Director of Food Safety and Quality Assurance

Job Summary

Director of Food Safety & Quality Assurance

Location: Ohio (Multi-Site Responsibility | Travel Required)

Overview

The Director of Food Safety & Quality Assurance is 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’s Food Quality Plan, lead continuous improvement initiatives, and cultivate a culture of excellence that supports both operational integrity and customer satisfaction.

This is a multi-site leadership role requiring 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 comprehensive Food Quality Plan with defined Critical 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” culture that values proactive communication, data-driven decision-making, and continuous improvement.

Operational Excellence

• Implement electronic data collection systems for real-time monitoring and traceability.

• Lead data analysis and use insights to identify opportunities for process and quality improvements.

• Establish and standardize product and equipment specifications across sites to ensure consistent outcomes.

• Monitor deviations and manage complaint investigations through Root Cause / Corrective Action Reports (RC-CARs).

Customer & Supplier Partnerships

• Conduct product evaluations and 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 verifying Certificates of Analysis (COAs).

Compliance & Auditing

• Ensure compliance with SQF standards, customer requirements, and regulatory mandates.

• Participate in SQF inspections, risk assessments, and ongoing policy reviews.

• Support Food Defense and Food Fraud programs and documentation.

People & Performance

• Lead, coach, and develop the Quality team, promoting engagement, accountability, and professional growth.

• Facilitate weekly Quality Meetings and participate in quarterly SQS reviews to evaluate progress and set goals.

• Oversee training initiatives to strengthen technical expertise and compliance awareness across teams.

Innovation & R&D Collaboration

• Partner with Research & Development on 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 in Food Science, Quality Assurance, or a related discipline.

• Proven multi-site leadership experience within the food manufacturing industry.

• In-depth knowledge of SQF standards, FDA/USDA regulations, and GFSI-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 to travel between facilities as business needs require (approximately 25–30%).

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their application online using the link below.