Job Title: Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager
Job Location: Portland-USA-97218
Work Location Type: On-Site
Salary Range: $82,816.49 - 103,520.61
About us
Since 1942, SkyChefs has taken culinary excellence to new heights. As a trusted partner to the nation’s leading airlines and retailers, we proudly deliver millions of meals and exceptional service experiences every year across 43 sites throughout the United States. Built on a legacy of operational excellence, culinary expertise, and continuous innovation, we are committed to setting the industry standard in aviation culinary, airline services, last-mile logistics, and retail commerce. From the kitchen to the runway, our teams work together to deliver quality, reliability, and service at every altitude. Our people are the heart of everything we do. At SkyChefs, a career is more than a job – it’s an opportunity to grow, lead, and make an impact in a fast-paced, team-driven environment. Join America’s first, foremost, and finest and take your career to new heights.
Why This Role Matters
We’re hiring a Food Safety & Quality Manager who wants to own food safety end‑to‑end, influence operations daily, and be the final decision‑maker when it comes to protecting consumers, customers, and the business. In this role, you will play a critical part in ensuring that all food safety and quality management systems meet or exceed regulatory, customer, and company standards. You will oversee the implementation, auditing, assessment, and training of quality systems at our Customer Service Center (CSC), ensuring we deliver only the finest, safest products to our airline customers. This is a unique opportunity to join our team driving food safety excellence in an exciting and fast-paced environment.
What You'll Gain
• Career Growth: We invest in your professional development and offer clear pathways for advancement.
• Competitive Salary + 401(k) Match – Secure your financial future
• Day 1 Benefits – Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, AD&D
• Tuition Reimbursement – Invest in your professional development
• Exciting Perks: Free meals, free parking, and the opportunity to be part of an industry leader that’s setting new standards in airline hospitality.
• A Winning Culture: Collaborate with top-tier professionals and be part of a company that values innovation, teamwork, and excellence.
• Paid Time Off – Vacation, Sick Leave, and Holiday Pay
• Exclusive Perks – Membership to American Airlines Credit Union
Main Accountabilities
- Champion a strong food safety and quality culture that supports SkyChefs' commitment to excellence, teamwork, and customer satisfaction.
- Ensure compliance with FDA, USDA, FSMA, customer requirements, and company food safety and quality standards.
- Lead and maintain food safety programs, including HACCP, preventive controls, environmental monitoring, and product quality verification.
- Conduct routine assessments, inspections, testing, and data reviews to identify risks, ensure compliance, and drive continuous improvement.
- Investigate food safety concerns, quality issues, and customer complaints, implementing effective corrective actions when needed.
- Serve as the site lead for regulatory, customer, and third-party audits, ensuring the operation is always inspection-ready.
- Partner with Operations, Production, HR, suppliers, and customers to strengthen food safety practices and support business goals.
- Oversee sanitation, pest control, documentation, reporting, and recordkeeping to maintain a safe and compliant operation.
- Monitor key food safety and quality metrics, providing insights and recommendations to improve performance.
- Recruit, develop, coach, and support Food Safety team members while fostering an inclusive, accountable, and positive work environment.
- Communicate effectively across all levels of the organization and thrive in a fast-paced environment with strong attention to detail and a proactive mindset.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Biology, Chemistry, or a related field.
- PCQI and HACCP certifications required.
- 5+ years of food safety and quality experience in a regulated food manufacturing environment.
- Proven experience leading regulatory, customer, and third-party audits and inspections.
- Strong knowledge of FDA and USDA regulations, FSMA Preventive Controls, HACCP principles, and current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs).
- Ability to analyze food safety and quality data, identify risks, and drive corrective actions.
- Comfortable working in a hands-on role that includes regular presence on the production floor.
- Strong communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills with a continuous improvement mindset.
SkyChefs is an EEO and Affirmative Action Employer of Women/Minorities/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities.
