Director, Commercialization and Food Safety QA

We are on a mission to provide the world with simple, wholesome food and beverage items that fit today's lifestyle, offering an intimate - yet fast and consistent - experience to our customers. We love and take pride in what we do, and we currently offer an exciting opportunity to join a thriving and ever-growing brand in this industry.

ROLE SUMMARY:

As the Director of Commercialization, Food Safety and Quality Assurance (FSQA), you will set the enterprise strategy and lead the execution for all FSQA responsibilities across our expanding footprint. This includes supplier food safety program management, cold-chain integrity for hyper-fresh ingredients, cleaning and sanitation validation, quality monitoring, and research and development (R&D) integration. This position is responsible for ensuring that Pura Vida’s food traceability programs are executed seamlessly so that regulatory requirements are exceeded and product removals can be rapidly executed when necessary. Additionally, you will ensure our food safety programs are accurately and transparently represented to outside regulatory agencies, local health departments, and external partners while actively supporting our brand's rapid regional and national growth.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Supplier Strategy & Clean-Label Integrity : Set the overall strategy and execution of our supplier food safety programs, ensuring strict alignment with Pura Vida's clean-label standards. This includes supplier and menu item risk assessments, local farm/supplier operations auditing strategies, and strict analytical/laboratory testing. R&D & Menu Commercialization Guardrails: Partner closely with our Culinary and R&D teams to set the strategy for onboarding supplier operations associated with new menu development (juices, bowls, clean proteins, etc.). You will oversee initial risk assessments, supplier audits, post-commercialization recipe monitoring, and establish/verify primary and secondary shelf life alongside strict hot/cold holding parameters. Supply Chain Diversification & Cold Chain: Strategically support supply chain resilience by validating secondary and tertiary local suppliers to protect our fresh, seasonal menu. Maintain an ironclad cold-chain monitoring program to protect delicate, raw, and unpasteurized ingredients from farm to kitchen. Next-Gen Traceability: Own the end-to-end farm-to-café traceability strategy. Ensure the precise day-to-day capture and storage of Key Data Elements (KDEs) and lead company initiatives intersecting with modern food tech (e.g., RFID or digital temperature tracking) to protect our high-risk fresh produce pipelines. Crisis Management & Product Removals: Direct the efficient, rapid, and effective execution of product removals or recalls from Distribution Centers and cafés when necessary. Support Food Safety Crisis Management and coordinate with Regional and Café leadership on outbreak responses or regulatory investigations, including drafting communications to regulatory agencies and executives. Executive-Level Reporting & KPIs: Establish, capture, and trend all food safety and quality customer and café feedback data. Deliver actionable data-driven insights and communicate KPIs internally to executive leadership and the Board of Directors. Industry Benchmarking: Actively monitor industry best practices, academic research, and emerging regulatory trends/activities (FDA Food Code, local Florida and regional health mandates) that may impact our supply chain or day-to-day café operations.

REQUIREMENTS:

M.S. in Food Safety, Food Science, Public Health, or a related scientific discipline preferred. 4-10+ years of progressive leadership experience spanning food safety, fresh food manufacturing, high-volume retail, or corporate hospitality environments. 2+ years of direct supervisory and team-building experience, with a proven ability to inspire a "culture of food safety" across multiple retail locations. Advanced training, certification, and an ironclad working knowledge of FDA regulations, GAPs (Good Agricultural Practices), GMPs, FDA Food Code, HACCP, and SSOPs. Comfort navigating digital traceability platforms, inventory management systems, and automated case management software.

BENEFITS:

Health & Wellness – Medical, Dental & Vision PTO Discounted Meals 401(k) Plan with Company Match The general nature and level of work being performed by persons assigned to this job classification are contained in this job description. This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, essential job functions, duties, skills required and other job requirements of personnel in this role. All employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time as needed. Management reserves the right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to the job at any time. Pura Vida Miami is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating a workplace where diversity is celebrated and everyone feels welcome, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected characteristic. We believe that building a team with diverse perspectives and experiences makes us stronger, more creative, and more connected to the communities we serve. #J-18808-Ljbffr Pura Vida Miami