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Smalls is a premium direct-to-consumer cat food and lifestyle brand seeking an FSQA Associate to own the day-to-day execution of its food safety and quality program. This role is the operational backbone of the FSQA function, managing routine testing, hold/release decisions, and quality complaint triage across Smalls' co-manufacturing and 3PL network.
You will be the first line of defense on quality issues, keeping a high-volume operational program on schedule while the Sr. Manager, FSQA focuses on strategy, investigations, and regulatory judgment calls. This is not an investigation sign-off or food safety decision-making role — you assemble evidence and draft packets, but the Sr. Manager holds final authority on holds, releases, withdrawals, and investigation outcomes.
Core responsibilities include:
**Routine Production Testing & Hold/Release (~40%):** Schedule and coordinate microbiology testing across all SKUs (smooth/ground, pulled, freeze-dried, lickable, broth, treats). Generate and track lab submission forms, manage the full cycle from sample collection through lab turnaround and results review. Execute monthly hold/release decisions, review cutting forms, log results, send release emails, and maintain records. Coordinate production verification and nutritional testing.
**CS Quality Liaison (~20%):** Monitor the CS-Food channel as the primary QA contact. Triage incoming complaints within hours, classify severity, request additional information, and determine whether issues are cosmetic, food safety, or require formal investigation. Resolve low-complexity complaints directly with CS; escalate food safety and high-impact issues to the Sr. Manager with a clean handoff packet. Own complaint response SLAs — triage within hours, resolution within 2–3 days for non-investigation issues.
**Investigation Support (~15%):** Open and document formal quality investigations under Sr. Manager direction. Gather supporting evidence (lab results, batch records, cutting forms, supplier COAs, CS complaint history). Coordinate with co-manufacturers and suppliers to collect root cause data. Draft investigation reports and CAPA documentation for Sr. Manager review and sign-off.
**Data & Documentation (~20%):** Log all test results, hold/release decisions, and complaint data into internal compliant trackers. Maintain the co-man and supplier quality document library — chase certificates, food safety docs, EPR packaging info. Produce the weekly QA digest. Pull data inputs for Sr. Manager's period reporting and trend analyses.
**Cross-Functional Coordination (~5%):** Participate in co-man and 3PL quality calls as the standing QA representative. Handle 3PL communication regarding hold/release instructions, tickets, and sample inspections. Communicate with CS on customer food quality inquiries and investigation results.
**Requirements:**
- Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Animal Science, or related field
- 1–3 years of experience in food, beverage, or pet food QA role
- Working knowledge of micro testing protocols (APC, listeria, salmonella, E. coli) and lab coordination workflows
- Strong communication skills across co-manufacturers, labs, CS, and internal ops (Slack, email)
- Demonstrated attention to detail with high-volume documentation work
- Comfort with ambiguity and operational tempo of fast-growing CPG
- Willingness to travel
**Nice to have:**
- HACCP and/or PCQI certification
- Prior experience with co-man networks and SARF/cutting form workflows
- Pet food, fresh food, or freeze-dried manufacturing experience
- Exposure to investigation/CAPA methodology
- Comfort with AI-assisted workflows
