Food Safety & Quality Systems Manager (Florence, KY, KY, US)

About the Role:

Are you passionate about food safety, quality systems, and continuous improvement? We are seeking an experienced Food Safety & Quality Systems Manager to lead and enhance our Food Safety and Quality Management Systems while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, customer expectations, and industry certifications.

In this role, you will serve as the site's food safety expert, partnering with Operations, Plant Leadership, and cross-functional teams to maintain world-class quality standards, drive continuous improvement initiatives, and foster a strong food safety culture throughout the organization.

As the Food Safety & Quality Systems Manager, you will play a critical role in protecting product integrity, ensuring audit readiness, and driving sustainable improvements that support operational excellence and consumer trust.

This position offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact through leadership, collaboration, and the continuous advancement of food safety and quality standards.

Main Responsibilities:

Food Safety & Quality Management

• Lead and maintain Food Safety and Quality Management Systems in compliance with HACCP, HARPC, FSSC 22000, ISO 9001, FDA regulations, and customer requirements.

• Develop, update, and continuously improve food safety programs, policies, procedures, and work instructions.

• Ensure effective product traceability programs and quality controls are maintained across all operations.

Compliance, Audits & Certifications

• Manage all food safety, quality, customer, regulatory, and third-party certification programs.

• Maintain certifications including FSSC 22000, ISO 9001, Kosher, Halal, and other customer-specific requirements.

• Lead internal audits, external audits, inspections, and certification activities.

• Drive corrective and preventive action plans to address audit findings and compliance gaps.

Risk Management & Continuous Improvement

• Develop and maintain HACCP and HARPC plans using risk assessment methodologies.

• Monitor Food Safety and Quality KPIs, identify trends, and implement improvement initiatives.

• Lead initiatives that enhance food safety performance, quality standards, and operational effectiveness.

Training & Food Safety Culture

• Deliver Food Safety, GMP, and Quality Systems training to employees at all levels.

• Promote a culture of food safety awareness, accountability, and continuous improvement.

• Review production, sanitation, and GMP records to ensure compliance and timely issue resolution.

• Provide guidance and coaching to support consistent program implementation throughout the facility.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Collaborate with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Sanitation, and other key stakeholders to ensure food safety requirements are fully integrated into daily operations.

• Support new product introductions, process changes, and facility initiatives from a food safety and quality perspective.

• Serve as the primary site resource for food safety-related communications and initiatives.

About You:

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, Food Safety, Microbiology, or a related field.

• Experience working within a multicultural manufacturing environment.

• 4+ years of experience in Food Safety and Quality Assurance within a manufacturing environment.

• PCQI Certification.

• Strong knowledge of HACCP, HARPC, GMPs, Food Safety regulations, and preventive controls.

• Working knowledge of Food Safety Management Systems, including ISO 9001 and FSSC 22000.

• Experience managing food safety audits, certification programs, and regulatory inspections.

• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and training capabilities.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

• Proven ability to collaborate effectively across diverse teams and functions.

What Success Looks Like

• Maintaining compliance with all food safety, quality, customer, and regulatory requirements.

• Delivering successful audit and certification outcomes.

• Driving measurable improvements in Food Safety and Quality KPIs.

• Building a proactive food safety culture across the facility.

• Developing strong partnerships that support operational excellence and continuous improvement.

This is an excellent opportunity for a food safety and quality professional to make a direct impact on plant performance, product quality, and food safety while working closely with cross-functional teams to drive continuous improvement.

What We Offer:

Careers with caring built in - discover our benefits here.

About Ferrero:

Ferrero began its journey in the small town of Alba in Piedmont, Italy, in 1946. Today, it is one of the world’s largest sweet-packaged food companies, with many iconic brands sold in countries all over the world. Find out more about Ferrero at ferrero.com.

DE&I at Ferrero:

Ferrero is committed to building a diverse and inclusive culture in which all employees feel welcomed and appreciated and have the same opportunities. We believe all our people are equally talented in their own way. In nurturing the curiosity and natural abilities of our employees, we provide them, generation after generation, the means to succeed personally and professionally, enabling them to craft their journey at Ferrero. The diversity of our talents is what makes our work environment multicultural, innovative, and highly rewarding. Find out more here.