Director of Quality

We are working with a well-established and growing food & beverage manufacturer in the Greater Syracuse area that is expanding its leadership team. The company is looking for a dynamic, hands-on Director of Quality that can work closely with the plant, operations and leadership teams. This role is responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive quality strategy to ensure food safety, regulatory compliance, and product quality across the organization. Job Responsibilities: Oversee compliance with food safety, quality, and environmental regulations through inspections, audits, and program evaluations. Maintain relationships with regulatory agencies including FDA, USDA, OSHA, and state authorities. Lead investigations into quality issues, including root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions. Direct quality assurance and laboratory operations including testing and validation programs. Develop and implement training programs related to sanitation, food safety, and quality standards. Lead HACCP and SQF programs to ensure compliance with industry standards. Partner with R&D to validate product safety, ingredients, and packaging requirements. Collaborate with operations to drive continuous improvement and process optimization. Support a culture of accountability, communication, and continuous improvement across teams. Manage QA and lab personnel, including scheduling, development, and performance. Provide reporting and analysis on quality metrics to leadership. Handle customer complaints and ensure resolution through corrective action. Support budgeting and identify cost-saving opportunities within quality operations. Lead special projects aligned with business and quality initiatives. Required Skills/Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Food Science or related discipline preferred. 10+ years of experience in quality leadership within food or beverage manufacturing. Experience in regulated manufacturing environments; dairy or beverage experience preferred. Experience with aseptic and/or ESL processes preferred. Strong knowledge of FDA, USDA, and state regulatory requirements. Proven leadership and cross-functional collaboration skills. #J-18808-Ljbffr KCO Resource Management