FSQ Manager (Upstream)

FSQ Manager (Upstream)Department: Quality & RegulationEmployment Type: Full TimeLocation: ParisReporting To: Brian ChunDescriptionWant to build a tastier future through cutting-edge technologies? We are looking for a mission-driven, creative, and committed Food Safety Quality (FSQ) Manager to join us. Come and bring your skills to the table!GOURMEY is one of Europe's leading cultivated meat companies with global ambitions. Our vision is to create sustainable cultivated meat delights directly from animal cells for a conscious generation. We believe in a world where succulence can share a table with positive impact and that cutting-edge technology combined with culinary arts can help us get there. From engineers or scientists to culinary experts, we’re building an international team that shares the same passion for positive change. Currently a team of 65 Gourmates, we have dozens of nationalities at the table! Our differences are our strengths and our common language is food.As a FSQ Manager, you will be an integral part of our Quality & Regulation team, focusing on ensuring food safety and quality within our upstream cell culture and bioprocessing operations. You will leverage a background in the pharmaceutical and/or biologics industries to adapt to relevant food regulations and maintain our high standards of food safety.At GOURMEY, you will report directly to our Head of Quality & Regulation. You will work closely with our Head of Regulatory Strategy and other FSQ Managers to maintain a tight collaboration with our other R&D teams as well as manufacturing operations. This role is based in our headquarters in Paris.What will you be responsible for?Develop, maintain, and implement GOURMEY’s Food Safety Plan(s) and HACCP, ensuring that GMPs, preventive controls, and prerequisite programs are effective and up to date.Serve as the Food Safety Team Leader and/or Site Quality Assurance Manager for internal manufacturing and R&D pilot processing as needed.Lead and train R&D, laboratory, and manufacturing teams on aseptic techniques, cleaning & sanitation verification, pre-operation inspections, sample collection and preparation, swabbing, and other relevant practices.Apply a deep understanding of GMP from a pharmaceutical context to food production, ensuring that processes and controls meet food GMP requirements while avoiding unnecessary complexity.Continuously monitor and identify potential risks in R&D, lab, and production environments and implement practical controls to manage these risks effectively, leveraging pharmaceutical approaches where beneficial while adhering to food GMP standards.Evaluate and modify manufacturing processes, practices, and facility designs to ensure they are optimized for food safety and GMP compliance, integrating pharmaceutical techniques as appropriate in balance with pragmatic solutions to meet food GMP standards.Support the design, creation, and implementation of practical QA programs for GOURMEY’s Quality Management System (QMS) in coordination with other FSQ Managers and the Head of Quality and Regulation. Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to achieve and maintain relevant compliance standards.Assist in identifying root causes and corrective actions for deviations related to ingredients, products, or processes. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to resolve issues and prevent recurrence.Conduct hygienic design reviews of processes and equipment to support product and process development, ensuring the integration of Quality by Design (QbD) principles.Manage raw material and supplier review programs of assigned portfolios, including risk assessment, audits, and review of key food safety & quality documentation to ensure adherence to regulatory requirements.Contribute to training and development programs for on-site employees to ensure current knowledge and compliance with food safety and QA guidelines.Compile, review, and analyze lab data. Provide data-driven insights to adjust testing and sampling plans, product specifications, shelf-life studies, and identify trends.Track reports and KPIs, develop and lead quality improvement plans, and collaborate cross-functionally on quality and process improvements.Be proactive and responsive in addressing internal and external customer complaints and nonconformances, leading root cause analysis, and developing and verifying corrective actions.Provide ongoing management support and serve as an administrator for implementing and maintaining electronic databases and software related to food safety & quality assurance.What about you?B.Sc. and/or M.Sc. in a relevant field such as life sciences, biotechnology, or a related discipline.5+ years of experience in food safety and quality assurance, with a background in cell culture and bioprocessing. Experience in pharmaceutical or biologics industries is a plus.Demonstrated experience in aseptic processing and manufacturing. Ability to adapt pharmaceutical GMP practices to food GMP requirements effectively.Fluent English, both written and spoken with additional proficiency in French or other languages considered advantageous.Ability to leverage a deep understanding of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) from a pharmaceutical background and effectively adapt these practices to meet food GMP requirements. Demonstrated capability to implement appropriate controls that balance rigorous standards with practical application to avoid over-engineering while managing risk to an acceptable level.Proven ability to evaluate and modify processes, practices, and facility designs, ensuring they are streamlined and suitable for food safety while maintaining compliance with food GMP standards.Skilled in identifying potential risks in food production environments and implementing targeted controls that address these risks without unnecessarily complicating processes. Ability to adjust and apply the appropriate measures where relevant, ensuring an effective balance between safety, quality, and practicality.Proven experience in leading teams, training staff, and implementing effective quality management practices.Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to conduct root cause analysis and develop practical corrective actions.Excellent interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to lead, inspire, and collaborate effectively within cross-functional teams and external partnerships.Strong communication skills, comfortable working within cross-functional teams to establish and maintain high standards for quality and regulation.Strategic thinker with a clear vision and strong problem-solving capabilities.Deep understanding of scientific methodologies, data interpretation, and the ability to present complex scientific and regulatory information clearly.Ability to work effectively under pressure, adaptable to changes, and can manage substantial workloads.Enthusiastic, self-motivated, with a strong sense of ownership and results-driven. You possess a positive, can-do attitude.What do we offer?You will join a fast-growing startup located in the center of Paris, with a global ambition to build the future of food through cutting-edge technologies in an inclusive work environment valuing the importance of work-life balance.We offer:? GOURMEY’s ESOP25 days of paid leave + extra holidays (depending on your contract)? Attractive Health insurance policy (higher than the minimum required)Meal vouchers (We use Swile)Work-life balance monitoringSustainable transportation and offer extra compensation to those who cycle to workFresh fruits and nuts delivered weeklyAnnual company retreatWhat is our recruitment process?Inclusiveness is at the heart of everything we do at GOURMEY. By being transparent about each step of the process, and why we do things the way we do, we believe we can give all candidates a foretaste of GOURMEY’s culture. During the process, you will meet some of your team members in different parts of the recruitment process which will look like this:Interviews with our Talent Acquisition Manager, future colleagues, and manager.A last interview on-site (when possible) to meet part of the team and visit the labs & office.Want to know more about us?We are a science, purpose, and engineering-driven company, founded in 2019 and now entering its next phase of growth after our recent fundraising. We are dedicated to creating breakthrough technologies that will help address and push the boundaries of what’s possible – delivering innovations that benefit people and the planet. If you want to know more, have a look at our LinkedIn page, Career Site, Glassdoor reviews as well as the many press reviews (Bloomberg; Forbes). #J-18808-Ljbffr