Director Food Safety Quality

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Director Food Safety and Quality

Department: Food Safety Quality

Classification: Full-time salary, exempt, on-site

Reports to: Chief Operating Officer

Shift Responsibilities: Mainly day shift, nights and weekends as needed

OVERVIEW: The Director Food Safety and Quality (FSQ) is responsible for establishing, implementing, and sustaining Suntado’s enterprise Food Safety, Quality, and Regulatory programs for aseptic and ESL dairy manufacturing. This role provides strategic and technical leadership to ensure compliance with all federal, state, customer, and certification requirements while driving a culture of food safety, continuous improvement, and operational excellence. This position shares responsibility for maintaining Suntado’s food safety, quality and legality program under the BRC/GFSI/PCQI guidelines.

The Director leads a multi-disciplinary FSQ organization, including Quality Management Systems (QMS), Sanitation, Laboratory Operations, and FSQ Specialists supporting certifications, supplier compliance, environmental monitoring, and nonconforming product management. As a key member of the site leadership team, this role collaborates closely with Operations, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and Sales teams to ensure safe, consistent, high-quality and compliant products.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, develop, and manage the FSQ team, including FSQ Specialists, QMS Manager, Sanitation Supervisor, and Lab Leads.
• Set department strategy, goals, and performance expectations aligned to Suntado’s quality and operational objectives.
• Build organizational capability through hiring, coaching, training, and performance development.
• Foster a culture of food safety, quality ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement across all functions.

Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance

• Own all regulatory and certification programs, including:
  • FSMA Preventive Controls for Human Food (21 CFR 117)
  • HACCP programs
  • PMO requirements
  • LACF and Acidified Food regulations (21 CFR 108/113/114) where applicable
  • Idaho state dairy regulations
  • IMS listing requirements
  • GFSI certification (BRCGS)
• Serve as primary liaison to FDA, Idaho Department of Agriculture, third-party auditors, and key customer quality teams.
• Ensure regulatory compliance through audits, record review, verification activities, and prompt corrective actions.

Quality Management Systems (QMS) & Documentation

• Oversee the QMS program, ensuring robust document control, change management, training compliance, and record integrity.
• Maintain audit-ready documentation including SOPs, batch records, sanitation records, and QMS artifacts.
• Lead internal audit programs and ensure effective follow-up and CAPA implementation.

Quality Assurance & Quality Control

• Oversee end-to-end product quality including ingredient, packaging, process control, environmental monitoring, and finished product testing.
• Ensure laboratory testing programs (micro, chemical, physical, sensory) meet accuracy, precision, and compliance standards.
• Support development, review, and maintenance of quality specifications, test plans, and COA verification structure.
• Analyze and interpret quality data to identify trends and drive improvements in process capability and product consistency.

Sanitation & Environmental Programs

• Oversee sanitation systems, ensuring alignment with hygienic design, allergen management, CIP/COP effectiveness, and environmental monitoring.
• Ensure sanitation procedures meet regulatory, customer, and certification requirements and support maximum authorized line output levels.

Issue Management, Incident Response & Continuous Improvement

• Lead investigations of quality issues, deviations, environmental findings, and nonconforming product using structured problem-solving methods (5-Why, Fishbone, FMEA).
• Ensure timely corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) and verification of long-term effectiveness.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives supporting operational efficiency, cost reduction, and risk mitigation.

Customer, Supplier & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Sales teams to address customer requirements and manage customer complaints.
• Oversee supplier approval and ongoing supplier verification programs.
• Ensure cross-functional awareness and accountability for food safety and quality expectations.

Traceability, Recall & Crisis Management

• Lead traceability, recall, and mock recall exercises, ensuring compliance with regulatory and customer standards.
• Oversee crisis response related to product quality, regulatory inspection findings, or safety incidents.

A SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE WILL:

• Be a strategic, collaborative leader who builds high-performing, engaged teams.
• Demonstrate expert knowledge of food safety, quality systems, aseptic/ESL processing, and dairy regulatory frameworks.
• Possess strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Communicate clearly and confidently with operators, leadership, regulators, auditors, and customers.
• Act decisively and maintain composure when addressing quality issues, audits, or incidents.
• Bring a growth mindset and the ability to respectfully challenge status quo.
• Champion a culture where food safety and quality are non-negotiable.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or related technical field.
• 10+ years of progressive FSQ/Regulatory experience in dairy, beverage, aseptic/LACF, or other high-risk food manufacturing.
• Proven success managing quality teams and leading regulatory, GFSI, and customer audits.
• Strong background in HACCP, FSMA Preventive Controls, and QMS administration.

Preferred

• Master’s degree in a related field.
• PCQI and HACCP certifications.
• Experience in Low Acid Canned Foods (LACF) or aseptic system commissioning.
• Certifications such as ASQ-CQM, Six Sigma, or other quality management credentials.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Deep technical understanding of FDA, FSMA, PMO, LACF, Idaho dairy regulations, and GFSI (BRCGS/SQF) requirements.
• Strong leadership skills with ability to build and develop high-performing teams.
• Excellent communication skills (verbal, written, presentation).
• Ability to prioritize, think critically, and solve complex problems.
• Proficiency in QMS platforms, ERP systems, LIMS, and data analysis tools.
• Ability to work collaboratively across all levels and departments.
• Ability to work in a production and warehouse environment requiring repetitive movement, lifting, bending, reaching and mechanical noise from machines.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to speak and listen. The employee frequently is required to walk within the site. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk; use hands feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus.

COMMITMENT TO ETHICS AND EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY:

Our Company is firmly committed to conducting business in compliance with the letter and spirit of the law and other accepted standards of business conduct as reflected in the company's policies. Our Company is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. Our Company is committed to selecting, developing, and rewarding the best person for the job based on the requirements of the work to be performed and without regard to race, age, color, religion, sex, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability/handicap, marital status, protected veteran status, uniform status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity and expression, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law. EEO.

DISCLAIMER:

The preceding position description has been designed to indicate the general nature of work performed; the level of knowledge and skills typically required; and usual working conditions of this position. It is not designed to contain, or be interpreted as, a comprehensive listing of all requirements or responsibilities that may be required by employees in this position.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel as classified.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for their job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.