Auditing, Biology, Budgeting, Chemistry, Coaching, Consumer Branding, Consumer Packaged Goods, Consumer Protection, Continuous Improvement, Corrective Action, Corrective and Preventative Action (CAPA) Systems, Cross-Functional, Customer Support/Service, Detail Oriented, Documentation, Environmental Monitoring, Establish Priorities, External Audit, FDA Requirements, Facebook, Food Microbiology, Food Production, Food Quality, Food Safety, Food Science, Internal Audit, Leadership, Maintain Compliance, Organizational Skills, Performance Analysis, Performance Metrics, Problem Solving Skills, Project/Program Management, Quality Management, Record Keeping, Regulations, Regulatory Compliance, Risk Management, Root Cause Analysis, Safety Compliance, Safety Systems, Safety Training, Sanitation, Small Company, Supply Chain, Traceability, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Willing to Travel
Headquartered in Lakeville, Minn., Post Consumer Brands, a business unit of Post Holdings, Inc., is dedicated to providing people and their pets with delicious food choices for every taste and budget. The company's portfolio includes beloved brands such as Honey Bunches of Oats, PEBBLES, Grape-Nuts and Malt-O-Meal cereal and Peter Pan peanut butter, as well as Rachael Ray® Nutrish, Kibbles 'n Bits and 9Lives dog and cat food. Post also provides private label solutions to customers in pet food, cereal, nut butters and granola. As a company committed to high standards of quality and to our values, we are driven by one idea: To make lives better by making delicious food accessible for all. For more information about our brands, visit www.postconsumerbrands.com and follow us on LinkedInor Facebook for the latest news.
Location Description:
The Fitzgerald, Georgia plant is a significant contributor to the U.S. peanut supply, producing approximately 50% of the nation’s peanuts and 108 million pounds of peanut butter annually. The site employs approximately 250 employees and plays an important role in both the local economy and the broader food supply chain.
Located in the heart of Fitzgerald, the community is known for its welcoming small‑town feel and unique local character. The city is famously home to wild chickens that freely roam the downtown area- so much so that the town hosts an annual Wild Chicken Festival in their honor. Fitzgerald also offers a lively calendar of festivals, concerts, and parades throughout the year, contributing to a strong sense of community and quality of life.
Responsibilities:
About the Role
As our Food Safety & Compliance Manager, you’ll lead and strengthen our food safety culture at Fitzgerald, GA, ensuring products are made the right way—every time. You’ll be the go-to leader for food safety systems, regulatory compliance, audit readiness, and continuous improvement, partnering across Operations, Quality, Sanitation, Maintenance, and Supply Chain to protect consumers and our brands.
Key Responsibilities
- Own and evolve the site food safety & compliance programs (e.g., HACCP/Preventive Controls, allergen management, sanitation verification, environmental monitoring), ensuring they are implemented, maintained, and continually improved.
- Overseeing sanitation programming for the facility.
- Lead regulatory and third-party audit readiness by setting standards, conducting internal audits, closing gaps, and coordinating successful external audits and inspections.
- Drive a proactive food safety culture through training, coaching, and clear expectations—making food safety part of how we work every day.
- Manage investigations and corrective actions for nonconformances, complaints, deviations, and food safety events; robust root cause analysis and preventive action effectiveness.
- Partner cross-functionally to influence process changes that reduce risk and improve quality and compliance outcomes.
- Maintain documentation and records to support sanitation, compliance, traceability, and rapid response when needed.
- Monitor performance and trends (KPIs, audit findings, EMP results, sanitation verification, etc.) to prioritize actions and communicate progress to plant leadership.
- Coach and develop others and building capability across the plant.
Why You’ll Love This Role
- Make a real impact. Your work helps protect consumers and strengthens trust in products families rely on.
- The best of both worlds: big company opportunity—strong resources, scale, and brand recognition—paired with a small company attitude where you can move, influence, and see results.
- Beloved brands, meaningful purpose: we’re united by our purpose to make lives better by making delicious food accessible for all.
- A culture where you can thrive: an environment where you can do your best work, feel supported, and grow your career.
- You’ll be seen: a highly visible role with direct influence on plant performance, capability, and culture.
Location & Travel
- Location: This role is based in Fitzgerald, GA (on-site).
- Travel: Up to 10% travel may be required for audits, training, cross-site collaboration, and business needs.
Ready to Make an Impact
If you’re ready to lead food safety with confidence, influence culture at the plant level, and build programs that stand up to the highest standards—we’d love to meet you. Apply today and discover just right for your next step.
Qualifications:
What We’re Looking For
Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Biology, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
- 5+ years in food safety, quality, and/or compliance leadership in a manufacturing environment (food or CPG preferred).
Technical Knowledge
- Strong working knowledge of FDA/USDA requirements as applicable, FSMA/Preventive Controls, HACCP principles, sanitation programs, allergen controls, and audit frameworks (e.g., GFSI schemes such as SQF/BRCGS — if applicable).
- Experience leading internal/external audits, CAPA, and continuous improvement.
Leadership & Influence
- Confident communicator who can coach at all levels—from the production floor to leadership.
- Organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable setting direction while also rolling up sleeves to solve problems.
- Calm under pressure and able to navigate ambiguity with good judgment.