Assistant Food Safety Quality Manager - Watertown
Johnsonville · Watertown, WI
- Level
- Manager
- Team
- Quality
- Degree
- Preferred
- Experience asked
- 4+ years
- Industry
- Food & beverage
- Posted
- 15 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A management quality role at Johnsonville (food & beverage) in Watertown, WI. Day-to-day activities support driving food safety, quality and animal welfare activities to a best-in-class level.
- They ask for
- 4+ years · degree preferred
- Tools it names
- FDA / GMP, SAP
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Quality Engineer roles in Wisconsin: typical posted base $76k–$106k.
Median of the low and high ends of 12 live postings that list pay, out of 41 quality engineer openings in Wisconsin, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Wisconsin plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 40 other live quality postings in Wisconsin.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (4+ vs 5+)
Typical $74k–$106k, from 11 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Root cause 54%
- Supplier quality 44%
- FMEA 37%
- Control plans 37%
- New product launch 34%
- SPC 34%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Quality team at Johnsonville
We found 5 people at this company and state: 4 in this kind of role, 1 leaders. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
Write to Ty → (free) - 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Which standards drive the work here: ISO 13485, IATF 16949, AS9100?
- How much of the job is customer complaints versus prevention?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Johnsonville in Watertown
2 other open roles at this site · 5 people we found in quality roles at Johnsonville.
- Electro-Mechanical Technician 2nd Shift · Reliability · Technician
- Food Safety Quality Manager · Quality · Manager
Full description from JohnsonvilleAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
- ◆Use your technical expertise to educate members on animal handling, food safety and quality applications and systems.
- ◆Be a resource for the plant’s operations and to represent food safety and quality and animal welfare on cross-functional project teams.
- ◆Develop and maintain facility food safety plans, quality plans and standard operating procedures including Redzone Compliance.
- ◆Lead or co-lead third party audits (SQF and customer) and maintain required programs.
- ◆Function as a liaison for plant operations on food safety and quality policies as they relate to both internal and external customers and third-party vendors.
- ◆Function as a plant liaison with third party sanitation company and assist with monitoring metrics
- ◆Be a plant representative to the USDA and other regulatory agencies, while ensuring compliance to GMP standards, USDA, and other regulatory
requirements
- ✓Aid with coordinating and troubleshooting of day-to-day food safety and quality opportunities to help the teams define comprehensive and proactive solutions.
- ✓Inspect, audit and work with facility continuous improvement teams to ensure best practice and enhanced standard work processes are implemented and acted upon.
- ✓Evaluate data and Redzone documentation to troubleshoot any trends around food safety and quality processes and products.
- ✓Back up the Food Safety and Quality Coordinator in their absence.
Education
- ✓Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science, Meat Science, Food Science, Microbiology or a related field preferred, but equivalent work experience will be considered with appropriate certifications.
- ✓HACCP Certification, preferred.
- ✓GFSI certification - SQF Practitioner or BRC certification, preferred
Experience
- ✓Strong knowledge of food safety, HACCP systems, required
- ✓2-4 years of experience in a quality leadership position is preferred.
- ✓Experience in livestock animal handling and welfare, preferred.
- ✓Experience in food manufacturing required, meat processing/harvest preferred.
- ✓Experience working under regulatory systems, specifically USDA and Animal Handling and Welfare preferred.
Requirements
- ✓Ability to work second shift (2:30 - 11:00 pm) and flex to different shifts as needed
Members have potential for a monthly bonus and 401k with a company match. Members also have access to terrific benefits including affordable medical, dental and vision coverage; flexible spending accounts; disability and life insurance; and fertility and adoption assistance. Johnsonville also offers competitive paid time off, including paid parental time off! Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.
Applicants must be eligible to work in the country where this job is located, without requiring sponsorship now or in the future.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Johnsonville Location: Watertown
Our No. 1 priority at Johnsonville is providing a safe work environment for every Member we employ. Our industry-leading safety record, coupled with the safety awards we’ve received, demonstrate this commitment. Members of our safety team maintain the safety of Johnsonville Members in our facilities, continuously finding new and better ways to do so. We’re also dedicated to producing only the highest-quality products for consumers worldwide to enjoy – ones we would be proud to serve at our own family table. Our quality team ensures Johnsonville meets or exceeds all standards set by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), of the US Department of Agriculture and other regulatory agencies. Our commitment to quality is unparalleled, thanks to the dedication of each quality team member.
Position Overview
As the Assistant Food Safety/Quality Coordinator your passion for continuous improvement will support the company in its drive to create a best in world quality culture through leadership and member interaction. This job is perfect for a self-motivated individual who enjoys working as a team and driving for continuous growth. Day-to-day activities support driving food safety, quality and animal welfare activities to a best-in-class level.
Skills
- •Ability to lead by example and engage others in the decision-making process
- •Commitment to continuous personal growth and development
- •Intermediate understanding of food safety and animal welfare practices.
- •Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- •Basic understanding of statistical quality tools and continuous improvement processes.
- •Proven ability to manage multiple tasks and adapt priorities as needed
- •Detail oriented, responsible, self-motivated individual.
- •Strong team player with problem solving skills and results-driven mindset.
- •Ability to influence decision making with senior leaders and production members.
- •Quick to learn and adapt
- •Experience with SAP and Redzone preferred.
- •Ability to work second shift (2:30 - 11:00 pm) and flex to different shifts as needed
Other
About our Company
Since 1945, our family-owned band of sausage-makers has invented better ways to make, eat and prepare crave-able sausage. Today, we are 4,000+ Members strong. We sell our famous sausage in all 50 United States and more than 40 countries. We have a culture built on the idea that if we make developing your talents our top priority, great business results will follow naturally. We call it The Johnsonville Way. It has been our secret sauce for decades, and we hope you get to experience it for yourself!