Associate Director, Food Safety, Quality Assurance and Compliance

University of Southern California • Los Angeles, CA

8d • $110,000 - $120,000 • Onsite

About The Position

USC Auxiliary Services is seeking an Associate Director, Food Safety, Quality Assurance and Compliance to lead food safety and compliance efforts across USC Hospitality and the USC Hotel. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President, USC Hospitality & USC Hotel, this role provides strategic and regulatory compliance oversight for operations at the University Park and Health Sciences campuses.

The Associate Director serves as a subject matter expert and regulatory liaison, promoting operational consistency, mitigating risk, and ensuring adherence to applicable federal, state, and local regulations and university standards. Food safety program management represents approximately 70–75% of the role during peak operations and spans three residential dining halls, 21 retail food venues, 10 private event venues, and USC Hotel food and beverage operations. The role’s focus may shift during the year based on the academic calendar, operational needs, and seasonal changes.

As a member of the Hospitality Leadership team, the Associate Director provides strategic guidance, identifies risks and opportunities, drives accountability, and promotes food safety excellence. The position leads primarily through influence and cross-functional partnership. It is 100% onsite, with work location varying according to business needs across the University Park and Health Sciences campuses, including the USC Hotel. The typical schedule is Monday through Friday, but flexibility is essential, including availability for early mornings, extended days, evenings, Saturdays, game days, and other nonstandard hours. The role also requires availability to respond to safety incidents, recalls, regulatory matters, and other urgent operational or compliance needs.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree; combined experience and education may substitute for the minimum education requirement.
• HACCP certification or equivalent demonstrated experience developing and managing HACCP-based food safety programs. Candidates qualifying through experience must obtain HACCP certification within a specified period after hire.
• ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification or equivalent Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) credential.
• Five years of prior experience in food safety, quality assurance, compliance, internal audit, or a similar role.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Valid California driver’s license; participation in the DMV Pull Notice System and provision of a DMV record as a final condition of employment.
• Management-level experience in a university Auxiliary Services section.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree.
• Experience leading food safety and quality assurance programs across multiple restaurant, retail foodservice, hospitality, or other consumer-facing food operations.

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with Los Angeles County Department of Public Health food safety regulations and serve as the primary contact for LADPH health inspections.
• Partner with Environmental Health & Safety and third-party vendors on internal safety audits and proactive resolution of issues.
• Ensure departmental compliance with required food handler and food manager safety certifications.
• Report infractions and follow up with unit management to ensure corrective action is completed within the appropriate timeframe.
• Serve as the primary contact for health departments, regulatory agencies, external auditors, and third-party inspectors as needed.
• Maintain and facilitate food safety, Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), and other required compliance training.
• Develop, maintain, and update departmental compliance-related Standard Operating Procedures, and facilitate their annual update.
• Maintain safety- and security-related access controls for assigned areas, including standardized locks and security systems across departmental locations.
• Develop, implement, maintain, and continuously improve the University’s Food Safety Management System.
• Oversee food safety programs across campus dining facilities, retail outlets, coffee shops, catering operations, and hotel food and beverage venues.
• Manage and maintain HACCP-based food safety programs and preventive control systems.
• Establish and monitor food safety standards, specifications, and operating procedures across dining operations.
• Conduct routine food safety inspections and operational assessments across facilities.
• Investigate food safety incidents, guest complaints, and potential contamination events.
• Lead corrective and preventive action programs related to food safety and quality concerns.
• Oversee environmental monitoring, sanitation verification, allergen management, and pest control programs.
• Ensure proper food preparation, storage, handling, transportation, and service practices.
• Implement and monitor food recall and emergency response procedures, including conducting exercises.
• Track and analyze non-conformances identified through internal inspections and report findings to leadership to support continuous improvement.
• Develop and execute comprehensive internal audit programs.
• Conduct food safety, sanitation, quality, and compliance audits at all locations.
• Review operational trends and compliance data to identify improvement opportunities.
• Maintain accurate records, reports, certifications, corrective actions, and compliance documentation.
• Prepare executive summaries and compliance reports for senior leadership.
• Ensure all facilities maintain complete, audit-ready records.
• Implement effective controls to prevent loss, theft, or misuse of university property.
• Serve as the departmental liaison for fire, life, and safety matters related to required training, drills, and business continuity planning.
• Perform other related duties as assigned or requested; duties may be added or changed by the university.

Benefits

• USC offers a wide variety of benefits and programs that support staff and their families.
• Support for work-life balance and employee well-being.
• A work culture characterized by mutual respect, trust, and synergy.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director