Director of FSQ

This company is truly a prize to work for – they pride themselves on a culture that operates with integrity in every interaction, always striving to anticipate, meet and exceed the needs of our customers.  We are relentless in our pursuit of excellence and encourage continuous learning and innovation throughout the organization.  To them the workplace is not just a place to work but want it to be an enjoyable and integrated part of life.  Open and honest communication is central to their approach, fostering teamwork and collaboration at all levels of the company.

Position Overview:

The Director of FSQ is responsible for the development, execution, continuous improvement, and leadership of Food Safety and Quality Assurance (FSQ) processes for all products supplied by the company.  This role involves supporting various operations and business units to ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements and customer expectations related to food safety and quality.

Key Responsibilities:

• Ensure compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and FSQ management systems to meet federal, state, and local regulations, along with customer standards
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve the company’s Quality Management System (QMS), maintaining required certifications
• Collaborate with Operations management to enforce policies, procedures, FSQ standards, safe food handling practices, and sanitation protocols across the facility
• Maintain accurate training and education records related to FSQ, utilizing electronic recordkeeping systems
• Oversee compliance with food safety, quality, and sanitation objectives through monitoring, verification, and auditing of internal / external records, lab results, and employee practices
• Conduct industry benchmarking to recommend improvements in equipment, processes, and practices that support future company goals
• Develop risk assessments for sanitation procedures to ensure product safety and validation
• Lead the development and delivery of FSQ, sanitation, and operations training programs
• Provide coaching, build teamwork, and resolve conflicts among staff
• Lead cross-departmental food safety teams to ensure alignment across all functions on FSQ requirements
• Supervise laboratory functions, product testing, and batch accuracy assessments
• Evaluate product quality risks and determine appropriate actions for product disposition
• Lead the investigation and resolution of FSQ issues through Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA)
• Ensure that product tests and procedures are understood and properly executed, with corrective actions as necessary
• Oversee environmental monitoring programs and ensure results are evaluated and acted upon as required
• Ensure the effectiveness of sanitation processes through a solid understanding of production equipment
• Regularly review and adapt FSQ systems through change management processes
• Uphold company’s culture of ethics, professionalism, and positivity in all work-related activities
• Foster a proactive, collaborative approach to problem-solving across departments
• Apply strong analytical and problem-solving skills, leveraging QA tools and methodologies (e.g., SPC, HACCP, GFSI standards, GMPs) to resolve issues and drive continuous improvement
• Maintain technical competence in analytical chemistry and microbiology to inform decision-making related to product safety
• Stay informed about food industry trends and laboratory technologies, recommending improvements to enhance site efficiency and safety
• Prioritize projects effectively and meet deadlines, adapting to changing business priorities as necessary
• Collaborate with the Purchasing team to establish FSQ requirements for suppliers
• Travel to visit suppliers and customers as needed
• Provide support for all shifts as required to maintain FSQ standards

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Develop and manage the FSQ and Sanitation team, including hiring, training, and performance evaluations
• Oversee day-to-day FSQ operations and ensure team efficiency
• Recommend and approve purchases for FSQ and Sanitation-related materials and equipment
• Lead cross-functional teams to improve and ensure food safety practices within Operations

**If you’d like to hear more about this opportunity and others we are currently working on, please contact Kristen Gawrys at kgawrys@cps4jobs.com.

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Salary

$140,000 - $160,000

Qualifications:

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Food Engineering, or a related field
• A Master’s degree in Food Safety is preferred
• At least 5 years of experience in Quality Systems Management
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in a supervisory role with decision-making responsibilities in a food manufacturing or processing environment

Skills and Competencies:

• In-depth knowledge of food safety standards, GMPs, HACCP, and GFSI requirements
• Strong understanding of quality assurance tools and methodologies (e.g., SPC)
• Technical expertise in microbiology and analytical chemistry for product safety decision-making
• Proven ability to manage, coach, and develop staff
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making abilities
• Ability to collaborate with diverse teams and manage cross-departmental initiatives
• Strong communication and organizational skills
• Ability to adapt to changing business needs and priorities

**If you’d like to hear more about this opportunity and others we are currently working on, please contact Kristen Gawrys at kgawrys@cps4jobs.com.

JO:  310.24KG
#LI-KG1