1

Food Defense Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Quality Food Safety Manager

Cicero, IL ยท On-site

$98K - $127K/yr

Support Quality and Food Safety Manager in evaluating compliance to conducting plant wide inspections related to quality, food safety and food defense * Ensure active participation in the Product ...

Quality Food Safety Manager

Cicero, IL ยท On-site

$98K - $127K/yr

Support Quality and Food Safety Manager in evaluating compliance to conducting plant wide inspections related to quality, food safety and food defense * Ensure active participation in the Product ...

Senior FSQ Supervisor

Plover, WI ยท On-site

$90K - $100K/yr

The Senior Food Safety & Quality Supervisor will lead cross-functional initiatives related to HACCP, sanitation, environmental monitoring, food defense, and regulatory compliance while supervising ...

QA Assistant

Schertz, TX ยท On-site

$16 - $17/hr

Trains on all food safety policies including HACCP and food defense. * Completes daily records. * Ensure product conformity with customer and regulatory standards. * Reports any deviations to ...

QA Assistant

Schertz, TX ยท On-site

$16 - $17/hr

Trains on all food safety policies including HACCP and food defense. * Completes daily records. * Ensure product conformity with customer and regulatory standards. * Reports any deviations to ...

Quality Food Safety Manager

Cicero, IL ยท On-site

$98K - $127K/yr

Support Quality and Food Safety Manager in evaluating compliance to conducting plant wide inspections related to quality, food safety and food defense * Ensure active participation in the Product ...

QA Assistant

Schertz, TX ยท On-site

$18 - $20/hr

Trains on all food safety policies including HACCP and food defense. * Completes daily records. * Ensure product conformity with customer and regulatory standards. * Reports any deviations to ...

Showing results 21-40

Food Defense information

See salary details

$11

$21

$40

How much do food defense jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 9, 2026, the average hourly pay for food defense in the United States is $22.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.59 and $24.04 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the main challenges faced by professionals working in food defense roles?

Professionals in Food Defense often face challenges such as staying current with evolving regulatory requirements and identifying potential vulnerabilities in complex supply chains. They must also develop and implement effective preventive measures while coordinating closely with various departments, including quality assurance, security, and supply chain management. Additionally, maintaining a culture of vigilance among staff and responding rapidly to incidents or threats are critical aspects of the role. Successful food defense specialists are proactive, detail-oriented, and effective communicators.

What is the difference between Food Defense vs Food Safety Specialist?

AspectFood DefenseFood Safety Specialist
CertificationsFEMA, HACCP, FSMAHACCP, ServSafe, FSMA
Work EnvironmentSecurity-focused, manufacturing, processing plantsInspection, quality control, compliance in food facilities
Employer & Industry UsageFood manufacturing, government agencies, retailFood production, quality assurance, regulatory agencies

Food Defense focuses on protecting the food supply from intentional contamination or sabotage, emphasizing security measures. Food Safety Specialists concentrate on preventing unintentional contamination through safety protocols and compliance. While both roles aim to ensure safe food, Food Defense is security-oriented, whereas Food Safety is quality and safety compliance-oriented.

What is food defense?

Food defense refers to the protection of food products from intentional contamination or adulteration by biological, chemical, physical, or radiological agents. Unlike food safety, which aims to prevent unintentional contamination, food defense focuses on preventing acts of tampering or terrorism that could harm public health or disrupt the food supply. This involves implementing security measures, conducting vulnerability assessments, and training staff to recognize and respond to potential threats. Food defense is critical for ensuring consumer safety and maintaining trust in the food system.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in a food defense role?

To thrive in a Food Defense role, you need expertise in food safety regulations, risk assessment, and vulnerability analysis, typically backed by a degree in food science or a related field. Familiarity with food defense plans, regulatory standards (such as FSMA and HACCP), and incident response systems is essential. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help professionals identify threats and coordinate preventive measures. These skills and qualities are vital for protecting the food supply chain from intentional contamination and ensuring public health and regulatory compliance.
More about Food Defense jobs
What states have the most Food Defense jobs? States with the most job openings for Food Defense jobs include:
Infographic showing various Food Defense job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 69% Full Time, 30% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $45,753 per year, or $22 per hour.

Bilingual Food Safety & Quality Supervisor (English/Spanish)

Qual Pac 1600

Grand Prairie, TX โ€ข On-site

$60K - $65K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted yesterday


Job description

Bilingual Food Safety & Quality Supervisor (English/Spanish)

Grand Prairie, TX

Quality Packaging (Qual Pac), a Pro Pac company, is seeking a Food Safety & Quality Supervisor. This role is critical in ensuring that all food safety, quality, and regulatory standards are consistently met in a high-volume, customer-driven environment.

At Qual Pac, our employees are our most important asset. We are committed to integrity, accountability, and delivering on our promises to our customers. If you are passionate about food safety and thrive in a fast-paced production environment, we want to hear from you.


Position Summary

The Food Safety & Quality Supervisor will support and enforce all food safety, quality, and food defense programs in alignment withย AIB/FSNS standards, and internal policies. This role works closely with the Food Safety & Quality Manager to ensure audit readiness, regulatory compliance, and adherence to customer-specific expectations on the production floor.

HOURS: 8 am - 5 pm

Pay: $60,000 - $65,000 per year (Based on experience)


Responsibilities and Essential Duties
  • Reports to the Food Safety & Quality Manager
  • Supports implementation and execution of Food Safety and Food Defense programs
  • Monitors production floor activities to ensure adherence to cGMPs, sanitation, and customer requirements
  • Verifies completion and documentation of the Master Cleaning Schedule (MCS)
  • Conducts routine GMP, sanitation, and internal audits to maintain audit readiness
  • Assists in maintaining AIB certification (target score 965+) and supports third-party and customer audits
  • Documents non-conformances and works with operations to implement corrective actions
  • Assists with Root Cause Analysis and follows through on Corrective/Preventive Action Plans (CAPAs)
  • Trains and reinforces food safety, GMP, and quality procedures with production staff
  • Supports and monitors chemical control and allergen control programs
  • Participates in daily production and customer-focused meetings
  • Communicates quality issues, risks, and improvements to management in a timely manner
  • Assists with safety initiatives, audits, and incident investigations
  • Ensures compliance with Sedex/social responsibility standards where applicable
  • Maintains documentation for calibration, sanitation, and inspection records
  • Performs other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience Required

Education:

  • High school diploma or GED required

Experience:

  • 2โ€“4 years in food manufacturing, packaging, or distribution environment
  • Experience supporting a major CPG or customer-specific program (e.g., Frito-Lay, PepsiCo, etc.) strongly preferred
  • Prior experience in quality, food safety, or lead/supervisory role preferred

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Working knowledge of AIB, GMPs, and food safety compliance standards
  • Experience preparing for and supporting customer and third-party audits
  • Familiarity with root cause analysis and corrective action processes
  • Basic knowledge of Lean Manufacturing tools
  • Strong communication skills and ability to work cross-functionally
  • Computer proficiency (MS Office, WMS, email systems)
  • Experience working with a temporary or hourly workforce
  • Bilingual (English/Spanish)ย 
  • Ability to work flexible hours, including weekends as needed
  • TABC experience or in similar high level regulatory environment
ย 

About Pro Pac and Qual Pac ย ย 
Founded in 1971, Professional Packaging Systems (Pro Pac) brings deep knowledge and expertise to provide the best packaging solutions for our customers. We serve every industry, including e-commerce, retail and wholesale food, snack, beverage, specialty manufacturing, fresh produce, hobby and craft, automotive, electronics, pet, cosmetic industries, and many more.
We are headquartered in Grand Prairie, Texas, with regional sales branches in El Paso, and Brownsville, TX; and additional contract packaging / fulfillment operations in Brookshire, TX; Charlotte, NC; and Olathe, KS.
Come join a growing group of honest, knowledgeable, and skilled professionals who are dedicated to offering superior products and services to those we serve!ย 
Visit us atย https://www.propac.com/. ย