About this role
The FSQ RTE Manager (Technical Authority) is the single point of authority for food safety within all Ready-to-Eat (RTE) production and packaging operations.
This role is responsible for ensuring that no contamination pathway exists between environmental, personnel, or process risks and finished product. The position operates as a real-time risk controller, making immediate decisions on product safety, production continuation, and release.
In this structure:
Sanitation executes cleaning (Plant Manager)FSQ RTE defines standards and approves effectivenessThis role is accountable for closing the gap between: 👉 what should happen vs. what actually happens on the floor.
Key Responsibilities
Real-Time Food Safety Authority
Make final decisions on:Product release / holdLine startup approvalProduction shutdownsLead escalation and response to:DeviationsSanitation failuresEnvironmental risksHygienic Zoning Design & Enforcement
Define and enforce:RAW → RTE separationPersonnel and material flowControlled entry/exit pointsAudit zoning behavior daily:Boot wash complianceTool segregationEliminate all cross-contamination pathwaysSanitation Standards & Validation
Define sanitation expectations:7-step cleaning systemValidate cleaning effectiveness through:Direct observationATP and micro resultsReject sanitation that does not meet standardPre-Operational Control
Own pre-op verification standardsAudit high-risk equipment and repeat issue areasEnsure no production begins under unsafe conditionsEnvironmental Monitoring & Pathogen Control
Partner with Micro Lab Manager to:Interpret trendsIdentify harborage pointsLead response to Listeria risksEliminate repeat contamination zonesHigh-Risk Vector Control
Define and enforce controls for:DrainsCondensationEquipment nichesEnforce drain segregation and no-spray policiesFloor Leadership & Enforcement
Maintain strong floor presenceCorrect GMP violations immediatelyHold operations, sanitation, and maintenance accountableEnsure the RTE process is scientifically sound, controlled, and safe
What They Own
Process & Food Safety Authority (Highest Risk Area)
Kill step (smokehouse lethality)Cooling, drying, post-lethality handlingRTE contamination prevention (Listeria risk)Process Validation
Thermal validationChallenge studiesScientific basis of controls 8+ years in food safety/QA leadershipRTE food experience (strongly required)Deep expertise in:HACCP, FSMA, GMPsHygienic zoningSanitation systemsProven ability to:Enforce standardsMake high-pressure decisionsKPIs
RTE environmental positive ratePre-op pass rate and repeat issuesZoning/GMP complianceFood safety incidentsAudit performance The salary range for this role is $94,000- $106,000 (Salary.) Actual salaries will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to external market data, internal equity, location, and candidate skill set and experience. Base pay is just one component of Jack Link’s Total Rewards package for Team Members. Other rewards may include annual incentive and program-specific awards. Jack Link’s provides a variety of benefits to eligible Team Members, including medical, dental and vision benefits, life and disability insurance, 401k participation, paid holidays, and paid time off.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to be successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The work environment is a plant / office setting with varying degrees of temperatures and noise levels. Exposure to manufacturing equipment movement and wet / slippery floors. Travel may be required.
Equal Employment Opportunity Employer
Jack Link's is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
E-Verify
Jack Link's provides the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new Team Member’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. IMPORTANT: If the Government cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, we are required to provide you written instructions and an opportunity to contact SSA and/or DHS before taking adverse action against you, including terminating your employment. We do not use E-Verify to pre-screen job applicants or to re-verify current employees and may not limit or influence the choice of documents presented for use on the Form I-9. In order to determine whether Form I-9 documentation is valid, we use E-Verify’s photo screening tool to match the photograph appearing on some permanent resident and employment authorization cards with the official U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) photograph. If you believe that Jack Link’s has violated our responsibilities under this program or has discriminated against you during the verification process based upon your national origin or citizenship status, please call the Office of Special Counsel at 1-800-255-7688 (TDD: 1-800-237-2515).