Food Safety and Quality Assurance Manager

About the role

We are food travel experts, and we are passionate about bringing cool, authentic restaurants to airports that reflect a taste of place! At SSP America, the potential to grow and expand is all around you! If you’re ready to take on an impactful, fast-paced role in Food Safety and Quality Assurance while working with a global travel dining brand that values its employees, As a Food Safety and Quality Assurance Manager, you will lead food safety initiatives, support commissary and restaurant teams, and strengthen regulatory compliance across airport operations. You will help drive a high-performance food safety culture, resolve audit findings, and partner with operations to ensure safe, consistent, high-quality food every day. This role requires limited travel within the U.S. and Canada (less than 20 percent). This job is located at the MDW Airport.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for all food safety-related inquiries and provide expert guidance on audit findings, inspection metrics, corrective actions, and trend analysis.
• Work collaboratively with senior operations management to foster a strong food safety culture and support compliance with FSMA, FDA Food Code, and company standards.
• Review and analyze specialized audits, food safety assessments, sanitation inspections, and quality control reports to proactively identify risks and recommend improvements.
• Partner with senior operations leaders to resolve audit and complaint deficiencies, conduct root-cause and trend analyses, and drive corrective actions.
• Develop and deliver HACCP plans for production kitchens, ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements and operational processes.
• Perform environmental monitoring and analyze microbial trends to identify hazards and implement preventive measures.
• Conduct annual PCQI reviews to confirm compliance, identify deviations, and support continuous improvement initiatives.
• Deliver targeted food safety and allergen training that addresses local needs, emerging risks, and company priorities.
• Build strong communication channels and relationships with internal teams, regulatory authorities, suppliers, and other key stakeholders to support consistent food safety performance.
• Assist with annual mock recalls and review production kitchen documentation to ensure traceability, compliance, and readiness for regulatory audits.

Requirements

Educational Background: Bachelor's degree in food science, microbiology, or related field required.

Experience: Minimum 5 years of experience in a food safety and quality assurance role within the food service industry, with a focus on restaurant operations. Experience in the airport or hospitality industry is preferred.

Certifications: Certified Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) and HACCP Certification, with experience writing HACCP plans.

Technical Skills: Strong knowledge of food safety regulations and standards, including HACCP and PCQI principles. Proven track record of implementing and managing food safety programs