Supervisor, Food Safety Quality - Impossible Foods

Job Title: Supervisor, Food Safety Quality
Job Location: Oakland, California
Job Listing URL: https://jobs.lever.co/impossiblefoods/e0978be5-a7e9-4fd5-bbef-b65fd2c1077d
Job Description: Impossible Foods was founded to transform the global food system and reduce the impact of climate change by making the world’s most delicious, nutritious, and sustainable meat, fish, and dairy — from plants. We’re building a rockstar team of brilliant, collaborative, mission-driven individuals who take pride in using their diverse skills to contribute to saving our planet.

Want to join the movement? You can help us solve the most urgent, important challenge facing the world today (and have fun doing it).

Job Summary:

This position will manage and develop QA Technicians, provide support to production and ensure product quality and safety. This role is responsible for the verification of food safety and quality programs, ensuring and verifying proper documentation by QA lab, leading root cause analysis investigations originating from non-conformances identified in the plant as well as via customer complaints and audits and implementing corrective actions. Assists with compliance to a GFSI scheme, regulatory and customer requirements and assists in audits. Responsible for QA transactions in the inventory management system, external warehouse systems and external reporting.

Essential Job Functions:

● Team Leadership:
○ Lead, mentor, and develop a team of QA Technicians while promoting a culture of safety.
○ Conduct training, ensure proficiency, and manage team performance.
○ Participate in hiring, onboarding, and employee development initiatives.

● Food Safety & Quality Assurance:
○ Oversee daily verification tasks, sampling, testing, and documentation to ensure compliance with food safety and quality standards.
○ Manage the escalation and resolution of product safety or quality issues, including root cause analysis and corrective actions.
○ Verify and improve HACCP, SSOP, and other food safety and quality programs.
○ Support plant trials and product development initiatives by coordinating quality functions.

● Compliance & Auditing:
○ Conduct internal audits to identify compliance issues, safety risks, and improvement opportunities.
○ Assist with regulatory, GFSI scheme, and customer audits.
○ Ensure adherence to FDA regulations, GMPs, and sanitation standards.

● Continuous Improvement:
○ Drive improvements in product quality by implementing and verifying food safety and quality plans, process controls, and training programs.
○ Manage the environmental monitoring program and collaborate with 3rd-party labs for microbiological and environmental testing.

● Data Management & Reporting:
○ Manage QA transactions in ERP systems, external warehouse systems, and reporting platforms.
○ Generate Certificates of Analysis (COAs) and maintain accurate records of quality data and KPIs.
○ Produce reports and analyze production performance data to support decision-making.

● Other Responsibilities:
○ Manage the calibration program and enforce GMP compliance.
○ Lead team meetings and cross-functional workshops.
○ Maintain professional knowledge through ongoing education and networking.

● The above duties and responsibilities are representative of the nature and level
of work assigned and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Basic Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Microbiology, Food Science, or a related field.
2–5 years of leadership experience in food safety or quality assurance.
Strong knowledge of GMPs, sanitation basics, and FDA regulations.
Experience with:
○ ERP systems and traceability principles.
○ Root cause analysis tools and techniques.
○ Managing environmental monitoring programs.
○ Working with 3rd-party labs for food product and environmental testing.
Knowledge of FDA regulations and GFSI scheme standards
Excellent collaborative, reporting, and communication skills with the ability to influence, lead and develop others through training initiatives.
Hands on approach, willing to be on the operation floor at least 70% of the time
Strong sense of urgency and ability to meet deadlines.
Preferred Qualifications:
Advanced knowledge of food safety and quality systems.
Experience in leading cross-functional teams or projects.
Additional certifications in food safety or quality management (e.g., HACCP, PCQI).