FSQA Manager
About Ready Foods
Ready Foods is a family-owned custom food manufacturer based in Denver, Colorado. Founded in 1972, we partner with foodservice operators to scale menu concepts with consistency, quality, and reliability. We produce a variety of ready-to-eat and ready-to-use products, including soups, sauces, salsas, beans, and regional specialties. Our commitment to continuous improvement, operational excellence, and being a solutions partner drives us to meet our customers' needs.
Position Summary
This is not a traditional QA role. We are seeking a manager who believes quality should be built into processes—not inspected at the end. The FSQA Manager supports and strengthens our Food Safety & Quality Management System (FSQMS) while partnering with operations and cross-functional teams to ensure processes are designed to prevent issues, reduce variation, and deliver consistent product quality.
Key Responsibilities
Support the implementation and continuous improvement of the Food Safety & Quality Management System aligned with FSMA, HACCP and GFSI standards
Partner with Operations to embed food safety and quality into daily production activities and standard work
Support audit readiness and actively participate in regulatory, customer, and third-party audits
Use data, root cause analysis, and Lean tools to identify and resolve process issues
Maintain HACCP plans and prerequisite programs, including validation, verification, and documentation
Support sanitation, environmental monitoring, allergen control, and GMP programs to ensure compliance and prevent contamination
Manage supplier approval documentation, material specifications, and incoming material controls
Support investigation and resolution of quality incidents, customer complaints, and product holds
Participate in traceability exercises, mock recalls, and recall readiness activities
Track and communicate FSQA KPIs, trends, and improvement opportunities to leadership
Maintain document control systems, specifications, and labeling compliance processes
Supervise and coach FSQA team members and provide day-to-day guidance
Reinforce a culture where food safety and quality are owned by all team members
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Engineering, or related field required
5+ years of experience in food manufacturing, FSQA, or quality systems
Leads by example with a hands-on, systems-focused approach to food safety and quality
Partners effectively with operations and cross-functional teams to solve problems at the source
Translates expectations into clear processes, standard work, and daily execution
Develops team capability through coaching, feedback, and consistent follow-through
Strong knowledge of FDA, USDA, FSMA, HACCP and GFSI standards
Experience supporting or improving quality systems—not just performing inspections
Strong problem-solving and root cause analysis skills
Experience in Lean or continuous improvement environments preferred