Job Description

General Pet Supply


Work Location: NJ - Monroe
Job Code: 10460


Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ: CENT) is a leading innovator, marketer, and producer of quality branded products for the pet, lawn, and garden supplies markets. Our Dog and Cat business unit is searching for a Food Safety, Quality, & Regulatory Manager who will be responsible for ensuring that all aspects of food production, processing, and distribution adhere to established quality and safety standards, as well as comply with regulatory requirements. This role involves overseeing various aspects of food safety and quality assurance to ensure that the final products meet the highest standards of safety, quality, and legal compliance.

Common standards expected to be familiar with include the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) management system required by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Safe Quality Food Institute (SQFI) and Ethical audit compliance.

This position will be based out of our Monroe, NJ facility with expected travel to our Neptune City, NJ facility on a as need basis.

MEASURES OF SUCCESS:

• Manage Quality Assurance staff members; conduct staff meetings periodically; and provide staff performance reviews according to company processes.
• Work with accredited laboratories and associated services in support of food quality/safety as needed.
• Maintain pest control records, trending, and report out to management periodically.
• Identifying and resolving problems cross-functionally as needed.
• Manage root-cause analysis for complaints as needed. Document incidence, and outcome for feedback to customers and implement mitigation plan as needed.
• Develop and implement internal audits. Conduct internal audits with cross-functional groups to inspect facilities for compliance with standards, determining methods to resolve any issues that arise.
• Support 3rd party audits to ensure records required are accurate and up to date.
• Support recovery and recall processes, including traceability policies and procedures.
• Develop food safety plans by conducting hazard analyses; identifying critical control points and preventive measures; establishing critical limits, monitoring procedures, corrective actions, and verification and validation procedures.
• Prepare reports on food quality status to relay to management and maintain documentation of all tests and inspections that have been conducted.
• Collaborate, establish, and maintain quality/food safety SOP’s and related Work Instructions, Policies, and Procedures with production.
• Collaborate with production by participating in variance and corrective actions.
• Comply with federal, state, and local legal regulations by studying existing and new regulations; anticipating regulations; enforcing adherence to requirements; seeking continuous improvement; advising management on needed actions.
• Keep current on food quality/safety trends and issues that can impact the business and communicate to management. Participate in an associated professional organization.
• Facilitate training with all business units to provide education to all personnel on food quality/safety practices and standards.
• Maintain and implement the Supplier Qualification Program including working with vendors.
• Responsible for sustaining a food safety culture by conducting food safety behavior observations and conducting trending analysis on performance for all business units.

IDEAL CANDIDATE ATTRIBUTES:

• B.S. or higher in Food Science/relative discipline (science degree preferred)
• Has managerial experience in an FDA and USDA manufacturing facility
• Certified International HACCP Alliance trained within the last 5 years
• Preventative Control training for animal food certified (PCQI)
• Certified SQF practitioner
• Internal auditing training certification and or experience in 3rd party auditing
• Knowledge of compliance for import/export of FDA and USDA-regulated products is a must
• Application knowledge of quality risk management in the FDA-regulated industry
• Extensive knowledge of the industry standards of Quality and Food Safety
• Knowledge of Statistical Process Control and Analysis
• Must be detail-oriented, organized, and demonstrate excellent communication skills

BENEFITS PACKAGE & EMPLOYEE PROGRAMS:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance.
• Free Life and Short-Term Disability Insurance.
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts.
• 401k with a 3% company match and annual profit-sharing bonus!
• Paid vacation, holidays, and sick time.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Discounts on Pet supplies, cell phones, movie tickets, gym memberships, and more.
• Education Assistance. (both college degrees and professional certifications)
• Referral Program with a cash bonus.

Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ: CENT) (NASDAQ: CENTA) understands that home is central to life and has proudly nurtured happy and healthy homes for over 40 years. With fiscal 2022 net sales of $3.3 billion, Central is on amission to leadthe future of the Pet and Garden industries. The Company’s innovative and trusted products are dedicated to helping lawns grow greener, gardens bloom bigger, pets live healthier and communities grow stronger. Central is home to a leading portfolio of more than 65 high-quality brands including Amdro®, Aqueon®, Cadet®, Farnam®, Ferry~Morse®, Four Paws®, Kaytee®, K&H®, Nylabone® and Pennington®, strong manufacturing and distribution capabilities and a passionate, entrepreneurial growth culture. Central Garden & Pet is based in Walnut Creek, California and has over 7,000 employees across North America and Europe. Visit www.central.com to learn more.

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