Director of Food Safety & Quality

At the heart of our company is a deep passion for creating fresh, healthy, and artisan-quality food that brings people together. We honor the craft of artisan cooking-using scratch-made stocks, hand-chopped herbs, and only the highest-quality ingredients-complemented by cutting-edge technology. This allows us to deliver consistently safe, exceptional products on a large scale. But it’s not just about the food. Our culture is built on principles that shape how we grow, both as individuals and as a team. One of our core values, Honoring Development, guides us to actively seek out, celebrate, and nurture one another’s talents, strengths, and interests. By fostering each other’s growth, we strengthen our relationships and capabilities, driving both personal and professional success. We also believe in Honoring Each Other. We surround ourselves with passionate people who share our love for great food. Through mutual respect and collaboration, we create an environment where employees are empowered to thrive, building trusting, and rewarding relationships with our clients, partners, and one another. If you're looking for a place where your skills, passion, and ideas can flourish, we invite you to explore the opportunities available within our dynamic and supportive team. Job Summary Strategic goals - Ensure Our Quality Culture can deliver continuous FSQ improvement. Ensure the facility is ‘audit ready everyday’ by setting standards and establishing a strong quality culture at all levels Leads the Quality Continuous Improvement program to increase customer satisfaction through increased product ratings and reduced complaint levels Works to systematically reduce risk through constant re-evaluation of the HARPC/Food Safety plan using data and observation to assess and minimize risks and vulnerabilities Duties and Responsibilities Lead the quality team and, as a member of the site senior management team, ensure that the plant is ‘doing the right things’ (validation) and ‘doing things right’ (Verification). Develop and implement the Food Safety Plan (HARPC, HACCP, SSOP, GMP) Ensure full compliance with regulatory codes Coordinate/Plan Regulatory visits (USDA, FDA, FDA-FSMA, State & City) Coordinate/Plan 3rd Party and Certification audits (SQF, GIG, Organic, Military). Develop wider FSQ understanding within the team Ensure the internal audit system is capable of driving compliance and expose improvement opportunity is process and team/individual capability and competency Work with vendors and corporate team to ensure incoming material standards are met Develop sensory and other quality tools for the team Audit suppliers of raw materials. Oversee and audit finished product specifications to ensure they are accurate and the specification is being met. Lead the CAPA process for complaints and internal deviations Oversee customer manufacturing documents (iCiX, GORP) Manage laboratory and all associated items (allergen testing, environmental sampling program, pre op testing, microbiological testing program for shelf life and confirmation studies) and budgets Required Skills 10 years+ experience in the fresh food manufacturing in a technical role Degree or equivalent qualification in Food Science/Microbiology or equivalent Drive, Energy, Integrity , Tenacity Excellent communication skills at all levels High Level of computer literacy - Excel, Word & internet Desired Skills Self-starter able to conceptualize and drive initiatives forward Positive attitude and motivated by contributing to the overall success of the team Able to develop strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders Obsessive attention to detail, well organized and able to juggle many projects at once Comfortable moving at a fast pace and in ambiguous environments Passionate about food Willing to address difficult situations head on with patience and respect Responsibility As A Leader Within the Kettle Cuisine Team You Are Expected To: Model, develop and support Kettle’s Core Values and safety culture Manage performance of all team members Build a strong, committed, and collaborative team Develop individual team members & their careers Conduct annual reviews and PDPs for all direct team members Create a culture of accountability & performance Drive a focus on quality and continuous improvement Plan work, track results and resolve variances Americans with Disabilities Act Kettle Cuisine complies with all aspects of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and state disability laws. This means we will not discriminate against qualified individuals with a disability in any phase of the employment relationship including application for employment, hiring, promotions and/or advancement opportunities, termination, compensation, training and any other conditions or privileges of employment. Core Values Kettle Cuisine takes the utmost pride in its people, products and reputation. Each employee is expected to understand and live our Core Values every day. Honor Food - We create and produce the best tasting, safest, all natural recipes that strive for perfection in every batch, from bench to kettle Honor Each Other - We seek to develop trusting, respectful and mutually rewarding relationships with all our team members and business partners Honor Development - We recognize and nurture each other’s talents, strengths and interests in order to further strengthen and grow our team Honor Innovation - We continually strive for creative and sustainable ways to achieve excellence Equal Opportunity Employer Kettle Cuisine is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All employment decisions at Kettle Cuisine are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. Kettle Cuisine will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. #J-18808-Ljbffr