Director Of Food Safety & Quality Assurance

Position Summary

The Food Safety & Quality Assurance Director is responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining food safety and quality systems that ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, company standards, and customer specifications. This role oversees Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) compliance, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) assessments and reassessments, manages the Food Safety Plan (FSP) and Food Defense Plan (FDP), and ensures adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) throughout the distribution process.

The Food Safety & Quality Assurance Director will identify, monitor, and enforce Hunt Brothers Pizza specifications, establish and build strategic relationships with key personnel, and ensure consistency in protocols, processes, and product standards.

Major Responsibilities – Food Safety

• Develop, implement, and maintain food safety programs, policies, procedures, including Food Safety Plans, Food Defense Plans, and supporting documentation.
• Ensure compliance with FSMA, HACCP, GMPs, SOPs, SSOPs, and all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
• Monitor and verify food safety controls throughout warehousing and distribution operations.
• Serve as the primary liaison with regulatory agencies, third-party auditors, and inspection authorities.
• Maintain all required licenses, certifications, records, logs, and documentation.
• Ensure team members comply with food safety standards through training, coaching, and refresher programs.
• Lead efforts to strengthen food safety culture and awareness.
• Lead and support product hold decisions, investigations, corrective actions, and product disposition activities.
• Manage food safety-related vendor services and systems.
• Serve as a resource to field operations regarding food safety and quality concerns.
• Lead cross-functional continuous improvement initiatives.
• Lead and execute market withdrawals and recalls.
• Perform internal and external food safety inspections at district warehouses and supplier facilities.

Major Responsibilities – Oversight and Team Member Management of Quality Assurance

• Ensure adherence to established product quality standards and specifications.

• Develop and maintain productive relationships with suppliers, distributors, and internal stakeholders.
• Participate in supplier qualification, auditing, monitoring, and performance evaluation activities.
• Support Procurement in supplier evaluations through product testing, analysis, and sensory evaluations.
• Investigate, document, and resolve product quality issues, supplier concerns, and field complaints.
• Monitor and analyze quality performance data and complaint trends.
• Communicate audit results and corrective action requirements.
• Facilitate meetings, training sessions, and quality-related communications.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Demonstrated effective people management and development skills.
• Have or ability to acquire knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices as defined by the FDA.
• Have or ability to acquire knowledge of Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) compliance.
• Have or ability to acquire Preventive Control Qualified Individual (PCQI) Certification.
• Have or ability to acquire SQF and/or applicable GFSI Auditor Certification
• Have or ability to gain knowledge in Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) assessments.
• Have or ability to acquire knowledge in analysis and testing skills of products used in the pizza business.
• Proficient computer skills and ability to work with Word, Outlook, Access, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Have or ability to learn and operate within SalesForce.
• Ability to travel up to 25%.

Minimum Requirements:  

• Education or Equivalent Experience: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Function-Specific Experience: 7 years’ experience
• Must have experience leading and/or implementing GFSI certification within an organization
• Preferred PCQI Qualified Individual (and/or willing to obtain certification)
• Must be willing to relocate to the greater Lexington Ky area with assistance provided by the company. 

Salary : $120,000 - $140,000