Food Safety & Quality Assurance Supervisor
Title: Food Safety & Quality Assurance Supervisor
Location: Bolingbrook, IL
Reports to: Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA) Manager
Position Summary:
The Fresh Factory is a contract manufacturer producing dressings, sauces, jams, dips, and baked
products for customer brands. The Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA) Supervisor leads the
day-to-day execution of the site’s food safety and quality programs. This role supervises the Quality
Technicians, verifies daily food safety records, manages product hold and release, coordinates
laboratory testing, and issues Certificates of Analysis (COAs) to customers. The FSQA Supervisor is a
hands-on leader who spends a significant part of each shift on the production floor, supporting the
QA team and resolving food safety and quality issues as they arise.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
Food Safety Records and Verification :
• Review, verify, and sign all daily food safety and quality records within the required time frame.
• Ensure records are complete, accurate, and legible, and that deviations are documented with
the correct corrective actions before records are signed.
• Maintain records in an organized, audit ready condition according to the site record retention
requirements.
Product Hold and Release
• Place product, ingredients, and packaging on hold when food safety or quality requirements are
not met, and ensure holds are correctly identified, segregated, and recorded in ERP system.
• Investigate the cause of holds with Production and Maintenance, and recommend disposition
(release, rework, or destruction) to the FSQA Manager.
• Maintain an up-to-date hold log and repot open holds and their status to the FSQA Manager.
Laboratory Testing and Sample Management
• Ensure samples are collected, labeled, stored, packed, and shipped to the laboratory correctly,
• Complete the Sample Analysis Request Form (SARF) accurately for every sample submission,
including the correct product, lot code, tests requested, and customer specifications.
• Receive, review, and file laboratory results; compare results to specifications and immediately
escalate any out-of-specification or positive results to the FSQA Manager.
• Support with Quality Technicians with in-house analytical tests.
• Support the environmental monitoring program, including swab collection, result tracking, and
follow up actions.
Certifications of Analysis and Customer Support
• Prepare and issue accurate COAs to customers for each shipped lot, based on verified test
results and customer specifications.
• Respond to customer quality questions and documentation requests in a timely and professional
manner, with support from the FSQA Manager.
• Support customer complaint investigations by providing records, retained samples, and test
data.
Supervision of Quality Technicians
• Directly supervise the Quality Technicians, including shift scheduling, task assignment,
attendance, and performance management.
• Train Quality Technicians on procedures, testing methods, documentation practices, and GMPs,
and verify their competency.
• Provide day-to-day coaching and technical support to Quality Technicians, and act as their first
point of escalation.
• Cover Quality Technician duties when needed to keep quality checks on schedule.
Production Floor Support and Troubleshooting
• Spend a significant part of each shift on the production floor, monitoring compliance with GMPs,
allergen controls, foreign material controls, and food safety plans.
• Troubleshoot food safety and quality issues as they arise and lead immediate response and
corrective actions with Production and Maintenance.
• Communicate food safety and quality issues clearly to Production Supervisors, operators, and
the FSQA Manager.
Food Safety Programs, Audits, and Continuous Improvement
• Support the maintenance of the food safety plan (HACCP / FSMA Preventive Controls) and GFSI-
benchmarked program (such as SQF or BRCGS).
• Participate in internal audits, customer audits, third-party certification audits, and regulatory
inspections, and help close corrective actions on time.
• Help write and update SOPs, work instructions, and forms.
• Participate in root cause analysis and CAPA, mock recalls, and continuous improvement
projects.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the FSQA Manager.
Qualifications
Education and Experience
• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Biology, Chemistry, or a related field;
equivalent experience will be considered.
• Minimum of 3 years of food safety or quality assurance experience in food manufacturing,
including at least 1 year in a lead or supervisory role.
• Experience in sauces, dressings, dips, jams, bakery, or co-manufacturing environments is
preferred.
Certifications
• HACCP certification required.
• PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual) certification preferred, or willingness to obtain
within 6 months of hire.
• SQF Practitioner training and Better Process Control School certification are a plus.
Knowledge and Skills
• Strong working knowledge of GMPs, HACCP, FSMA, allergen management, sanitation, and
environmental monitoring.
• Understanding of microbiological and analytical testing, sampling methods, and interpreting
laboratory results against specifications.
• High attention to detail and strong documentation practices.
• Ability to lead, train, and motivate a team, and to make sound decisions under time pressure.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills;
• Bilingual English/Spanish is a requirement.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; experience with ERP systems such as Plex, SAP, Oracle,
Microsoft Dynamix is preferred.
Working Conditions and Physical Requirements
• Work is performed mainly on the production floor in a food manufacturing environment with
exposure to noise, wet floors, cold and hot areas, and common food allergens.
• Must be able to stand and walk for extended periods, and lift up to 50 lbs.
• Must follow all GMP, safety, and PPE requirements.
• Must be available to work flexible hours, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, or
overtime as production requires.
Benefits
We offer competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package, including:
- Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage
- Voluntary STD, LTD, and Life Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Holiday pay
- A culture of trust and growth opportunities
About Us
At The Fresh Factory, we’ve built a platform to accelerate the growth of emerging food and beverage brands. We are vertically integrated from the farm to the shelf, providing more than traditional manufacturing and serving as a trusted growth partner for leading brands.
Join us and shape the future of fresh food production!