Food & Beverage OPT Jobs in Wisconsin
Food and beverage F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Wisconsin are concentrated among the state's major food manufacturers, dairy processors, and brewing industry employers. Companies like Kraft Heinz, Land O'Lakes, and MillerCoors have operations here, with Milwaukee and Madison serving as the primary hiring hubs for OPT-eligible roles in food science, quality assurance, and supply chain.
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Job Purpose: As the FSQA Supervisor you will be responsible for facilitation of departmental programs to ensure food safety and quality of all pet food products produced at Stella & Chewy’s, LLC. You will also facilitate Food Safety & Quality Assurance Technicians and their schedules and time cards, in multiple facilities. This position is responsible in supporting the manufacturing of safe, quality and wholesome pet foods.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Facilitate/support, in direction with the FSQA Managers and their respective Technician staff.
- Responsible for supporting scheduled personnel to assure facility has FSQA coverage on all required days.
- Act as a back-up for Food Safety & Quality Assurance management staff members as assigned by FSQA Manager.
- Ensure facilities comply with FDA regulatory requirements related to product safety. Assures compliance to business policies for product quality which includes daily recordkeeping reviews. Ensures implementation of all new requirements as set forth from the FSQA manager.
- Ensure facilities comply with GFSI standards. Participate in annual audit preparation and 3rd party audits. Manage corrective action requirements from GFSI internal and 3rd party audits.
- Ensure all plant personnel comply with cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practices).
- Monitors the effectiveness of daily and scheduled plant sanitation.
- Ensures raw materials, manufacturing processes, plant environment and finished products meet established standards and specifications, in a prompt and professional manner.
- Participates in scheduled meetings and effectively communicates food safety and product quality opportunities.
- Compiles statistical data and reports and/or summarizes for the facilities and designated departments.
- Works with Operations team to address any customer care or customer service inquiries.
- Maintain professional working relationships with operations, sanitation, and plant management, regulatory agencies, warehouses and suppliers.
- Expeditious management of inhouse and 3rd Party laboratory testing of raw materials, in-process products, and finished goods as well as environmental sampling.
- Exercises plant floor leadership skills to ensure strict adherence to plant policies, rules, regulatory compliance, and company’s quality policies.
- Lead/participate in company’s continuous improvement and safety programs.
- Develop and implement corrective actions as needed for CAPA programs, consumer complaints, and Quality Improvement plans. Manage plant timelines and documentation for milestones within these programs.
- Ensure facility conforms to SQF and APHIS requirements and may be responsible to participate in annual audits.
- Support new product development with trials and collection of data as required and directed by the FSQA Manager.
REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor’s Degree in a science-related curriculum
- 3+ years of experience in QA management in a food manufacturing environment and strong understanding of QA systems (i.e., HACCP, cGMP, FDA and/or USDA regulations, etc.).
- Thorough knowledge and understanding of OSHA requirements in a food manufacturing environment.
- HACCP training and certification
- PCQI training
- SQF and APHIS Awareness
- Familiarity with food microbiology
- Strong leadership skills
- Strong use of Microsoft Systems
DESCRIPTION:
Job Purpose: As the FSQA Supervisor you will be responsible for facilitation of departmental programs to ensure food safety and quality of all pet food products produced at Stella & Chewy’s, LLC. You will also facilitate Food Safety & Quality Assurance Technicians and their schedules and time cards, in multiple facilities. This position is responsible in supporting the manufacturing of safe, quality and wholesome pet foods.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Facilitate/support, in direction with the FSQA Managers and their respective Technician staff.
- Responsible for supporting scheduled personnel to assure facility has FSQA coverage on all required days.
- Act as a back-up for Food Safety & Quality Assurance management staff members as assigned by FSQA Manager.
- Ensure facilities comply with FDA regulatory requirements related to product safety. Assures compliance to business policies for product quality which includes daily recordkeeping reviews. Ensures implementation of all new requirements as set forth from the FSQA manager.
- Ensure facilities comply with GFSI standards. Participate in annual audit preparation and 3rd party audits. Manage corrective action requirements from GFSI internal and 3rd party audits.
- Ensure all plant personnel comply with cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practices).
- Monitors the effectiveness of daily and scheduled plant sanitation.
- Ensures raw materials, manufacturing processes, plant environment and finished products meet established standards and specifications, in a prompt and professional manner.
- Participates in scheduled meetings and effectively communicates food safety and product quality opportunities.
- Compiles statistical data and reports and/or summarizes for the facilities and designated departments.
- Works with Operations team to address any customer care or customer service inquiries.
- Maintain professional working relationships with operations, sanitation, and plant management, regulatory agencies, warehouses and suppliers.
- Expeditious management of inhouse and 3rd Party laboratory testing of raw materials, in-process products, and finished goods as well as environmental sampling.
- Exercises plant floor leadership skills to ensure strict adherence to plant policies, rules, regulatory compliance, and company’s quality policies.
- Lead/participate in company’s continuous improvement and safety programs.
- Develop and implement corrective actions as needed for CAPA programs, consumer complaints, and Quality Improvement plans. Manage plant timelines and documentation for milestones within these programs.
- Ensure facility conforms to SQF and APHIS requirements and may be responsible to participate in annual audits.
- Support new product development with trials and collection of data as required and directed by the FSQA Manager.
REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor’s Degree in a science-related curriculum
- 3+ years of experience in QA management in a food manufacturing environment and strong understanding of QA systems (i.e., HACCP, cGMP, FDA and/or USDA regulations, etc.).
- Thorough knowledge and understanding of OSHA requirements in a food manufacturing environment.
- HACCP training and certification
- PCQI training
- SQF and APHIS Awareness
- Familiarity with food microbiology
- Strong leadership skills
- Strong use of Microsoft Systems
OPT Food & Beverage Job Roles in Wisconsin
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Search Food & Beverage Jobs in WisconsinFood & Beverage OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Wisconsin: Frequently Asked Questions
Which food and beverage companies in Wisconsin sponsor F-1 OPT visas?
Wisconsin's food and beverage sector includes large manufacturers with established OPT hiring histories, such as Kraft Heinz, SC Johnson (adjacent food operations), Kerry Ingredients, and several dairy cooperatives including those affiliated with Land O'Lakes and DFA. Craft breweries and specialty food producers are generally smaller operations and less likely to have formal OPT sponsorship infrastructure, so targeting mid-to-large manufacturers typically yields better results for F-1 OPT candidates.
Which cities in Wisconsin have the most food and beverage F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?
Milwaukee is the largest hiring center for food and beverage OPT roles in Wisconsin, with a concentration of manufacturing, quality control, and operations positions. Madison follows closely, driven by food science research tied to the University of Wisconsin system and nearby processing facilities. Green Bay and Sheboygan also have notable food manufacturing activity, particularly in dairy and meat processing, and periodically post OPT-eligible openings.
What types of food and beverage roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship in Wisconsin?
Roles most commonly filled by F-1 OPT candidates in Wisconsin's food and beverage industry include food scientist, quality assurance technician, process engineer, R&D scientist, and supply chain analyst. These positions generally require a bachelor's or master's degree in food science, chemical engineering, microbiology, or a related field. Production-floor and hourly roles rarely align with OPT, since the work authorization is tied to degree-relevant employment.
How do I find food & beverage F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Wisconsin?
Migrate Mate is a job board built specifically for international students and visa holders, and filters listings by visa type including F-1 OPT so you can search food and beverage roles in Wisconsin without sifting through jobs that don't sponsor. Beyond Migrate Mate, targeting Wisconsin-based food manufacturers directly through their careers pages, and connecting with food science programs at UW-Madison, can surface OPT-friendly openings before they're widely posted.
Are there any Wisconsin-specific or industry-specific considerations for F-1 OPT in food and beverage?
Wisconsin's food and beverage industry is heavily tied to dairy, brewing, and food manufacturing, meaning seasonal hiring cycles can affect when OPT-eligible roles open. STEM OPT extension eligibility is a meaningful advantage here: roles in food science, engineering, and quality systems at qualifying employers can support a 24-month STEM extension beyond the standard 12-month OPT period. Confirming that your degree and the specific role both meet STEM OPT criteria is important before applying.