Director of Food Safety and Quality Assurance

Director of Food Safety and Quality Assurance|POM Wonderful# Director of Food Safety and Quality AssurancePOM Wonderful | Del Rey, CA | Production/warehousing | Director | Full-time | Job ID: REF7228EShare* Email## Company DescriptionFrom tree to table, POM Wonderful delivers a whole lot of healthy. Known for our iconic double-bubble bottle, we grow, harvest, package, and market fresh pomegranates, pomegranate arils, and a selection of delicious pomegranate-blended juices and teas. With over 9,000 acres in California’s Central Valley, POM Wonderful is committed to unleashing the antioxidant power of our handpicked pomegranates.JOB SUMMARY:Lead the end-to-end Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA) strategy for Arils ready to eat product category, beverage portfolio and fresh ensuring robust governance, operational discipline, and continuous improvement at Del Rey & Buttonwillow facilities. Provide FSQA leadership to operations with focus on Arils domestic & Spring Arils program with emphasis on compliance, risk mitigation, continuous improvement and cost optimization.SUPERVISORY SITUATIONS: This position supervises Arils Quality Manager, Food Safety Regulatory & Technical Specialists in Del Rey and QA Supervisor in Buttonwillow. Dotted line responsibility for Sanitation team and contract manufacturing Supervisor with potential future responsibility for beverage QA operations.*Compensation-*$160,000.00 - $180,000.00 *Salary* - with a discretionary bonus up to 20%. Final compensation will be dependent upon skills & experience.## Job Description**ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:*** **Own FSQA program architecture**: develop, maintain, and administrate SOPs, SSOPs, HACCP plans, validation/verification records, and document control in alignment with GFSI and regulatory expectations.* **Steward of risk management**: maintain and execute HACCP/HARPC, environmental monitoring, allergen control, foreign material prevention, and traceability/recall readiness.* **Accountable for KPIs**: yield impact from quality holds, claim rates, micro compliance (% pass), environmental positives rate, sanitation effectiveness score, audit closure cycle time, and FSQA cost-to-serve.* **Tight change control**: implement structured change management for new capital projects, process, equipment, formulation, labeling, and sanitation chemicals with documented risk assessments and sign‐offs.* **Structured CAPA administration**: ensure root‐cause rigor (5-Why/Fishbone), action effectiveness checks, and timely closure; maintain dashboards and executive reporting of trend analyses.* **Embed FSQA into daily operations**: partner with Plant Management, Production, Maintenance, and Sanitation to operationalize programs—turn standards into routines (pre‐op checks, process control limits, shift‐by‐shift verification).* **Operational coaching**: influence behaviors on the floor through presence, leadership, and targeted training; uplift ownership of quality and sanitation at line‐level.* **Tiered accountability rhythms**: lead weekly/monthly QA FMDS/KPI meetings (Tier 1–3) to review FSQA KPIs, environmental findings, customer complaints, and process capability; drive rapid response and escalation.* **Process capability & loss prevention**: collaborate with Ops to reduce variability, improve yields, and prevent defects (temperature control, dwell times, antimicrobial dosing, packaging integrity).* **Team development**: build a high‐performing FSQA and sanitation organization; define roles, succession, and training paths.* **Culture of quality**: foster a proactive, data‐driven, “go‐see” culture where operators own quality and sanitation outcomes.* **Training program ownership**: ensure competency‐based training for HACCP, GMPs, allergen control, sanitation, environmental monitoring, and recall procedures.* Develop and maintain the scientific documentation used to support the critical hazard decisions for HARPC risk assessment including extended runs and special production needs.* Assist in development of special department projects for shelf life enhancement and work in conjunction with R&D team on other pipeline projects.* Maintain active role on internal WOW teams and supporting other cross functional departments.## Qualifications**KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:*** Previous experience with Global GAP, GFSI-BRC audits, HACCP/HARPC a must.* Ability to handle multiple complex projects and work under pressure in a high stress environment.* Exceptional self-starter independent leader who can follow through on action items and strong ability to get things done.* Strong oral and written communication skills with the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with personnel, customers, suppliers, and other business contacts* Collaboration with operations to provide strong customer service and ability to get things done through multiple organizational levels.* Ability to proactively identify challenges and develop solutions through implementation of continuous improvement principles.* High level of integrity and accountability with a positive “can do” mindset.* Time management and prioritization skills, ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment, prioritize projects and set goals.**EDUCATION:**B.S degree in Microbiology, Food Science or related field a must, advanced degree preferred. At least 10 years progressively responsible Food Safety/Quality Assurance experience in a large-scale food manufacturing company, with a specific emphasis in food safety, quality assurance and Sanitation. Prior experience with fluid food processing and RTE refrigerated products required.**WORKING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENT:** An employee in this position works in an environment in which safety, environmental and health concerns may demand constant attention. Strict adherence to Corporate and/or Plant policies, rules, and regulations in these areas is required.The position will involve project management as well as effective coordination and communication with the Senior Management, Operations, Research Associates, and Marketing and Sales Department. In addition, there will be interaction with Plant Production and Quality Control Departments. Travel to other plant sites and with Marketing & Sales to visit customers is necessary. (Establishing a working relationship with customer's technical personnel is an important part of the job).While performing the duties of this job, the employee may subject to variant temperatures. The employee will be required to wear all appropriate safety equipment including but not limited to eye protection, gloves, protective shoes, protective clothing, and in the plant, a hard hat. The employee occasionally will work near moving mechanical parts. The noise level in the work environment is moderate.**PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES:**The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand. The employee frequently is required to use hand to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls and climb or balance. The employee is occasionally required to walk; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear.The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.**POM's Dedication to You:**POM Wonderful is the largest grower and producer of fresh pomegranates and pomegranate juice in the United States as well as the worldwide leader in fresh California pomegranates and pomegranate-based #J-18808-Ljbffr The Wonderful Company