Associate Manager, Food Safety & Quality Assurance (Saucy! by KFC)

Who is Saucy! by KFC?

At Saucy! by KFC, we’re not just disrupting fast-casual dining—we’re redefining what it means to crave a bold, flavorful experience. Backed by KFC, our brand thrives on speed, innovation, and a fierce commitment to unforgettable guest moments. We’re scaling fast and need a trade marketing powerhouse to bring our brand to life at the local level.

Saucy! by KFC brings bold flavor to crispy chicken tenders, creating an undeniable indulgence for diners to dip, dunk, slather and satisfy any craving. Inspired by the iconic 11 herbs and spices of KFC’s Original Recipe®, Saucy! offers a customizable tenders, sauce and beverage experience designed to delight a new generation seeking golden-fried goodness with global inspirations. Saucy! by KFC is operated by KFC Corporation, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., Plano, TX. 

About the Job:

 

Saucy! is looking for a food safety expert who’s as passionate about protecting our guests as we are about delivering unforgettable experiences. If you’re driven by precision, compliance, and quality that never cuts corners, this is your moment to lead at the intersection of safety and flavor.

As Associate Manager, Food Safety & Quality Assurance, you're not just keeping us compliant—you're safeguarding the guest experience, brand trust, and the bold standards that set Saucy! apart. From supply chain to store shelves, you’ll lead programs, audits, and partnerships that ensure every bite is safe, delicious, and 100% on-brand.

You'll own FSQA systems across vendors, distributors, and restaurant operations, aligning with Yum!’s global standards while staying agile in high-growth markets. You’ll also serve as our internal and external expert, interfacing with regulatory agencies, cross-functional teams, and regional partners.

 

The Day-to-Day:

 

Champion Proactive Food Safety:

• Continuously elevate the quality of Saucy! Products while driving the development of quality systems that align with Yum! Food Safety Policies, Standards, and requirements. 
• Ensure full compliance with corporate governance and protect the integrity of the brand at every touchpoint.

Vendor & Supply Chain Leadership:

• Ensure all suppliers and distributors are complaint with Yum! Food Safety Standards, conducting audits and follow-ups to resolve non-conformities to achieve the highest level of food safety and quality are met locally in all vendors. 
• Ensure probation suppliers are re-audited within specified time and that thorough action plans are in place.
• Implement and coordinate QA Programs with all vendors and create/update all of the specifications for local ingredients. 
• Build and maintain 100% supplier compliance to Yum! and QA programs in new specifications reviews, GFSI certification, and registration in TrueView database. 
• Manage and maintain supplier risk assessments and profiles, approving/disapproving vendors as relevant, based on QA programs and guidelines.

Program Development:

• Validate and approve audit reports submitted through SMW (Supplier Management Website) and DMW (Distribution Management Website). 
• Provide guidance on restaurant design and kitchen setup to maximize food safety.
• Implement FSCC (Food Safety Compliance Check) audit protocols for all restaurants.
• Develop and run product evaluations quarterly for Class A & B suppliers, validating food quality and safety via store visits and calibrated kitchen tests.
• Monitor industry trends and regulations, proactively adapting programs to maintain leadership in compliance and safety.

Training, Crisis, & Communication:

• Act as the main FSQA point of contact for interaction with all vendors to ensure best practices are shared and execute Regional trainings to build know how across the Region.
• Act as the main FSQA point of contact for interaction with local regulatory agencies and health departments and establish a confident relationship. Periodically meet with key local associations, councils, and other decision or policy influencing organizations to monitor trends and anticipate threats in the markets. 
• Ensure local restaurant teams are trained on food handling procedures, and all procedures comply with the Yum! Restaurant Food Safety Standards.  Also ensure teams are trained on crisis management by cascading crisis management processes and trainings to Operations Leader.  Develop crisis management system and cascade it to the restaurants. 
• Ensure all restaurants receive at least two Food Safety Compliance Check (FSCC) audits per year and adhere to requirements of the FSCC program for follow-up and escalation of issues. 

Perform other duties and ad-hoc projects as required.

Is This You?

 

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, or a related discipline required.
• Experience: 5–7 years in food industry, including food safety, QA, or related field. Hands-on experience in food manufacturing including overall understanding of production facilities, quality improvement methods, and product development requirements. Experience in Quality Systems, specifications, microbiology, crisis management, risk management, food safety guidelines and regulations. 
• Certifications: HACCP certified required; additional certifications in SPC, Six Sigma, or Quality Auditing preferred.
• Communication & Relationship-Building: Brings a flexible, hands-on, and service-oriented mindset. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels. 
• Creative & Strategic Thinking: Ability to think both creatively and strategically, demonstrating strong troubleshooting capabilities and a solutions-first approach. Ability to thrive under pressure, meet tight deadlines, and juggle multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Analytical Skills: Strong organizational and analytical skills with a sharp aptitude for technical subject matter. Proven ability to solve problems at the tactical level, make sound decisions, and take swift, independent action.

Work-Hard, Play-Hard:

• Hybrid work schedule (onsite expectation Tues, Wed, Thurs) and year-round flex day Friday 
• Up to 4 weeks of vacation per year plus holidays and time off for volunteering 
• Generous parental leave for all new parents and adoption assistance program 
• 401(k) with a 6% matching contribution from Yum! Brands with immediate vesting 
• Comprehensive medical & dental including prescription drug benefits and 100% preventive care
• Discounts, free food, swag and… honestly, too many good benefits to name 

The above represents the expected salary range for this job requisition. Ultimately, in determining your pay, we'll consider your location, experience, and other job-related factors.

KFC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to equity, inclusion, and belonging for all dimensions of diversity.  We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability status, age, or any other protected characteristic.

KFC is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities or special needs.  

US Job Seekers/Employees - To view the "Know Your Rights" poster, click here: https://www.eeoc.gov/know-your-rights-workplace-discrimination-illegal. 

Employment eligibility to work with Saucy! by KFC in the U.S. is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for this position.

California Residents: For more information about the categories of personal information we collect from you and how we use, sell, and share that information, please see our Privacy Notice for California Employees at https://jobs.tacobell.com/wp-content/themes/jobs.tacobell.com-2024/assets/build/doc/Employee+Privacy+Notice+%28TB%29+%2820230701%29_2024%2811-15-2024%29-Final.pdf

 

Client-provided location(s): Plano, TX

Job ID: 7179287

Employment Type: OTHER

Posted: 2025-08-21T23:30:11