Purpose:   

The most important value at UNFI is “Do the Right Thing – Put Safety and Integrity at the Forefront of Everything We Do.” The Area Sr. Manager Food Safety and Quality Assurance (FSQA) position is a part of the leadership team that helps the organization deliver on this critical value – day in and day out. The role is fast-paced and complex and has responsibility across a geographic area for creating a world class food safety culture in which UNFI associates are proactive and interdependent when it comes to food safety. This role is responsible for developing a high performing team of FSQA leaders to ensure the execution of the company’s Food safety strategy and goals. The Area Sr. Manager will serve as a key advisor on FSQA matters to area DC stakeholders including but not limited to operations, human resources, merchandising and security/loss prevention leaders.

Responsibilities include integrating food safety and sanitation programs across our enterprise to promote end-to-end confidence in food safety for our customers. Interacts with operations to ensure policies, procedures, audits, and training programs are understood and followed. This includes comprehensive support of any and all regulatory certifications. As a Area Sr. Manager, these roles will supervise, support, and develop FSQA site mangers/partners.

Job Responsibilities: 

• Be a champion of promoting, communicating, and enforcing our food safety programs to ensure that all associates, visitors, and vendors understand the Company’s commitment to providing safe food

• Analyze, develop and communicate annual safety targets. Coordinate with analytics team to ensure monthly FSQA metrics are accurate

• Build a high performing area team of FSQA Managers and Leaders to ensure the execution of UNFI’s FSQA vision and strategy at the regional level. Assist with hiring of site FSQA professionals. Participate in annual talent calibrations

• Be a key advisor to the DC Leadership team so they understand weaknesses, deficiencies, and challenges within our food safety culture and collaborate with leadership to address these issues

• Be and stay current with all State, Federal, and local regulatory agencies to ensure compliance regarding local DC operations

• Lead Area Distribution Centers food safety and sanitation efforts working with regional and DC Leadership to maintain compliance with Federal, State and local regulation as well as adhere to SQF standards

• Provides leadership support to multiple FSQA Specialists/Managers and their assigned DCs

• Coaches and develops DC Food Safety & QA staff

• Provides direction to local Food Safety teams to ensure food safety and quality by providing accurate and up to date food safety policies and procedures

• Serve as an escalation point of contact of critical Food Safety issues for the DCs the role has oversight of

• Directs activities in maintaining and executing effective food safety, food defense, and recall plans, policies, and processes in Distribution Center operations

• Conducts food safety assessments at internal DC locations, 3rd party locations, and if needed supplier sites

• Ensures FSQA team collaboration with operations partners to ensure compliance during facility changes and/or new site developments

• Ensure all corrective actions are completed timely and effectively

• Ensure investigations of product quality and compliance issues (i.e. tampering, adulteration, mislabeling, etc.) are effectively completed

• Assist with media relations in developing relevant, clear communications

• Assist with customer call center operations related to customer food safety and quality assurance complaints

• Maintain active working relationships with all appropriate industry and regulatory bodies

• Consistently drive and execute innovation for food safety messaging, development of food safety culture, and nurture the belief that food safety is and should always be everyone’s top priority

• Communicate consistently, concisely, and clearly with Regional, Merchandise, and Brands Plus leadership as to important issues, updates, changes, and initiatives

• Supervise Food Safety & Quality Assurance Specialists and provide direction, feedback, and professional development

• Provides support to Regional Directors to roll-out updated standards/trainings

Perform other job duties as required

Job Requirements: 

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science, Public Health or related field required

• HACCP, Preventive Controls Qualified Individual, and/or SQF Practitioner certifications required

Experience:

• 7+ years of leadership experience in food manufacturing, food wholesale, and/or food distribution programs

• 3+ years of prior experience leading a team of FSQA professionals

• Experience with interpreting state and federal regulations, and maintaining working relationships with industry and regulatory officials

• Experience actively working with stakeholders at all levels of the organization to strategically solve problems, manage projects, drive performance while maintaining long-term strategies

• Excellent ability to develop and present business plans and strategies to influence company decision makers

• Ability to coordinate planning and collaboration with other business functions in a way that is mutually beneficial and drives continuous improvement

• Ability to analyze and independently resolve a variety of difficult situations and problems using timely decision making

Knowledge:

• Familiarity with Food Safety Modernization Act and Seafood HACCP requirements

• Familiarity with GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) schemes

• Working knowledge of Federal Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHA) is beneficial

Skills/ Abilities:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ability to interact and influence effectively with all levels of management, employees, and customers and experience collaborating with unions

• Ability to balance multiple priorities and ensure significant issues are communicated clearly to relevant stakeholders in timely manner

• Exceptional presentation and training skills

• Proven ability to influence without authority

• Exceptional ability to deal with conflict in all levels and areas of the organization

• Ability to work well with others to accomplish results

• Proficient with Microsoft Word, Power point and Excel

• Adapts well to and initiates change in the organization