Director, Food Safety & Quality Assurance

Director, Food Safety & Quality Assurance

Salaried NJ Senior Management

College Park, GA, US

Requisition ID: 1302

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Schweid and Sons is seeking a Director of Food Safety and Quality Assurance to add to our team. Reporting to the VP of Operations and Supply Chain, you will continue developing and implementing a comprehensive, best-in-class approach to food safety, sanitation, quality, and regulatory compliance. As the food safety, QA, and regulatory leader, your goal will be to provide high-level strategy and guidance to take the company into the future. To be successful in this role, you must have a strong food safety and quality background and knowledge of regulatory requirements. In addition, you must be a strategic problem solver and have an eye for identifying areas of improvement. This is an incredible opportunity to join a well-established food manufacturing company that prides itself on putting its team members first by providing an incredible culture, amazing benefits, and unparalleled employee retention.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Food Safety Leadership:

- Develop, implement, and manage comprehensive food safety programs and policies.

- Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations, including USDA and FDA requirements.

- Lead the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) and Food Safety Management System (FSMS) programs.

2. Quality Assurance Management:

- Oversee the development and maintenance of quality assurance protocols.

- Implement and monitor quality control procedures to ensure product consistency and safety.

- Conduct regular audits and inspections to identify and address potential quality issues.

3. Regulatory Compliance:

- Stay current with industry trends, regulations, and best practices.

- Ensure all products meet or exceed regulatory and customer specifications.

- Manage relationships with regulatory agencies and third-party auditors.

4. Team Leadership and Development:

- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of food safety and quality assurance professionals.

- Foster a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.

- Provide training and support to ensure team members are knowledgeable about food safety standards and practices.

5. Crisis Management:

- Develop and manage crisis management and recall plans.

- Lead investigations and root cause analyses for food safety incidents.

- Implement corrective and preventive actions to mitigate future risks.

6. Collaboration and Communication:

- Work closely with other departments, including production, supply chain, and R&D, to ensure seamless integration of food safety and quality initiatives.

- Communicate food safety and quality performance metrics to senior management and stakeholders.

Qualifications:

- Bachelor's degree in food science, Microbiology, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.

- Minimum of 10 years of experience in food safety and quality assurance, preferably in the meat or ground beef industry.

- 8 + years of Food Safety, Quality, and Regulatory experience required

- 4 + years of management experience required

- 5 + years related protein experience required, strong preference for beef experience, ideally with ground beef.

- Extensive knowledge of USDA, FDA, and other relevant food safety regulations.

- Certified in HACCP and other relevant food safety programs.

- Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.

- Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment.

- Experience with food safety management systems and quality assurance tools.