Director of Food Safety & Quality Systems - Charlotte, NC

Director of Food Safety & Quality Systems

Fresh & Ready Food Group is a member of Canteen. Canteen sets the national standard for excellence in automated retail, and EVERY segment of our business is thriving. We employ the best team in the industry and their dedication, collaboration and passion fuel our growth. YOU bring enthusiasm, customer service, and commitment; we'll supply the opportunity and innovation. TOGETHER we'll continue transforming the micro-market, dining, coffee, and vending industry.

The Director of Food Safety & Quality Systems leads the development, standardization, and continuous improvement of enterprise food safety and quality systems across multi-site commissary operations. This role ensures regulatory compliance, GFSI certification readiness, supplier quality oversight, audit excellence, and scalable processes that protect product quality while enabling operational growth.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and optimize the Food Safety & Quality Management System (FSQMS) across all facilities.
• Drive standardization of HACCP, GMP, sanitation, preventive controls, and food safety processes.
• Oversee supplier quality, internal audits, third-party audits, regulatory compliance, and GFSI certification readiness.
• Develop enterprise programs for CAPA, root cause analysis, traceability, shelf-life validation, and sensory evaluation.
• Partner with Operations to integrate food safety and quality into manufacturing processes.
• Implement systems, technology, KPIs, and reporting to improve compliance and operational performance.
• Develop training programs and build food safety capability across the organization.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Technology, or related field preferred.
• 10+ years of food safety and quality leadership in manufacturing.
• Experience with FSQMS, HACCP, PCQI, GFSI (SQF preferred), FDA and USDA/FSIS regulations.
• Proven success leading supplier quality, audit programs, and multi-site quality systems.
• Strong analytical, project management, and cross-functional leadership skills.

Canteen is a member of Compass Group USA.