Senior Manager, Food Safety Science

Senior Manager, Food Safety Science

As a premier global food provider, the OSI Group partners with the world’s leading foodservice and retail food brands to provide concept-to-table solutions that delight consumers around the globe.

Join us and discover a work experience where diverse ideas are met with enthusiasm, and where you can learn and grow to your full potential. We’re looking for individuals who thrive in an entrepreneurial environment and who enjoy working as a team to deliver unparalleled service and solutions to our customers.

The salary range posted represents the low and high end of OSI’s salary range for this position. Salaries will vary based on various factors, including but not limited to, location, education, skills, experience and performance. Base salary is one component of OSI’s overall total rewards package. Other components may include bonuses, special pay programs, comprehensive time off, 401k with match and a full suite of benefit offerings for you and your family.

Position Summary

The Senior Manager, Food Safety Science is responsible for leading the development, implementation, and oversight of food safety, microbiological, chemical and quality assurance systems across the organization. This role applies advanced scientific principles—including animal nutritional requirements, risk assessment, and data analysis—to protect both public and animal health while ensuring regulatory compliance. The ideal candidate is a subject matter expert in human grade pet food regulation, nutritional requirements and manufacturing processes that lead to a strong understanding of chemical and biological hazards associated with this product type.

Principal Duties & Responsibilities

• Job is an individual contributor and does not have direct reports.
• Design, implement, and manage comprehensive food safety programs specific to human grade pet food.
• Integrate predictive tools to conduct scientific risk assessments using quantitative and qualitative methods for the evaluation of nutritional hazards in ingredients, processes, and finished products.
• Perform reviews that validate the sampling plans for product testing protocols tailored to specific food safety risks associated with human grade pet food.
• Monitor and analyze testing data for trends, deviations, or indicators of contamination, and initiate timely corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs).
• Lead the development and maintenance of HACCP plans, FSMA-compliant Food Safety Plans, and GFSI-aligned quality systems (e.g., SQF, BRC, FSSC 22000) for human grade pet food.
• Provide technical leadership during internal audits and third-party inspections; ensure compliance with FDA, USDA, and international food safety regulations.
• Serve as the subject matter expert in human grade pet food across R&D, Operations, and Supply Chain teams.
• Train staff on risk assessments, sanitation control, and use of modeling tools to build awareness and capability in scientific decision-making.
• Keep current with emerging food safety threats, predictive technologies, and scientific literature; translate findings into actionable food safety strategies.
• Lead food safety incident investigations, including root cause analysis of contamination events and implementation of long-term risk controls.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Experience & Skills

• 5-10 years of experience in related field is preferred.
• 3 - 5 years of progressive experience in pet food manufacturing, nutritional analysis, and regulatory compliance, including 3+ years in a leadership role within human grade pet food or wet pet food manufacturing.
• Demonstrated experience in predictive modeling and risk assessment techniques.
• Expert knowledge of AAFCO, FDA, USDA, FSMA, HACCP, GMPs, and GFSI frameworks.
• Strong ability to analyze data statistically and translate findings into practical controls.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Experience in a regulated food manufacturing, processing, or distribution environment required.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally with employees at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to use the Microsoft Office suite of applications; specifically using Word to create and modify documents, Excel to record data and calculate results, and Outlook to communicate internally and externally.
• HACCP Certification required (Advanced preferred).
• FSMA PCQI Certified Training in Animal Food.

Preferred Education

• BA/BS or equivalent is preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science, Food Science, Chemistry, or a related field; Master’s in Animal Nutrition strongly preferred.

Work Environment

• Work can be performed within a manufacturing plant environment with noise, extreme temperatures, and significant movement of powered equipment, people and conveyor (may depend on the role).
• Work conditions are typical of a food manufacturing facility.
• Work conditions are typical of an office environment.
• This role requires 30%+ domestic travel.
• Work can be performed in both office and manufacturing environments.
• Position requires the physical agility to perform continuous lifting up to 50 lbs, bending, squatting, pushing, pulling, stretching/reaching, use hands or fingers, talk, hear, feel objects, tools, controls and standing/walking on concrete flooring.
• Position requires the physical ability to stand/walk for duration of required work hours.

Key skills/competency

• Food Safety Management
• HACCP & FSMA Compliance
• GFSI Frameworks (SQF, BRC, FSSC 22000)
• Risk Assessment & Predictive Modeling
• Human Grade Pet Food Regulation
• Microbiological Control
• Quality Assurance Systems
• Regulatory Affairs (FDA, USDA, AAFCO)
• Supply Chain Integration
• Data Analysis & CAPA