supplier Verification Programs).
• Excellent project management, customer management, and prioritization skills.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to travel 10% of the time.

Skills

• Preferred: Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) certification.
• Analytical abilities with a focus on process improvement opportunities.
• Creative and results-oriented problem solver.
• Experience leading, coaching, and supervising teams in fast-paced environments.

Pay

Base salary range: $100,000 - $125,000. This role is bonus-eligible, with salary determined based on qualifications, experience, and transferable skills.

Schedule

Hybrid schedule: In-person Monday through Wednesday, optional telework Thursday and Friday.