Job Description

• Establish and execute the organization's quality and food safety strategy in alignment with business objectives.
• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of company-wide quality management systems.
• Serve as a member of the senior leadership team, providing expert guidance on quality, food safety, regulatory compliance, and risk management.
• Develop annual quality objectives, departmental goals, and performance metrics to support organizational growth.
• Build and maintain a culture of quality, accountability, compliance, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee all quality assurance, quality control, laboratory, regulatory, sanitation, and food safety programs.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable FDA, USDA, FSMA, HACCP, SQF, GMP, OSHA, and customer requirements.
• Lead implementation, validation, verification, and maintenance of the SQF Food Safety Program.
• Direct internal auditing programs and ensure timely corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Manage customer audits, third-party certification audits, and regulatory inspections.
• Serve as the company's primary contact with regulatory agencies and certification bodies.
• Monitor changes in food safety regulations and quality standards and ensure organizational compliance.
• Manage product recalls, investigations, traceability exercises, and regulatory responses when necessary.
• Ensure documentation and recordkeeping systems meet regulatory and customer requirements.
• Lead root cause investigations for non-conformances, customer complaints, food safety incidents, and quality deviations.
• Utilize statistical analysis and data-driven methodologies to improve product quality and operational performance.
• Develop and monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) related to quality, food safety, customer satisfaction, and compliance.
• Partner with Operations, Research & Development, Supply Chain, Maintenance, and HR to drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Provide leadership, coaching, mentoring, and development for quality management personnel.
• Build high-performing quality teams through recruitment, training, succession planning, and performance management.
• Ensure employees receive appropriate food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance training.
• Promote cross-functional collaboration to achieve quality and operational objectives.
• Oversee supplier quality programs, supplier approvals, and vendor audits.
• Partner with customers and suppliers to resolve quality concerns and strengthen business relationships.
• Develop and manage departmental budgets.
• Identify opportunities to improve product quality while reducing waste, customer complaints, and operational costs.
• Evaluate and recommend investments in quality systems, laboratory equipment, and technology improvements.
• Lead crisis management activities related to food safety and quality events.
• Ensure laboratory equipment is maintained, calibrated, and operating effectively.
• Perform other duties as assigned by executive leadership.

• Bachelor's degree in food science, Food Technology, Microbiology, Chemistry, Engineering, or related scientific discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive quality leadership experience within food, beverage, pet food, pharmaceutical, or consumer products manufacturing.
• Minimum 5 years of senior management experience leading quality and food safety teams.
• Certified PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual).
• HACCP Certification.
• SQF Practitioner Certification or equivalent experience managing GFSI-certified programs.
• Extensive experience working with FDA, USDA, FSMA, GMP, and food safety regulations.
• Bilingual English/Spanish required.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate complex quality, food safety, regulatory, and operational information to a diverse workforce in both English and Spanish.

• Master's degree in food science, Business Administration, or related field.
• ASQ Certified Quality Manager (CQM), CQE, or equivalent certification.
• Experience supporting multiple manufacturing facilities.
• Experience implementing enterprise quality systems and digital quality management tools.

• Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) certification.
• HACCP Certification.
• SQF Practitioner certification or the ability to obtain certification within a specified timeframe.
• Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record for business travel, if required.

• Certified Quality Manager (CQM), Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), or other ASQ certification.

• Advanced food safety, auditing, or regulatory compliance certifications.
• Lead Auditor certification for GFSI-recognized food safety standards (SQF, BRCGS, FSSC 22000, etc.).

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