Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager – Imported Foods
Location: Columbia, MD
Salary: $80,000 - $100,000+ (DOE) + Annual Company Performance Bonus + Benefits
Benefits: Health, Dental, Vision, Life, 401k w/ match, Holidays, PTO, Sick time
Job Type: Full-Time | On-site
Typical Hours: Monday–Friday; occasional after-hours for overseas coordination
Start Date: ASAP
Sponsorship is not available
Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager – Imported Foods Description
Our client, a leader in imported food and private-label products, is looking for a Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager to join their team in Columbia, MD. In this hands-on individual contributor role, you will focus on quality systems, compliance documentation, lab-report analysis, product specifications, supplier compliance, and customer quality requirements. You will work closely with overseas suppliers and internal teams to investigate quality issues, follow up on corrective actions, and maintain food safety and regulatory compliance. The ideal candidate will have a background in QA/QC within food processing and be comfortable reviewing lab data and interfacing with overseas suppliers. This is an excellent opportunity to shape a growing QA program at one of the top U.S. food importers.
Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager – Imported Foods Responsibilities
• Support and maintain food safety and quality systems, including HACCP, BRC, BAP, ASC, and MSC
• Interpret lab reports to verify compliance with U.S. import regulations
• Write and review product specifications and labeling to meet FDA and customer standards
• Review supplier social audits and support corrective-action follow up
• Coordinate packaging and labeling reviews for U.S. market compliance
• Support third-party audit preparation, execution, and corrective-action follow-up
• Analyze QA and QC data to identify trends and drive improvements
• Support traceability and sustainability initiatives across the supply chain
• Communicate with U.S. customers on quality, recalls, and regulatory issues
• Collaborate with procurement, sales, R&D, and logistics teams to align QA goals
• Partner with overseas suppliers to ensure product and process compliance
• Track changes in food safety regulations and recommend proactive measures
• Work flexible hours to address urgent issues with global teams across time zones
Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager – Imported Foods Qualifications
• Associate’s degree required
• 3+ years of QA/QC experience in food manufacturing, processing, or importing required
• Experience reviewing and interpreting lab test results required
• Experience with food safety systems, regulatory compliance, and audits required
• Strong attention to detail, communication, and independent problem-solving skills required
