Director of Food Safety and Quality Assurance

POM Wonderful • Del Rey, CA

7d • Onsite

About The Position

Lead the end-to-end Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA) strategy for the Arils ready-to-eat product category, beverage portfolio, and fresh products, ensuring robust governance, operational discipline, and continuous improvement at Del Rey & Buttonwillow facilities. Provide FSQA leadership to operations with a focus on the Arils domestic & Spring Arils program, emphasizing compliance, risk mitigation, continuous improvement, and cost optimization.

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.
• 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.

Nice To Haves

• advanced degree preferred.

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
• 401k with match eligibility
• 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
• clear paths for career progression and internal mobility
• dedicated Learning and Organizational Development department, offering extensive resources like People Manager and leadership training, webinars, and eLearning courses.
• company-wide mentorship program
• Continuous Improvement Training
• Wonderful Giving, allowing you to allocate company-provided funds to up to three charities of your choice
• Wonderful Neighbor to contribute to group service projects within our local communities.

What This Job Offers

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