FLSA Status: Exempt
Reports To: President
Location: Dallas–Fort Worth, TX
Travel: Regular travel required to Southern California facility
Position Summary
A rapidly growing multi-site USDA protein manufacturing company is seeking an experienced and strategic Director of Food Safety & Quality Assurance to lead and oversee all Food Safety, Quality Assurance, Regulatory Compliance, and Quality Systems activities across operations in Texas and Southern California.
This position is responsible for developing, implementing, and continuously improving food safety and quality programs to ensure compliance with USDA, BRCGS, HACCP, SSOP, GMP, Sanitation, and all applicable customer requirements. The Director will provide leadership to Quality teams at both facilities while partnering closely with Operations, Sanitation, Maintenance, Warehouse, and Executive Leadership to drive a culture centered on food safety, product quality, regulatory compliance, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.
The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader with strong USDA protein manufacturing experience, proven BRCGS audit leadership, excellent regulatory knowledge, and the ability to build accountability and consistency across multiple facilities and shifts.
Essential Duties & ResponsibilitiesFood Safety & Regulatory Compliance
- Lead and maintain company-wide Food Safety and Quality programs across multiple manufacturing facilities.
- Ensure ongoing compliance with USDA, HACCP, SSOP, GMP, SOP, Food Defense, Sanitation, Allergen, Traceability, and customer requirements.
- Serve as the corporate leader for BRCGS certification programs and audit readiness initiatives.
- Oversee implementation and verification of HACCP plans, preventive controls, CCP monitoring, validation, and verification activities.
- Ensure compliance with customer specifications and internal quality standards.
- Lead regulatory interactions with USDA personnel, third-party auditors, and customers.
- Ensure facilities remain audit-ready at all times.
Quality Systems Management
- Develop, implement, standardize, and improve quality management systems across all locations.
- Establish KPIs, trending analysis, corrective action systems, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Oversee CAPA programs, non-conformance investigations, root cause analysis, and effectiveness verification.
- Review and approve food safety and quality documentation, policies, procedures, and records.
- Monitor environmental monitoring programs, microbiological testing, product hold/release programs, and sanitation verification systems.
Leadership & Team Development
- Lead, mentor, and develop Food Safety and Quality teams across both facilities.
- Establish accountability, performance expectations, and development plans for QA leadership and staff.
- Partner with Operations and HR to ensure effective employee training programs related to food safety, GMPs, HACCP, allergen control, sanitation, and regulatory compliance.
- Promote and strengthen a positive food safety culture throughout the organization.
- Support cross-functional collaboration between departments to proactively address food safety and quality risks.
Audit & Customer Management
- Lead all third-party, customer, regulatory, and internal audits.
- Manage audit responses, corrective actions, and follow-up activities.
- Participate in customer meetings, supplier reviews, and technical discussions related to food safety and quality performance.
- Provide executive-level reporting on audit outcomes, quality metrics, trends, risks, and improvement initiatives.
Operational Support & Continuous Improvement
- Partner with Operations to improve product quality, yields, efficiencies, and process consistency.
- Evaluate production processes and identify opportunities to reduce risk and improve compliance.
- Support new product launches, process changes, validation activities, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Ensure consistent implementation of food safety and quality expectations across all shifts and departments.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Animal Science, Biology, Chemistry, or related field preferred.
- Minimum 10 years of progressive Food Safety & Quality Assurance leadership experience within USDA-regulated food manufacturing environments.
- Minimum 5 years of leadership experience overseeing multiple facilities and/or large QA teams.
- Strong experience in USDA protein processing required.
- Extensive knowledge of:
- USDA regulations
- HACCP systems
- BRCGS standards
- GMPs and SSOPs
- Food Defense and Food Fraud programs
- Environmental monitoring programs
- Sanitation programs
- Regulatory compliance requirements
- Experience leading BRCGS audits and maintaining certification required.
- HACCP certification required.
- PCQI certification preferred.
- BRCGS Practitioner certification preferred.
- Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work effectively in fast-paced, high-volume manufacturing environments.
- Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.
- Ability to travel between facilities as needed.
Physical & Work Environment Requirements
- Ability to work in refrigerated and frozen manufacturing environments.
- Ability to walk production floors for extended periods.
- Ability to wear required PPE and comply with all food safety requirements.
- Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary
- Medical, dental, and vision benefits
- Paid time off and holidays
- 401(k) with company match
- Opportunity to lead and influence multi-site food safety and quality operations within a growing organization
Pay: From $135,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
