ROLE PURPOSE/ POSITION SUMMARY

The Chief Quality Officer plays a pivotal role in ensuring that our products meet the highest quality standards. 
Responsible for leading quality initiatives, driving process improvements, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to advocate for quality and drive excellence across all aspects of our operations.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES/PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Quality Strategy and Leadership:
  
  • Develop and implement a comprehensive quality strategy aligned with our business goals.
  • Provide visionary leadership to the quality team, fostering a culture of food safety, continuous improvement, and accountability.
  • Research and stay up to date with best practices in quality management.
  • Drive the adoption of new techniques, tools, and technologies that enhance food safety and quality.
  • Educate the QA team, managers, and other stakeholders on the importance of quality throughout the company.
  • Contribute to company-wide leadership as a member of the Executive Leadership Team and promote the culture and behaviors that improve business results and support the company culture and vision.

• Process Improvement:
  
  • Ensure systems are in place to monitor the quality of manufacturing processes, provide reports, identify gaps, and generate improvements.
  • Design and implement improvement plans tailored to our specific needs.
  • Upgrade quality processes and ensure the team proactively uses root cause problem solving and CAPAs to eliminate issues, complaints, waste, and scrap.

• Quality Assurance and Compliance:
  
  • Establish and maintain quality systems, policies, and procedures.
  • Ensure compliance with relevant industry regulations (e.g., FDA, USDA) and certifications (e.g., SQF, NSF).
  • Ensure that HACCP and HARPC plans are developed using cross functional teams, reviewed routinely, and are part of a comprehensive food safety program.
  • Oversee internal audits and external audits from regulatory bodies.

• Product Quality Management:
  
  • Oversee product quality from raw material sourcing to finished goods.
  • Collaborate with customers, production, and supply chain teams to optimize processes and enhance product quality.
  • Ensure customer specifications for finished goods are met or exceeded.

• Supplier Quality Management:
  
  • Evaluate and select suppliers based on quality criteria and ensure supplier certification processes are established and followed.
  • Establish strong relationships with suppliers to drive quality improvements.
  • Conduct supplier audits, establish routine business reviews, develop scorecards, and ensure adherence to quality standards.

• Quality Metrics and Reporting:
  
  • Define key quality performance indicators (KPIs) and track them regularly, sharing with operations teams.
  • Prepare quality reports for executive leadership team, identifying trends and areas for improvement.

• Risk Management:
  
  • Identify potential quality risks and develop mitigation strategies.
  • Ensure Business Continuity plans are kept up to date, tested, and effectively managed.
  • Lead investigations into quality incidents, deviations, and customer complaints.

• Continuous Improvement:
  
  • Champion a culture of continuous improvement, promoting Lean Six Sigma principles.
  • Implement corrective and preventive actions to enhance quality processes. 

QUALIFICATIONS/ CAPABILITY PROFILE

• BS/BA degree in Food Science, Biology, Chemistry, or related field - Required
• Master’s degree in Biology or Chemistry or related field - Preferred

Minimum Experience

• 15 years of experience in Quality with exposure to all major functional areas of Quality and Food Safety in the food manufacturing industry - Required
• Demonstrated leadership of the Quality and Food Safety function in a multi-site, enterprise-wide capacity - Required

Minimum Knowledge/ Skills/ Abilities 

• Ability to lead, inspire, and build trust with others 
  Strong communication and negotiation skills – written, verbal, presentation skills 
• Strong analytical skills to analyze data, identify trends, make data-driven decisions 
• Strategic thinking abilities to develop and execute a long-term strategy and align quality initiatives with overall company goals 
• Excellent problem solving and decision-making skills 
• Thorough understanding of regulatory guidelines 
• Demonstrated customer interaction