Guided Search Partners (GSP)
Guided Search Partners is an Executive Search firm built on Trust, Transparency, Specialization, and Long-term Relationships.
We connect high-performing professionals with organizations that value people, performance, and growth, helping leaders find roles where they can make an impact and build meaningful careers.

About the Opportunity
We’re supporting a search for an FSQA Manager with a growing food manufacturing operation in Oklahoma. This role will provide leadership across food safety, quality systems, regulatory compliance, audits, laboratory activity, and continuous improvement. The FSQA Manager will serve as a key food safety resource for the plant and will work directly with regulatory inspectors, plant leadership, operations, sanitation, and quality teams.

What You’ll Do
You’ll lead plant food safety and quality activity with responsibility for systems, compliance, people development, and day-to-day execution.

Key areas of focus include:

• Oversee all food safety and quality programs
• Lead implementation and maintenance of the SQF system
• Ensure compliance with HACCP and Food Safety Plans
• Lead food safety and continuous improvement initiatives
• Lead required verifications, staff training, and documentation
• Develop the skills of salaried and hourly FSQA personnel
• Partner with management, operations, and sanitation teams to improve food safety and quality programs
• Maintain and develop food safety and quality systems
• Interact directly with USDA, FDA, and state regulatory inspectors
• Lead or support regulatory, customer, internal, and third-party audits
• Promote a strong food safety culture across departments and shifts
• Develop, review, and revise SOPs and testing standards
• Support pre-operational inspections
• Support environmental and microbial sampling
• Support GMP, Pest Control, Food Defense, Allergen Control, and Label Verification audits
• Investigate complaints and perform direct observations
• Oversee onsite laboratory activity and quality testing
• Coordinate outside laboratory testing
• Review, interpret, approve, and report laboratory results
• Review CCP records for accuracy and completeness
• Stop processing or packaging activity when a food safety concern exists
• Train departments on Food Safety and Quality Policies and Procedures
• Support safe working conditions throughout the facility

Who You Are
You are an experienced food safety and quality leader who can work effectively with plant teams, regulatory officials, and senior leadership.

You understand food manufacturing regulations and quality systems and can communicate clearly about food safety requirements, corrective actions, audits, testing, and continuous improvement.

Preferred Experience & Attributes
• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, or similar field required
• Food manufacturing leadership experience preferred
• 5–7 years of food manufacturing experience preferred
• HACCP knowledge and implementation experience
• HACCP certification
• HARPC knowledge
• PCQI certification
• GFSI experience; SQF or BRC preferred
• Working knowledge of USDA and FDA requirements
• Knowledge of Title 9 and Title 21 CFR requirements
• QC laboratory experience preferred
• Understanding of analytical, microbiological, and environmental testing
• GMP and GLP knowledge
• Strong organization and decision-making skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects
• Strong communication skills across plant and regulatory groups
• Spanish bilingual capability preferred
• Green Belt or Black Belt certification is a plus
• High-speed packaging experience is relevant

Why This Role Matters
This role supports a growing food manufacturing operation with an established SQF program and significant expected growth. The site produces finished meals that are plated, frozen, and shipped refrigerated. The company expects continued annual growth and operates around a food-as-medicine mission.