Director of Food Safety, Quality Assurance & R&D

Juanita’s Foods has been delivering authentic Mexican food to families across the country for over 78 years. Based in Wilmington, CA, we are a trusted manufacturer of shelf-stable sauces, beans, canned foods, and ready-to-eat products rooted in heritage, quality, and flavor. As we grow, we remain committed to the food safety excellence, operational discipline, and product innovation that have defined our brand for generations. About the Role Juanita’s Foods is seeking a strategic, hands‑on Director of Food Safety, Quality Assurance & Research and Development who doesn’t wait to be told what to do next. This executive‑level leader will own all FSQA and R&D functions — proactively building systems, anticipating regulatory risk, championing food safety culture, and driving product innovation from concept through commercialization. You will be a visible force on the production floor and in the boardroom, ensuring compliance today while positioning the company for growth tomorrow. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in thermal processing, low‑acid canned foods, HACCP, SQF systems, USDA/FDA compliance, sanitation, and cross‑functional leadership — and the drive to raise the bar across every one of those areas without being asked. Food Safety & Quality Leadership Personally own and continuously strengthen all food safety and quality assurance programs across manufacturing — not just manage them from a distance, but lead them with visible authority and accountability. Maintain and proactively advance compliance with FDA, USDA, FSMA, SQF, GMP, HACCP, PCQI, OSHA, and all applicable regulatory requirements — staying ahead of regulatory changes before they become issues. Serve as the company’s foremost subject matter expert in food safety, quality systems, sanitation, and regulatory compliance — the person others turn to when there’s no clear answer. Lead and prepare the organization for internal audits, third‑party audits, customer audits, mock recalls, and regulatory inspections — ensuring the team is never caught off guard. Build and maintain best‑in‑class preventive controls, environmental monitoring, allergen control, and supplier quality systems. Drive CAPA programs and root cause investigations with urgency and rigor — closing the loop and preventing recurrence. Establish FSQA KPIs, trend dashboards, and executive reporting that tell a clear story and drive informed decisions. Research & Development Leadership Lead product innovation, reformulation, commercialization, and continuous product improvement from concept through launch — with speed, discipline, and commercial instinct. Proactively identify opportunities to improve existing products and develop new ones that align with market trends and customer demand — before Marketing or Sales has to ask. Partner with Marketing and Sales on innovation pipeline strategy, customer‑specific requests, and new market opportunities. Oversee formulation development, ingredient functionality, shelf‑life validation, sensory testing, and process optimization. Collaborate with Operations to improve yield, efficiency, product consistency, and manufacturing scalability — bridging R&D and the production floor seamlessly. Stay ahead of emerging food technologies, ingredients, and industry trends — bringing relevant insights to leadership before competitors get there first. Regulatory & Technical Oversight Ensure accurate labeling compliance and ingredient regulatory review — proactively flagging risk before product goes to market. Maintain impeccable technical documentation, specifications, COAs, SOPs, and product standards. Manage customer technical inquiries and support key customer audits with professionalism and preparation. Own recall readiness and crisis management protocols — ensuring the organization can respond with confidence when it matters most. Leadership & Team Development Lead, develop, and inspire FSQA and R&D teams — managers, supervisors, lab personnel, and technical staff — with clarity, high standards, and genuine investment in their growth. Build a strong food safety and quality culture that lives on the production floor, not just in documentation. Coach leaders on regulatory compliance, sanitation, GMPs, and quality expectations — raising capability across the organization. Drive succession planning and employee development so the team is never dependent on any one person. Cross‑Functional Collaboration Partner with Operations leadership to integrate food safety and quality into daily production — not as a compliance exercise, but as a core operational value. Work proactively with Procurement on supplier qualification and ingredient quality — addressing risk upstream before it reaches the line. Support strategic business initiatives, capital projects, and operational expansion efforts with technical leadership and regulatory foresight. Education Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Food Engineering, or related field required. Experience Minimum 10+ years of progressive FSQA and/or R&D leadership experience within food manufacturing. Minimum 5+ years in a senior management or director‑level role. Strong experience in shelf‑stable, retort, canned foods, sauces, or thermal processing environments strongly preferred. Demonstrated track record managing SQF/BRC/GFSI‑certified facilities. Experience leading commercialization, scale‑up, and product innovation initiatives. Certifications HACCP Certified — required. PCQI certification — strongly preferred. Technical Knowledge FSMA Preventive Controls, FDA regulations, and GMP requirements. Environmental monitoring programs and food microbiology. Thermal processing controls and sanitation systems. Supplier quality management and ingredient regulatory review. Product specifications, labeling compliance, and technical documentation. Executive presence with the strategic mindset to set direction and the hands‑on instinct to execute. Strong analytical and problem‑solving capabilities — comfortable with ambiguity and decisive under pressure. Excellent communication skills across all levels, from production floor to senior leadership. Proven project management discipline and organizational rigor in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment. Preferred Qualifications Experience in Mexican food, Hispanic food, sauces, beans, canned foods, or ready‑to‑eat food manufacturing. Union manufacturing environment experience. Bilingual English/Spanish — strongly preferred. Working Conditions This is a full‑time, on‑site role based at Juanita’s Foods in Wilmington, CA. The position includes regular exposure to manufacturing and production environments, with the expectation of active presence on the production floor. Occasional travel may be required for supplier visits, audits, and industry events. #J-18808-Ljbffr