Senior Manager, Food Safety + Quality Assurance

We started Van Leeuwen Ice Cream in a yellow truck on the streets of NYC in 2008 with a mission to make good ice cream that makes you feel good.

Nowadays, people can spend so much time on what’s “healthy” they don’t stop to consider what’s healthy. As far as we’re concerned, happiness is healthiness. We strive to ensure every scoop, store and employee feels and creates one community to contribute to the overall brand.

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream is hiring a full-time Senior Manager, Food Safety + Quality Assurance based out of our Brooklyn office. This is a great opportunity for a highly experienced individual to work closely with the growing team at Van Leeuwen Ice Cream as the company continues its growth. The ideal candidate has strong experience in food manufacturing (dairy a plus), is well-versed in CPG quality assurance protocols, and can thrive in a fast-paced environment (and loves ice cream!). 

The Senior Manager, Food Safety + Quality Assurance is responsible for leading food safety and quality assurance across Van Leeuwen’s contract manufacturers, 3PL network, and retail scoop shops. 

This role can be fully remote and based anywhere in the United States. Strong preference would be candidates based in markets where VL has retail outlets (CA, CO, TX, IL, FL, GA, NC, TN, PA, NJ, NYC, CT or MA).

Job Responsibilities

• Create, enforce, and maintain Van Leeuwen’s food safety and quality assurance standards across manufacturing facilities and 3PLs
• Provide approval of new ingredients and suppliers, manage Van Leeuwen’s approved supplier program, and support in making risk-based decisions when necessary in order to support an agile business model
• Assist in the approval of new co-manufacturers through on-site audits and other risk assessments as necessary
• Provide FSQA assistance for our retail scoop shops including Dept. of Health policies, allergen communication, and product complaints 
• Work closely with R&D team to provide food safety expertise and direction
• Report key quality metrics and provide cross-functional visibility to quality challenges. 
• Translating data and risk assessment outcomes into practical strategies to support the food safety and quality assurance agenda 
• Investigate and resolve issues involving non-conforming material, out-of-specification events, and consumer complaints with our co-manufacturers
• Manage label and UPC program in order to ensure proper alignment across the business and compliance with customer requests
• Approve packaging and support with packaging version management 
• Lead traceability initiatives and serve as recall coordinator 
• Facilitate third party audits and/or certifications for FDA, Kosher, Vegan Action & Non-GMO
• Support proper product compliance and serve as the point person for customer compliance requests
• Lead the sensory program including weekly tastings and ensuring proper communication gets back to the relevant manufacturers
• Manage third party laboratory testing, interpreting results, and making recommendations as require

Job Requirements

• 4 to 6 years of experience as a food safety + quality assurance leader in a food production capacity, experience in dairy production a strong plus
• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Engineering or related technical field; higher degrees desirable
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in food safety, with in-depth knowledge of quality assurance, HACCP, and food safety management standards, including auditing for compliance in CPGs
• Demonstrated strengths in written and verbal communication, project management. Ability to translate technical information for both technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Additional desirable qualifications: certifications in HACCP, PCQI, and GFSI auditing schemes (SQF, FSSC 22000, BRC, AIB, etc); credentials in microbiology and/or statistical analysis
• Must be able to consume ice cream containing several allergens in order to perform functions of the job
• Must be comfortable working in-store scoop shifts as needed, while adhering to DOH guidelines

Compensation+ Benefits

$90,000 - 120,000 annual compensation depending on experience, paid weekly 

Eligible for annual 10% bonus

• Employee Scoop Card (Enjoy Ice Cream from any of our scoop shops nationwide)
• Medical, Dental + Vision Insurance with 70% Employer Contribution
• 401k with up to 4% Employer Match
• Cell Phone Reimbursement Plan
• Wellness Reimbursement Plan 
• Flexible Time Off 
• Paid Sick Time
• Yearly Performance Reviews