FSQ RTE Manager

The FSQ RTE Manager (Technical Authority) is the single point of authority for food safety within all Ready-to-Eat (RTE) production and packaging operations .

This role is responsible for ensuring that no contamination pathway exists between environmental, personnel, or process risks and finished product . The position operates as a real-time risk controller , making immediate decisions on product safety, production continuation, and release.

In this structure:

Sanitation executes cleaning (Plant Manager)

FSQ RTE defines standards and approves effectiveness

This role is accountable for closing the gap between: 👉 what should happen vs. what actually happens on the floor.

Key Responsibilities

Real-Time Food Safety Authority

Make final decisions on: Product release / hold

Line startup approval

Production shutdowns

Lead escalation and response to: Deviations

Sanitation failures

Environmental risks

Hygienic Zoning Design & Enforcement

Define and enforce: RAW → RTE separation

Personnel and material flow

Controlled entry/exit points

Audit zoning behavior daily: Boot wash compliance

Tool segregation

Eliminate all cross-contamination pathways

Sanitation Standards & Validation

Define sanitation expectations: 7-step cleaning system

Validate cleaning effectiveness through: Direct observation

ATP and micro results

Reject sanitation that does not meet standard

Pre-Operational Control

Own pre-op verification standards

Audit high-risk equipment and repeat issue areas

Ensure no production begins under unsafe conditions

Environmental Monitoring & Pathogen Control

Partner with Micro Lab Manager to: Interpret trends

Identify harborage points

Lead response to Listeria risks

Eliminate repeat contamination zones

High-Risk Vector Control

Define and enforce controls for: Drains

Condensation

Equipment niches

Enforce drain segregation and no-spray policies

Floor Leadership & Enforcement

Maintain strong floor presence

Correct GMP violations immediately

Hold operations, sanitation, and maintenance accountable

Ensure the RTE process is scientifically sound, controlled, and safe

What They Own

Process & Food Safety Authority (Highest Risk Area)

Kill step (smokehouse lethality)

Cooling, drying, post-lethality handling

RTE contamination prevention (Listeria risk)

Process Validation

Thermal validation

Challenge studies

Scientific basis of controls

8+ years in food safety/QA leadership

RTE food experience (strongly required)

Deep expertise in: HACCP, FSMA, GMPs

Hygienic zoning

Sanitation systems

Proven ability to: Enforce standards

Make high-pressure decisions

KPIs

RTE environmental positive rate

Pre-op pass rate and repeat issues

Zoning/GMP compliance

Food safety incidents

Audit performance

The salary range for this role is $94,000- $106,000 (Salary.) Actual salaries will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to external market data, internal equity, location, and candidate skill set and experience. Base pay is just one component of Jack Link’s Total Rewards package for Team Members. Other rewards may include annual incentive and program-specific awards. Jack Link’s provides a variety of benefits to eligible Team Members, including medical, dental and vision benefits, life and disability insurance, 401k participation, paid holidays, and paid time off.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS :

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to be successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT :

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The work environment is a plant / office setting with varying degrees of temperatures and noise levels. Exposure to manufacturing equipment movement and wet / slippery floors. Travel may be required.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

Jack Link's is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

E-Verify

Jack Link's provides the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new Team Member’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. IMPORTANT: If the Government cannot confirm that y…