Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY

Badger Ham is seeking a proactive and hands-on leader to oversee food safety and quality systems at our USDA-inspected facility in Milwaukee. Reporting directly to the President, this individual will be responsible for ensuring full compliance with food safety regulations, leading our HACCP and SQF programs, and maintaining the highest standards of product integrity. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, collaborative, and capable of managing both documentation and plant-floor execution.

This role may also assist with select operational tasks, but its core focus is food safety—including regulatory compliance, audit readiness, corrective actions, and customer complaint resolution.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

· Serve as the plant’s primary authority on food safety, HACCP, and regulatory compliance.

· Lead daily execution of USDA/FSIS requirements, including interaction with on-site inspectors and maintaining compliance records.

· Own and update the HACCP plan, SSOPs, GMPs, and SQF certification requirements.

· Prepare for and lead internal, customer, and third-party audits; close out findings with timely and effective corrective actions.

· Investigate all quality or food safety incidents, conduct root cause analysis, and implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs).

· Ensure traceability and recall readiness through effective lot tracking and recordkeeping.

· Manage food safety documentation, logs, and verification records across sanitation, temperature control, foreign material prevention, and allergen management.

· Train and develop plant staff on food safety procedures, sanitation, and quality assurance practices.

· Oversee and continuously improve systems for foreign material control, metal detection, thermometer calibration, and shelf-life validation.

· Support operations and quality initiatives where needed, including product yields, ingredient specifications, and customer complaint resolution.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Depending on the candidate level, this role may:

· Supervise QA or sanitation staff, or coordinate with third-party sanitation teams.

· Lead cross-functional teams during audits, regulatory visits, or food safety investigations.

· Be responsible for hiring, training, and performance management of quality and sanitation personnel.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

· Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, or a related field preferred.

· 5–10 years of experience in food manufacturing, with 3+ years focused on food safety or quality assurance in a USDA-regulated environment.

· HACCP Certification required; SQF Practitioner Certification a plus.

Skills and Competencies:

· Deep understanding of USDA/FSIS regulations, HACCP, GMPs, and SQF.

· Clear, confident communicator—capable of working closely with line staff, USDA, and leadership.

· Comfortable in both documentation and hands-on plant-floor food safety activities.

· Highly organized with strong follow-through on corrective actions and verification tasks.

· Able to manage priorities and multitask in a fast-paced production environment.

Physical Demands & Work Environment:

· Frequent work on the plant floor, including cold environments.

· Ability to lift 30–50 pounds as needed.

· Work performed in both office and production areas.

· PPE required on the production floor.

ABOUT BADGER HAM

Badger Ham is a Wisconsin-based, USDA-inspected meat processor with a proud legacy of producing high-quality ham and deli products. Famous for our hot ham and rolls, we blend tradition and innovation to deliver trusted, delicious products. We’re committed to excellence in food safety, sustainability, and community values.

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