Director, Food Safety & Quality Assurance

Country Fresh

1d•Remote

About The Position

The Director of Food Safety & Quality Assurance provides strategic leadership and oversight for all food safety, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance programs across multiple fresh-cut produce and snack tray facilities nationwide. This role ensures compliance with SQF, SMETA, FDA, and customer-specific requirements while driving continuous improvement initiatives and fostering a culture of food safety excellence.

Responsibilities

Develop, implement, and maintain company-wide food safety and quality assurance strategies aligned with business objectives
Oversee SQF certification programs across all facilities, including scheduling, registration, preparation, and audit responses via SQFI Compliance Portal
Manage SMETA audit programs, including Sedex membership, scheduling with Accordia, and compliance with Customer requirements
Lead facility inspections for Food Safety/GMP's and Employee/Building Safety (minimum 2x per year, 4-6 weeks prior to audits)
Maintain and update FSQA Calendar with audit dates, customer visits, and critical compliance deadlines
Ensure FDA registration compliance for all facilities (biennial updates via FURLS Website)
Manage customer questionnaires and documentation requests through online portals and email
Oversee document control processes including revisions and creation of SOPs, policies, and procedures
Coordinate shelf life extension requests and shelf life study set-ups for new and existing products
Manage lock/seal trailer exceptions and transportation compliance
Review pest control service reports and ensure corrective actions are implemented
Monitor chemical usage reports and ensure proper sanitation protocols
Manage Contracted Service Provider portals and user access
Mentor, coach, and develop QA Managers across all facilities through calls, texts, and emails
Facilitate bi-weekly QA meetings (via Teams) to align plant level teams on priorities and best practices
Participate in monthly safety meetings for all facilities
Develop and maintain training schedules and PowerPoint presentations for food safety training
Establish and track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for food safety and quality metrics across all facilities
Lead root cause analysis and corrective action programs for quality incidents and customer complaints
Manage recall and crisis response procedures, including mock recall exercises
Develop and maintain relationships with regulatory agencies (FDA, State Health Departments)
Collaborate with R&D on new product development, shelf life evaluations, and ingredient specifications
Partner with Procurement on supplier qualification and approved supplier programs
Support Sales and Customer Service with food safety inquiries and customer audits