Vertical Segment Manager – Food

Hygiena provides rapid microbiology diagnostic tests and solutions for mission-critical, time-sensitive processes around the world. Hygiena’s proprietary diagnostic technologies enable customers to; prevent illness and save lives, comply with regulations, protect products and brands, run businesses more effectively. Solutions are sold in a wide range of industries globally, but the core focus is food safety. Headquartered in Camarillo, California and with offices around the world, we are actively looking for talented individuals to help grow the business! 

At Hygiena we believe:

• In providing the highest quality products & service 
• Being a leader in innovation 
• Having a compelling desire to improve and win in the marketplace 
• In contributing positively not only in the workplace, but in our community and environment!

With rapid growth comes opportunity. We are looking for a Vertical Segment Manager - Food to join our team remotely in the US! This is a full-time / exempt position.

Responsibilities:

Industry Leadership & Advocacy

• Represent Hygiena as a subject matter expert in food safety and key market segments through industry committees, conferences, and forums.
• Influence policy and contribute to regulatory dialogue, ensuring our technologies support and anticipate global regulatory expectations.
• Build trusted relationships with agencies such as the U.S. FDA, USDA/FSIS, Health Canada, and LATAM ministries of agriculture.

Market & Technical Expertise

• Monitor industry trends, regulatory shifts, and customer insights to identify strategic opportunities in pre- and post-harvest sectors, including produce, meat, and poultry.
• Lead initiatives to ensure Hygiena’s portfolio meets and exceeds quality and compliance standards across all relevant markets.
• Collaborate with R&D, product management, and regulatory teams to inform product development and drive market-responsive innovation.

Strategic Business Leadership

• Develop and execute vertical-specific strategies that align with Hygiena’s global business objectives.
• Continuously assess and refine plans based on regulatory updates, market feedback, and competitive dynamics.
• Partner with Product Management to build business cases that address unmet needs and accelerate growth in the food segment.

Sales Enablement & Customer Engagement

• Deliver targeted training and support to commercial teams, ensuring they are equipped to articulate technical, regulatory, and market-specific value propositions.
• Collaborate with marketing to develop impactful content and go-to-market assets tailored to segment-specific challenges.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to strategic customers, translating complex regulatory or operational needs into actionable solutions.

Regulatory Compliance & Engagement

• Stay ahead of emerging regulations and maintain expertise in U.S. FDA, USDA/FSIS, Health Canada, and LATAM standards.
• Act as a primary regulatory liaison, ensuring open, proactive communication between Hygiena and relevant authorities.
• Provide internal guidance and updates on compliance changes, helping teams stay aligned with global expectations.

Stakeholder Collaboration & Thought Leadership

• Cultivate partnerships with producers, processors, regulatory authorities, and trade organizations across the food chain.
• Act as the central point of contact for external vertical stakeholders, reinforcing Hygiena’s reputation for quality, innovation, and expertise.
• Support industry collaboration to shape best practices in food safety and compliance.

Qualifications:

• Master’s or Ph.D. in Food Science, Animal Science, Agriculture, Veterinary Medicine, or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience within food processing, food safety, or regulatory affairs.
• Proven success engaging with regulatory agencies such as the U.S. FDA, USDA/FSIS, or equivalent bodies.
• Strong background in developing and implementing food safety and quality solutions in regulated industries.
• Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, Vision, PowerPoint) and Adobe Acrobat required. 

Salary Range (applicable to California):

$110,000.00 - $120,000.00 base salary DOE.

Skills/Abilities:

• Comfortable with interacting and working with all levels of customers, both internal and external; good interpersonal skills, team motivation and outgoing personality.
• Excellent adaptability in a fast-paced environment with flexibility and willingness to take on new tasks and projects.
• Ability to speak and write clearly and accurately. 
• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Effective listening skills
• Multi-tasking capabilities
• Must have in-depth analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Must be able to use discretion and independent judgement.
• Fluent in English, proficiency in Spanish and or Portuguese is strongly preferred. 

Working Conditions:

• May occasionally work early morning/evenings/weekends to accommodate urgent customer requests in different time zones.
• Up to 30% domestic and international travel, including customer visits, regional offices, and industry events. 

Why you’ll want to join our team:

Teamwork as a core value.

At Hygiena, our emphasis on teamwork and cross-functional communication enables us to build stronger bonds within our business.

Be a part of something big.

Hygiena plays a critical role in helping to prevent global health crisis such as foodborne illness, healthcare-associated infections, and other outbreaks.

Giving back to our communities.

Hygiena believes in giving back by supporting local organizations committed to improving the lives of children and youth in our communities.

Benefits and Perks:

• 15 days of PTO & 9 paid company holidays
• Medical with HSA employer contribution, Dental, Vision available 1st of the month after start date
• Company paid Life Insurance, Short* and Long-Term Disability and an Employee Assistance Program
• 401(k) with Safe Harbor and Profit-Sharing employer contributions
• Tuition Reimbursement program
• Charitable Contribution matching
• Employee Referral bonus opportunities

*State paid short-term disability for California based employees 

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit and business need. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Hygiena participates in E-Verify.