Quality Systems & Assurance Director

Quality Systems & Assurance Director

This director oversees and manages the quality assurance, food safety, and compliance programs within the company’s production facilities. The role guarantees that all products meet regulatory, customer, and company standards for quality, safety, and consistency. The director leads quality assurance initiatives, implements effective quality control processes, drives continuous improvement, and empowers frontline teams to take ownership of their work.

Core Responsibilities

• Quality Assurance & Compliance:
  • Develop, implement, and maintain QMS aligned with HACCP, GFSI (BRC, SQF, OFSS), and ISO 22000.
  • Ensure compliance with FDA, USDA, FSMA, and customer requirements.
  • Conduct internal audits, inspections, and validation activities to maintain quality standards.
  • Lead regulatory and third‑party audits, ensuring successful certifications and compliance assessments.
  • Manage documentation and record‑keeping for quality systems and food safety programs.
  • Perform supplier audits and certifications.
  • Stay current with industry resources, training, and best practices.
• Food Safety & Hygiene:
  • Apply the processes outlined in Quality Assurance & Compliance to ensure comprehensive food safety oversight.
• Product Quality & Continuous Improvement:
  • Establish product specifications in collaboration with R&D, Operations, and other relevant functions.
  • Develop quality control procedures and test protocols to guarantee product consistency.
  • Analyze trends in quality data, customer complaints, and non‑conformance reports to drive improvement.
  • Collaborate with R&D, production, and supply‑chain teams to optimize product quality and process efficiency.
  • Implement and monitor KPIs for quality metrics and process improvements.
• Customer Complaints / Quality Failures:
  • Champion a customer‑centric culture and ensure timely acknowledgement, root‑cause identification, corrective action, and full resolution of all Voice‑of‑Customer items.
• Supervisory Responsibilities & Leadership:
  • Lead and develop the quality assurance team, fostering a culture of quality and food safety throughout the organization.
  • Lead cross‑functional collaboration to ensure the quality agenda is supported beyond direct reporting lines.
  • Provide guidance and training to employees to enhance awareness and adherence to quality standards.
  • Liaise between departments to ensure seamless communication on quality matters.

Salary and Benefits

Salary: $140,000 - $170,000 + Bonus. Benefits and lump‑sum relocation available.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Dairy Technology, Microbiology, or related field.
• 15+ years of experience in quality assurance or food safety within food ingredient, dairy, or food manufacturing industries.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, GFSI (BRC, SQF), FSMA, FDA, and USDA regulations.
• Experience leading audits and managing food safety certification programs.
• Experience interacting with customers and leading customer communications related to quality.
• Proficiency in quality control tools, data analysis, and problem‑solving methodologies.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and project management skills.
• Ability to collaborate with cross‑functional teams and drive quality improvements.
• Ability to demonstrate and drive safety behaviors aimed at zero accidents.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certification in HACCP, PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual), or SQF/BRC Practitioner.
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including report and procedure manual writing.
• Sound mathematical skills for calculations involving rates, ratios, and percentages.
• Reasoning ability to solve practical problems with limited standardization.