Food Defense Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

WPSFresh is looking for an experienced Plant Quality & Food Safety Manager to take the lead in ensuring the highest standards of food safety, product quality, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence at our fresh-cut food manufacturing facility.

This is more than a quality assurance role. You’ll be the plant’s quality and food safety leader, partnering with Production, Sanitation, Maintenance, Engineering, Warehouse, Supply Chain, and Corporate FSQA to build a culture where quality and food safety are everyone's responsibility.

If you’re a hands-on leader who knows how to navigate audits, solve problems, develop teams, and turn quality data into meaningful improvements, this is an opportunity to make a significant impact.

• Lead and maintain the plant's Quality Management System (QMS).
• Oversee quality assurance and quality control programs throughout production.
• Serve as the plant's food safety leader, SQF Practitioner, and PCQI.
• Help develop and maintain the facility's Food Safety Plan.
• Oversee HACCP, Preventive Controls, GMPs, SSOPs, Environmental Monitoring, Food Defense, Food Fraud, and allergen control programs.
• Monitor product quality metrics and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Lead root cause investigations and corrective/preventive actions (CAPA).
• Oversee product testing, analyze results, and identify quality trends.
• Ensure products consistently meet customer specifications, company standards, and regulatory requirements.

• Ensure compliance with FDA, USDA, FSMA, SQF, EPA, state, county, and other applicable requirements.
• Serve as the primary plant contact during customer, regulatory, certification, and third-party audits.
• Maintain a constant state of audit readiness.
• Lead internal audit programs and corrective action processes.
• Conduct food safety risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies.
• Partner with Corporate FSQA and other teams to address compliance and quality issues.

• Lead, coach, and develop quality and food safety personnel.
• Establish department goals, KPIs, and performance expectations in partnership with Corporate FSQA leadership.
• Develop and deliver training related to food safety, sanitation, quality, and regulatory requirements.
• Build strong partnerships across Production, Maintenance, Sanitation, Engineering, Warehouse, and Supply Chain.
• Promote a culture of quality, accountability, food safety, and continuous improvement.
• Prepare and present quality and food safety metrics to plant and senior leadership.

• Use Lean, Six Sigma, root cause analysis, and other problem-solving methodologies to improve processes.
• Identify opportunities to reduce waste, improve yields, and enhance product quality.
• Analyze data and trends to identify risks and opportunities.
• Support new product launches and process validation.
• Evaluate supplier quality and support supplier approval programs.
• Review customer complaints and ensure corrective actions are effective.
• Partner with sanitation leadership and approved chemical suppliers to ensure sanitation programs meet company and regulatory standards.

We’re looking for a food quality and safety leader who can think strategically while remaining hands-on in the plant.

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Biology, Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of progressive experience in food manufacturing, quality assurance, and food safety.
• 5+ years of leadership or management experience.
• Strong knowledge of:
  • HACCP
  • FSMA Preventive Controls
  • GMPs
  • SQF, BRCGS, or FSSC 22000
  • FDA and USDA regulations
  • CAPA and Root Cause Analysis
• Proven experience leading certification, customer, and regulatory audits.
• Strong leadership, communication, project management, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, ERP systems, and Quality Management Systems.
• Exceptional attention to detail and the ability to prioritize in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

You’re someone who:

• Knows food safety inside and out but also understands the realities of manufacturing.
• Can confidently lead an audit and calmly work through an unexpected food safety issue.
• Uses data to make decisions rather than relying on assumptions.
• Can hold teams accountable while building strong relationships.
• Enjoys developing people and creating a culture of ownership.
• Is comfortable walking the floor, identifying risks, asking questions, and getting involved.
• Understands that quality isn't just a department—it's part of how the entire plant operates.

Every product that leaves our facility carries our name and our commitment to quality.

As the Plant Quality & Food Safety Manager, you'll have a direct impact on the safety of our products, the confidence of our customers, the success of our employees, and the performance of our operation.

If you're ready to lead quality and food safety—not just manage it—we'd like to hear from you.