Director of Food Safety and Quality Assurance

POM Wonderful • Del Rey, CA

21h • $160,000 - $180,000

About The Position

From tree to table, POM Wonderful delivers a whole lot of healthy. Known for our iconic double-bubble bottle, we grow, harvest, package, and market fresh pomegranates, pomegranate arils, and a selection of delicious pomegranate-blended juices and teas. With over 9,000 acres in California’s Central Valley, POM Wonderful is committed to unleashing the antioxidant power of our handpicked pomegranates. JOB SUMMARY: Lead the end-to-end Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA) strategy for Arils ready to eat product category, beverage portfolio and fresh ensuring robust governance, operational discipline, and continuous improvement at Del Rey & Buttonwillow facilities. Provide FSQA leadership to operations with focus on Arils domestic & Spring Arils program with emphasis on compliance, risk mitigation, continuous improvement and cost optimization. Compensation- $160,000.00 - $180,000.00 Salary - with a discretionary bonus up to 20%. Final compensation will be dependent upon skills & experience.

Requirements

• Previous experience with Global GAP, GFSI-BRC audits, HACCP/HARPC a must.
• Ability to handle multiple complex projects and work under pressure in a high stress environment.
• Exceptional self-starter independent leader who can follow through on action items and strong ability to get things done.
• Strong oral and written communication skills with the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with personnel, customers, suppliers, and other business contacts
• Collaboration with operations to provide strong customer service and ability to get things done through multiple organizational levels.
• Ability to proactively identify challenges and develop solutions through implementation of continuous improvement principles.
• High level of integrity and accountability with a positive “can do” mindset.
• Time management and prioritization skills, ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment, prioritize projects and set goals.
• B.S degree in Microbiology, Food Science or related field a must, advanced degree preferred.
• At least 10 years progressively responsible Food Safety/Quality Assurance experience in a large-scale food manufacturing company, with a specific emphasis in food safety, quality assurance and Sanitation.
• Prior experience with fluid food processing and RTE refrigerated products required.

Responsibilities

• Own FSQA program architecture : develop, maintain, and administrate SOPs, SSOPs, HACCP plans, validation/verification records, and document control in alignment with GFSI and regulatory expectations.
• Steward of risk management : maintain and execute HACCP/HARPC, environmental monitoring, allergen control, foreign material prevention, and traceability/recall readiness.
• Accountable for KPIs : yield impact from quality holds, claim rates, micro compliance (% pass), environmental positives rate, sanitation effectiveness score, audit closure cycle time, and FSQA cost-to-serve.
• Tight change control : implement structured change management for new capital projects, process, equipment, formulation, labeling, and sanitation chemicals with documented risk assessments and sign‑offs.
• Structured CAPA administration : ensure root‑cause rigor (5-Why/Fishbone), action effectiveness checks, and timely closure; maintain dashboards and executive reporting of trend analyses.
• Embed FSQA into daily operations : partner with Plant Management, Production, Maintenance, and Sanitation to operationalize programs—turn standards into routines (pre‑op checks, process control limits, shift‑by‑shift verification).
• Operational coaching : influence behaviors on the floor through presence, leadership, and targeted training; uplift ownership of quality and sanitation at line‑level.
• Tiered accountability rhythms : lead weekly/monthly QA FMDS/KPI meetings (Tier 1–3) to review FSQA KPIs, environmental findings, customer complaints, and process capability; drive rapid response and escalation.
• Process capability & loss prevention : collaborate with Ops to reduce variability, improve yields, and prevent defects (temperature control, dwell times, antimicrobial dosing, packaging integrity).
• Team development : build a high‑performing FSQA and sanitation organization; define roles, succession, and training paths.
• Culture of quality : foster a proactive, data‑driven, “go‑see” culture where operators own quality and sanitation outcomes.
• Training program ownership : ensure competency‑based training for HACCP, GMPs, allergen control, sanitation, environmental monitoring, and recall procedures.
• Develop and maintain the scientific documentation used to support the critical hazard decisions for HARPC risk assessment including extended runs and special production needs.
• Assist in development of special department projects for shelf life enhancement and work in conjunction with R&D team on other pipeline projects.
• Maintain active role on internal WOW teams and supporting other cross functional departments.

Benefits

• Access to top-notch medical coverage comprehensive vision and dental plans, and a 401k with match eligibility to secure your financial future and including: 24/7 online physician consultations virtual mental health resources life coaching engaging employee community groups cash rewards for healthy habits and fitness reimbursements library of on-demand fitness videos
• Unlock your potential with clear paths for career progression and internal mobility across our diverse family of brands and business units.
• Grow as a leader with our dedicated Learning and Organizational Development department, offering extensive resources like People Manager and leadership training, webinars, and eLearning courses.
• Connect with colleagues through our company-wide mentorship program to share goals, overcome challenges, and drive your career forward.
• Participate in training that empowers all employees to learn and implement concepts that drive significant, positive change in the workplace.
• Make a difference with Wonderful Giving , allowing you to allocate company-provided funds to up to three charities of your choice, and join Wonderful Neighbor to contribute to group service projects within our local communities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees