Job Title: Director of Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA)
Reports To: VP of Technical Services
Position Summary
The Director of FSQA leads food safety, quality, and compliance initiatives across multiple facilities. This role develops and implements strategic programs, fosters a strong food safety culture, ensures regulatory compliance (USDA and customer standards), and provides leadership to the FSQA team.
Qualifications
Education & Experience:
- Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Animal Science, or related field, or equivalent experience
- 5+ years of industry experience (3+ years in a supervisory role required)
- USDA product experience required; lab experience preferred
- Certifications preferred: HACCP, GFSI, PCQI
- Bilingual ability preferred
Skills:
- Strong written and verbal communication across all organizational levels
- Problem-solving and critical thinking
- Proficiency in quality data systems and compliance platforms
- Solid understanding of food safety regulations and statistical quality control
Computer & Math Skills:
- Intermediate computer proficiency
- Ability to analyze data, perform calculations, and interpret graphs/statistics
Language:
- Fluent in the language of the primary cultural group
- Ability to interpret technical documents and write business correspondence
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and oversee all FSQA, sanitation, animal welfare, and lab activities
- Develop, implement, and manage food safety and quality programs
- Promote food safety culture across departments and facilities
- Respond to USDA, customer, and external compliance concerns
- Guide the FSQA team in achieving operational excellence
- Handle customer complaints and follow-up protocols
- Conduct internal audits and ensure regulatory compliance
- Provide FSQA responses for external communication
- Support continuous improvement initiatives
- Conduct and report on meat quality testing
- Travel up to 25%
- Other duties as assigned
Supervisory Duties
- Hire, train, and mentor FSQA staff
- Manage schedules and workloads
- Lead succession planning and identify emerging leaders
- Ensure team compliance with all regulations and policies
Physical & Work Environment
- Requires regular sitting, standing, bending, typing, and lifting up to 25 lbs.
- Work may involve exposure to varying temperatures, humidity, and airborne particles
- Moderate noise and frequent interruptions expected