Director of Quality

About the position

Joining King's Hawaiian makes you part of our `ohana (family). We are a family-owned business for over seventy years, respecting our roots while thinking about our future as we continue to grow and care for our customers and the communities we serve. Our `ohana members build an environment of inclusivity as they freely collaborate, pursue learning through curiosity, and explore innovation as critical thinkers. Beyond that, we are also passionate about supporting the long-term health and well-being of our employees and their families. If you're excited to rise with our team, come and join our `ohana! Reporting to the VP of Food Science & Quality, the Director of Quality will lead the entire quality assurance (QA) department, ensuring that safety, quality and efficiency meet and exceed regulatory standards and customer expectations at all of our manufacturing sites. This role is critical for maintaining our reputation for quality and food safety. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in developing and managing QA programs in the food manufacturing industry, excellent leadership skills, and a deep understanding of regulatory requirements. This leadership role is a people leader first, ensuring that all team members have coaching and development with a focus on their growth for the future.

Responsibilities

• Develops, implements, and oversees the quality assurance policies and procedures to ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements and alignment with industry best practices.
• Provide strategic leadership and direction to ensure product integrity by setting common quality vision, structure, management systems and processes.
• Leads and manages the QA team across all manufacturing locations, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and excellence.
• Collaborates with R&D and production teams to ensure quality considerations are integrated throughout the product development and manufacturing processes.
• Oversees the management of audits (both internal and external), including preparation, corrective action plans, and follow-up.
• Implements and maintains a quality management system (QMS) that effectively captures non-conformance, corrective actions, and preventive measures.
• Analyzes customer feedback and product non-conformances to identify trends and areas for improvement.
• Leads the supplier quality management program, ensuring suppliers meet our quality standards.
• Conducts regular training sessions for quality and production staff on quality standards, new regulations, and continuous improvement techniques.
• Prepares and presents reports on quality metrics, audit outcomes, and improvement initiatives to senior management and stakeholders.
• Serves as a key contributor in crisis management team in the event of a food safety incident.
• Provide corporate guidance to assess, control, and resolve food safety risks in an effective and timely manner.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in food science, Microbiology, or a related field required.
• Minimum of 10 years' experience in quality assurance within the food manufacturing industry, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.
• Strong knowledge of food safety standards (e.g., HACCP, SQF, BRC, FDA, and USDA regulations).
• Proven track record of managing QA programs across multiple manufacturing sites.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments and lead through influence.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Willingness to travel to multiple manufacturing locations as required.
• Willingness and ability to embrace King's Hawaiian's aloha values of excellence, dignity, saying it like it is in a way it can be heard.
• Ability to demonstrate curiosity, collaboration, critical-thinking and emotional intelligence.