FPQA Manager

Additional Considerations (if any):

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At Hy-Vee our people are our strength. We promise “a helpful smile in every aisle” and those smiles can only come from a workforce that is fully engaged and committed to supporting our customers and each other.

Job Description:

Job Title: Food Protection/Quality Assurance Manager

Department: Manufacturing

FLSA: Salary

Revision Date: 05/2026

About Hy-Vee

At Hy-Vee, we believe the shortest distance between two people is a smile. We’re seeking professionals who bring proven skills, a desire to grow, and a commitment to work together in building a company that strives to make our customers’ lives easier, healthier and happier.

The Role and Why It’s Important

As the Food Protection/Quality Assurance Manager at Hy-Vee’s Beverage Manufacturing facility, you’re the cornerstone of food safety and quality for a fast-moving production environment producing canned sodas, energy drinks, and teas. Each day, you’ll guide your team through compliance requirements, quality testing, and continuous improvement initiatives that protect both our customers and our brand. Your expertise ensures the facility not only meets regulatory standards but consistently exceeds them. If you’re a food safety professional who thrives in a hands-on manufacturing environment, takes pride in protecting product integrity, and is energized by leading a team toward operational excellence, we’d love to have you on our team.

What You’ll Do

• Manage daily food safety and quality operations on the production floor to ensure compliance with company policies, local, state, and federal regulations, and customer requirements
• Lead and coordinate investigations into incidents, recalls, regulatory non-compliances, packaging defects, and quality issues, and document findings thoroughly
• Coordinate and support food protection and quality training programs to keep employees current with regulatory requirements and facility procedures
• Utilize quality and analytical test equipment including seam inspection equipment, pH meters, Brix meters, and carbonation testing tools to make informed decisions and recommendations to facility leadership
• Oversee FPQA department scheduling, daily task assignment, and overtime monitoring to ensure appropriate staffing and cost management
• Review and verify daily production paperwork for completeness, ensuring all CCPs and regulatory requirements are met prior to filing
• Oversee daily sampling of production runs to confirm proper containers, lids, dating, and product are in use
• Conduct employee counseling and performance reviews as needed
• Assist with regulatory agency inspections and facility tours; follow up on any deviations identified during inspections
• Participate in MDI, Lean Manufacturing, and continuous improvement initiatives focused on food safety, quality, process reliability, and operational performance
• Assist in developing, evaluating, and continuously improving all aspects of the Food Safety and Quality program, including prerequisite programs, SOPs, HACCP plans, and Food Safety Plans
• Ensure facility compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), SQF standards, and all applicable federal and state regulations
• Maintain confidentiality with respect to pricing, sales reports, profit and loss reports, wages, and other sensitive company information

Your Skills

• Commitment to the Hy-Vee mission and a willingness to promote the company’s values
• Excellent organizational, time management, and communication skills, with the ability to lead a team in a fast-paced production environment
• Strong problem-solving and analytical ability, including logical and scientific thinking to address both abstract and concrete operational challenges
• Knowledge of and ability to quickly adopt new technologies, including automation systems and software used to troubleshoot control issues
• Ability to perform effectively under pressure while maintaining professionalism and a solutions-oriented mindset
• Solid understanding of federal and state food safety regulations, particularly FDA requirements
• Experience with HACCP and/or Preventive Controls programs required; SQF or other GFSI program experience preferred
• General knowledge of cleaning chemicals and facility sanitation processes preferred

Reporting Relationships

Accountable and Reports to: Plant Manager

Direct Reports: FPQA Lead, FPQA Technician

Supervisory Responsibilities

This role is responsible for instructing, assigning, and reviewing the work of direct reports, planning workflows, maintaining standards, coordinating activities, and allocating personnel. The FPQA Manager manages department workload relative to resources to effectively balance costs and overtime with facility needs and continuous improvement goals, and recommends employee disciplinary action as appropriate in close partnership with Human Resources.

Education and Experience

• Education in a STEM-related field (food science, chemistry, biology, microbiology, engineering, or related discipline) or equivalent manufacturing experience preferred
• 3–5 years of experience in food safety, quality assurance, beverage manufacturing, canning operations, or a related manufacturing environment preferred
• Leadership experience in a food production facility preferred
• Experience with HACCP and/or Preventive Controls programs required; SQF or other GFSI program experience a plus
• Understanding of federal and state food safety regulations, particularly FDA, required
• General knowledge of cleaning chemicals and facility sanitation processes preferred

Physical Requirements

• Ability to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods, up to 8–12 hours per day
• Visual requirements include near and far vision with or without correction, depth perception, color vision, and field of vision
• Ability to perform physical activities including climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, reaching, lifting, grasping, and repetitive motions
• Ability to work in varied temperature environments as required by production operations
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally
• Ability to operate standard office and production technology, including computers, telephones, and quality testing equipment

Working Environment

This position is based primarily on the production floor of Hy-Vee’s Beverage Manufacturing facility. The role requires adaptability to changing daily operations and frequent interaction with production staff, contractors, suppliers, and regulatory agency representatives. Equipment used includes a personal computer, penetrometer, thermometers, pH meter, Brix meter, chemical titration kits, seam projector, knives, rulers, cameras, safety goggles, gloves, phone, printer, and copier.

Are you ready to smile, apply today.  

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre employment drug screen.