Riverence Holdings LLC - Food Safety and Operations Manager

Riverence Holdings LLC

Classification: Exempt

Reports To: President

POSITION SUMMARY

Fraction is a startup bringing American-raised rainbow trout to the pet food industry through premium protein ingredients and finished products. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Riverence — North America’s largest trout producer — we are building something new in the market and need a Food Safety & Operations Manager to ensure our products meet the highest standards of quality, safety, and regulatory compliance.

In this role, you will own food safety and quality assurance programs while managing day-to-day production operations including sanitation, production scheduling, raw material receiving, and production data management. You will lead employee training and onboarding, manage regulatory audits, and serve as the primary point of contact for compliance matters. This is a ground-floor opportunity to build the quality and operations function from the ground up as the company scales.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Food Safety & Quality Assurance

• Develop, implement, and maintain food safety programs including HACCP, GMPs, SSOPs, and FSMA compliance
• Develop and manage an environmental monitoring program to ensure facility and production environment compliance
• Develop and manage a microbiological testing program for raw materials, in-process products, and finished goods
• Serve as the primary point of contact for all food safety and quality assurance matters
• Monitor and verify critical control points, conduct internal audits, and lead corrective action processes
• Maintain and update all food safety documentation, records, and SOPs
• Manage third-party and regulatory audits (e.g., SQF, USDC, FDA), including preparation, hosting, and follow-up
• Investigate and resolve customer complaints, non-conformances, and product quality issues
• Ensure finished products meet all customer, regulatory, and internal quality specifications

Sanitation Management

• Oversee and manage the sanitation department, including scheduling, supervision, and performance of sanitation staff
• Develop and maintain Master Sanitation Schedules (MSS) and Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs)
• Ensure sanitation practices meet regulatory and customer requirements
• Manage sanitation chemical inventory, usage, and vendor relationships

Production Scheduling & Operations

• Develop and manage daily and weekly production schedules to meet customer demand and operational targets
• Coordinate with sales and leadership to align production capacity with incoming orders
• Oversee receiving of raw materials, including inspection, documentation, and disposition of incoming trout and other inputs
• Track and manage production data including yields, throughput, downtime, and waste
• Identify and drive continuous improvement opportunities across production and quality operations

Regulatory Compliance

• Stay current on applicable federal and state regulations (FDA, USDC, FSMA, state departments of agriculture) and ensure company compliance
• Maintain all required regulatory registrations, permits, and certifications
• Prepare for and manage regulatory inspections and third-party audits
• Interface with regulatory agencies as needed on compliance matters

Training, Onboarding & HR Support

• Develop and deliver new hire onboarding programs including food safety, GMP, and role-specific training
• Train production and sanitation employees on SOPs, safety procedures, and quality standards
• Maintain training records and ensure all employees meet required certification requirements
• Assist leadership with workforce planning and operational staffing needs

General

• Travel regularly to meet with customers, attend industry events, and visit production facilities
• Collaborate cross-functionally with production, quality, sales, and leadership to align operations with business goals
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support the growth of the business

COMPETENCIES

• Deep knowledge of food safety systems (HACCP, FSMA, GMPs, SSOPs) and regulatory requirements
• Strong operational mindset with the ability to manage multiple functions simultaneously
• Natural leader who can build, train, and hold accountable a team in a startup environment
• Detail-oriented and disciplined with documentation, recordkeeping, and compliance
• Effective communicator — able to translate complex regulatory requirements clearly to frontline staff and leadership
• Self-starter who thrives working independently in a startup with minimal structure
• Comfortable with ambiguity and energized by building something from scratch

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This is a primarily remote position with occasional on-site work at Fraction’s production facility. When on-site, the work environment includes exposure to varying temperatures, wet conditions, raw animal products, and moderate noise levels consistent with a food processing facility. Regular travel to customer sites and Fraction facilities is required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Ability to travel domestically on a regular basis, including multi-day trips
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods on the production floor, at trade shows, and at customer visits
• Ability to lift and transport materials and product samples up to 30 lbs.
• Ability to work in cold, wet, or otherwise challenging food processing environments

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 8+ years of experience in food safety, quality assurance, or production operations in a food manufacturing environment
• Demonstrated knowledge of HACCP, FSMA, GMPs, and related food safety regulations
• Experience managing sanitation programs and/or production scheduling
• Proven ability to develop and deliver employee training and onboarding programs
• Experience preparing for and managing third-party or regulatory audits
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint)
• Ability to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing
• Valid driver’s license and willingness to travel regularly

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in the pet food, aquaculture, or animal nutrition industry
• SQF Practitioner certification or equivalent (PCQI, FSSC 22000, etc.)
• Knowledge of trout, seafood, or protein ingredient processing
• Experience launching quality and food safety programs in a startup or early-stage facility
• Background in food science, animal science, or a related field
• Experience working in a startup or early-stage company environment