Director, FSQA Compliance

Position Summary:

The Director of Food Safety and Quality Assurance Compliance (Dir. FSQA Comp) is responsible for leading, managing, and consulting on FSQA projects that impact both our corporate teams as well as our national network of manufacturing facilities. This role will also play a key role in raw material specification improvements and associated data analytics. This role is crucial to ensure our products meet the highest standards of safety, quality, and regulatory compliance within the process capabilities of our manufacturing sites. The Dir. FSQA Compliance will work closely with cross-functional teams, including R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, and Procurement to maintain and enhance food safety and quality standards.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Oversight:

• Lead, mentor, develop, and performance manage our team of consumer relations associates.
• Serve as FSQA liaison on all major projects that impact food safety and quality including major construction and new product launches.
• Own FSQA team digital transformation and specification improvements.
• Assist in development and Execute training programs to improve our FSQA capabilities in areas such as Root Cause Analysis, Data Analytics, Technical Problem Solving, Food Safety Risk Analysis, etc.

Food Safety & Quality Management:

• Design, implement, and continuously improve FSQA dashboards within DOMO to allow for real time data collection and trend analysis.
• Collaborate with R&D on improved raw material and finished goods specification development that includes process capability specification ranges.
• Guide the entire FSQA team through our digital transformation with SAP, Safe Food 360 and Alchemy.
• Analyze trends and data to identify risks, opportunities, and areas for improvement.
• Assist QA Managers in data analytics for determining root cause analysis.
• Participate in the development of key corporate policies to drive continuity and consistency across the FSQA team.
• Execute internal audits and support supplier audits as needed by the business.

Operational Integration:

• Identify opportunities for raw material inbound testing that enhances product quality, consistency, and safety while optimizing costs.
• Collaborate with R&D, Operations, and Supply Chain teams to develop and implement new processes, products, and packaging that align with safety and quality standards.
• Support major project milestones by attending Factory Acceptance Tests and post-installation validations.
• Serve as a facilitator and trainer for root cause analysis (RCA) and effective corrective and preventative actions (CAPA).

Strategic Influence:

• Act as a key thought partner to the VP of FSQA, contributing to long-term strategy and organizational direction.
• Champion innovation and best practices in food safety and quality, influencing cross-functional teams and senior leadership.
• Foster strong relationships with customers and suppliers, ensuring adherence to quality standards through active feedback ongoing communication.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or a related field.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in food safety and quality assurance, within the food manufacturing industry, with at least 5 years in a leadership role, direct management experience, including experience managing Managers.
• In-depth knowledge of food safety regulations (FDA, USDA, FSMA, GFSI, SQF) and quality management systems. Experience in Dairy and Produce is a plus.
• Subject matter expertise in SAP.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret data and drive data-driven decisions.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with a demonstrated ability to influence and collaborate across functions.
• Ability to travel as needed to support projects.