Sr. Director, Food Safety & Quality

Our client in the consumer food manufacturing space is seeking a Senior Director of Food Safety & Quality to lead and further develop its food safety, quality, and regulatory programs.

This individual will provide both strategic leadership and hands-on operational support, partnering closely with plant operations and senior leadership to ensure food safety and quality systems are effectively designed, implemented, and executed. The role will initially maintain a close connection to day-to-day plant activities while building systems and processes that can scale across an expanding manufacturing footprint.

Responsibilities

• Lead the organization’s overall Food Safety, Quality, and Regulatory strategy, ensuring programs support both operational execution and long-term business objectives.
• Provide leadership and oversight for plant-level food safety and quality programs, standards, procedures, and systems.
• Partner closely with plant leadership and frontline teams to ensure food safety expectations are effectively translated into daily operating practices.
• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve food safety and quality systems across manufacturing operations.
• Ensure compliance with applicable FDA, USDA, state, local, customer, and other regulatory requirements, as applicable.
• Oversee regulatory and compliance-related documentation, recordkeeping, specifications, and reporting.
• Provide leadership around product labeling, packaging claims, ingredient declarations, specifications, and regulatory compliance.
• Lead and support internal, customer, third-party, and regulatory audits, including preparation, corrective actions, and ongoing audit readiness.
• Develop and oversee supplier quality and food safety programs, including supplier qualification, auditing, performance management, and corrective action processes.
• Establish consistent standards, policies, metrics, and best practices that can scale across multiple manufacturing locations.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to executive leadership on food safety, quality, regulatory risk, and emerging industry requirements.
• Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Supply Chain, R&D, Procurement, Commercial, and other teams to support new products, suppliers, processes, and business initiatives.
• Lead root cause analysis, CAPA, continuous improvement, and preventative initiatives related to food safety and product quality.
• Build organizational capabilities through training, coaching, talent development, and clear accountability for food safety and quality performance.
• Support future acquisitions, new facilities, brands, or manufacturing capabilities by integrating and standardizing food safety and quality programs.

Desired Skills And Experience

• Significant progressive leadership experience within food manufacturing Food Safety, Quality, and/or Regulatory functions.
• Demonstrated experience leading food safety and quality programs within a manufacturing plant environment.
• Experience operating at a senior leadership level while remaining comfortable working directly with plant teams and addressing operational issues.
• Strong knowledge of food safety systems, regulatory compliance, quality management systems, and industry best practices.
• Experience with areas such as: HACCP / HARPC and preventive controls, GMPs and sanitation programs, FDA and/or USDA regulatory requirements, GFSI-recognized food safety standards, Supplier quality and auditing, Product labeling and claims, Specifications and regulatory documentation, Corrective and preventive action programs
• Experience supporting or leading food safety and quality across multiple manufacturing locations is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to build scalable systems and processes within a growing or evolving organization.
• Strong cross-functional communication skills with the ability to influence plant leadership, executive teams, and external partners.
• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, or a related discipline preferred.