Director of Food Safety & Quality Assurance
Location:Ohio (Multi-Site Responsibility | Travel Required)
Overview
TheDirector of Food Safety & Quality Assuranceis a key strategic leader responsible for ensuring the highest standards of product quality, food safety, and regulatory compliance across facilities located in Northern/Central Ohio. This individual will oversee the company’sFood Quality Plan, lead continuous improvement initiatives, and cultivate a culture of excellence that supports both operational integrity and customer satisfaction.
This is amulti-site leadership rolerequiring occasional travel between facilities to provide direct support, conduct audits, and align teams with company-wide quality and safety objectives.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Strategy
Develop and implement a comprehensiveFood Quality Planwith definedCritical Quality Points (CQPs)and critical limits.
Drive strategic initiatives that elevate product quality, process consistency, and overall compliance across all sites.
Foster a“Quality-First” culturethat values proactive communication, data-driven decision-making, and continuous improvement.
Operational Excellence
Implementelectronic data collection systemsfor real-time monitoring and traceability.
Leaddata analysisand use insights to identify opportunities for process and quality improvements.
Establish and standardizeproduct and equipment specificationsacross sites to ensure consistent outcomes.
Monitor deviations and manage complaint investigations throughRoot Cause / Corrective Action Reports (RC-CARs).
Customer & Supplier Partnerships
Conductproduct evaluationsand attend sensory sessions at customer facilities as needed.
Respond to customer concerns with effective problem-solving and follow-up actions.
Support in managing ingredient supplier FSQA documentation and verifyingCertificates of Analysis (COAs).
Compliance & Auditing
Ensure compliance withSQF standards, customer requirements, and regulatory mandates.
Participate inSQF inspections,risk assessments, and ongoing policy reviews.
SupportFood DefenseandFood Fraudprograms and documentation.
People & Performance
Lead, coach, and develop the Quality team, promoting engagement, accountability, and professional growth.
Facilitateweekly Quality Meetingsand participate inquarterly SQS reviewsto evaluate progress and set goals.
Oversee training initiatives to strengthen technical expertise and compliance awareness across teams.
Innovation & R&D Collaboration
Partner withResearch & Developmenton new product initiatives, ensuring that quality and safety are integrated from concept through launch.
Manage customer portal submissions, product sample requests, and other external quality deliverables.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree inFood Science, Quality Assurance, or a related discipline.
Provenmulti-site leadership experiencewithin the food manufacturing industry.
In-depth knowledge ofSQF standards,FDA/USDA regulations, andGFSI-compliant quality systems.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence at all organizational levels.
Must be willing and able totravel between facilitiesas business needs require (approximately 25–30%).