Associate Director, Food Safety, Quality Assurance and Compliance

University of Southern California • Los Angeles, CA

7d • 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 oversight of food safety and quality assurance programs at the University Park and Health Sciences campuses. The position serves as a subject matter expert and regulatory liaison, promoting operational consistency, mitigating risk, and ensuring compliance with applicable regulations and university standards.

Food safety program management represents approximately 70–75% of the role during peak operations. The scope includes three residential dining halls, 21 retail food venues, 10 private event venues, and USC Hotel food and beverage operations. The work’s focus may vary with 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 role leads primarily through influence and cross-functional partnership.

This is a 100% onsite position supporting the University Park and Health Sciences campuses, including the USC Hotel, with work location varying according to business needs. The typical schedule is Monday through Friday, but schedule flexibility is essential. The position must be available for early mornings, extended days, evenings, Saturdays, game days, and other nonstandard hours as operational needs require. It also requires availability to respond to safety incidents, recalls, regulatory matters, and other urgent operational or compliance needs.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree, with combined experience and education accepted as a 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 an 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; the position participates in the DMV Pull Notice System, and a copy of the DMV record is required as a final condition of employment.
• Demonstrated commitment, through ideas, words, and actions, to USC’s Unifying Values of integrity, excellence, community, well-being, open communication, and accountability.

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.
• Management-level experience in a university Auxiliary Services section.

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 to prevent code violations.
• Ensure departmental compliance with required food handler and food manager safety certifications; report infractions and follow up with unit management on timely corrective action.
• Serve as the primary point of contact, as needed, for health departments, regulatory agencies, external auditors, and third-party inspectors.
• Maintain and facilitate food safety, Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), and other compliance-related training required by state, local, or university rules.
• 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 HACCP-based food safety programs and preventive control systems; establish and monitor food safety standards, specifications, and operating procedures.
• Conduct routine food safety inspections, operational assessments, and internal audits across all facilities.
• Investigate food safety incidents, guest complaints, and potential contamination events; lead corrective and preventive action programs for 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, monitor, and conduct exercises related to food recalls and emergency response procedures.
• Track and analyze inspection non-conformances, report findings to leadership, and 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 and ensure facilities maintain audit-ready records.
• Implement effective controls to prevent loss, theft, or misuse of university property.
• Serve as departmental liaison for fire, life, and safety matters concerning required training, drills, and business continuity planning.
• Perform other related duties as assigned or requested.

Benefits

• USC offers a variety of benefits and programs supporting employees and their families, work-life balance, and employee well-being.
• Work culture characterized by mutual respect, trust, and synergy.

What This Job Offers

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