Director, Food Safety

Americold•Atlanta, GA

About The Position

Responsible to lead the continued development and implementation of a comprehensive, best-in-class approach to food safety and regulatory compliance in multiple refrigerated warehouse facilities. This position will oversee the implementation of GFSI food safety requirements and advise senior leadership and field operations management on food safety and regulatory compliance matters.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a science-related field required.
10-15 years of experience in food manufacturing or food distribution under USDA/FDA (or equivalent) oversight, with minimum 8 years in progressive leadership experience, with multi-site responsibility.
Strong knowledge of food safety legislation, GFSI certification (SQF preferred), HACCP principles, and internal auditing (ASQ certifications a plus)
Proven ability to interact with regulatory agencies and manage compliance programs including Export/Import, C-TPAT, and environmental regulations.
Skilled in developing and delivering training across organizational levels and analyzing processes to identify food safety and quality risks.

Nice To Haves

Master’s Degree preferred.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively engage and influence individuals at all levels, including internal and external stakeholders.
Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in high-volume, fast-paced environments, demonstrating flexibility, consistency, and commitment to meeting deadlines.
Skilled in negotiation and conflict resolution, with the ability to influence site management and drive issue resolution.
Excellent planning, organizational, and execution skills, with a focus on task prioritization and adaptability to changing work environments.
Customer-focused mindset, with a strong service orientation and the ability to build and maintain productive relationships.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement corporate food safety and regulatory policies to ensure compliance with customer, governmental, and internal requirements across all warehouse operations.
Support implementation of security policies and protocols across all warehouses
Lead and support a team of Corporate Food Safety Managers to foster a strong, company-wide food safety culture.
Provide guidance for non-standard operations (e.g., protein processing, fruit packing, e-commerce).
Oversee third-party food safety audits and ensure all warehouses maintain required federal, state, and local licenses, including FDA registration renewals.
Develop and deliver comprehensive food safety training across the network on topics such as GFSI/SQF, HACCP, Food Defense, and Internal Auditing.
Ensure compliance with external customer certification programs including USDA Organic, California Prop 12, C-TPAT, and Import/Export regulations.
Support implementation of security protocols and assist warehouse operations in managing adverse events (e.g., fires, pest issues, staffing shortages).
Stay current on evolving food safety regulations and industry best practices and communicate emerging trends and regulatory changes across the network.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams (e.g., Global Operations, Legal, Business Development) on contract reviews, customer issues, and new business opportunities.
Other duties as requested.