FSQ Director

Jack Link's Protein Snacks•Minneapolis, MN

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Food Safety & Quality (FSQ) Director provides strategic leadership for food safety and quality programs across multiple international manufacturing sites and global co-manufacturing partners producing ready-to-eat meat snacks. This role supports operations throughout Europe, North America, South America, and New Zealand/Australia. The FSQ Director establishes food safety and quality expectations for both FSQ teams and cross-functional partners, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, company standards, and industry best practices. This position is responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and continuous improvement of quality systems that support corporate FSQ objectives while delivering an awesome consumer experience.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree and 15 or more years of Quality Assurance experience in the food industry
Successful supervisory experience managing multiple manufacturing sites
Strong preference for previous international and comanufacturing experience
Must have strong leadership and coaching skills, the ability to build relationships cross functionally and a commitment to continuous improvement.
Solid grounding in USDA FSIS regulations.
Proven understanding of food safety and quality in a manufacturing environment.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills; must work effectively with all levels of management and employees.
Demonstrated professionalism, effective leadership, problem solving, presentation, prioritization, attention to detail, and Team Member motivational skills
Proficient in Internet navigation, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Knowledge of cost accounting.

Nice To Haves

Experience with electronic documentation and recordkeeping a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead Food Safety and Quality programs across multiple international manufacturing facilities and global co-manufacturing partners
Guide and hold facilities accountable to Link Snacks standards and local, regional, and international standards for executing HACCP, Food Safety Plans, SSOPs, prerequisite programs, and related food safety systems
Leverage scientific supporting documentation, validation results, and technical support to ensure sound decisions in food manufacturing
Provide leadership and accountability to facility FSQ teams through routine performance reviews, KPI monitoring, and operational assessments
Review microbiological, chemical, sensory, environmental, and in-process testing programs to ensure product safety and quality
Review product quality metrics, determine product disposition, and ensure timely product release
Ensures Listeria environmental monitoring and control program execution including corrective actions, record keeping, and reporting
Develop, monitor, and maintain ingredient control, process control, and preventive control systems
Develop and maintain GFSI global standards program and lead facilities through certification and ongoing maintenance of program
Challenge Food Safety Systems through mock recalls to verify traceability effectiveness and accuracy of data gathering and record keeping functions
Serve as the technical resource for manufacturing facilities during process changes, product launches, and troubleshooting activities
Support manufacturing site regulatory compliance
Function as the liaison between operations and regulators
Monitor global regulatory changes and responds accordingly
Manages non-conforming product or process issues
Manage non-conforming products, quality incidents, and corrective and preventive action (CAPA) programs
Oversee incoming material inspection programs and supplier corrective action processes
Lead consumer complaint investigations, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and documentation
Holds plants, suppliers, operations, accountable when deviations from expectations with attention to detail and urgency
Actively support the onboarding of Operations and FSQ team members creating a strong foundational understanding of GMP’s and SSOP’s leading toward a commitment to a reliable Food Safety Culture
Identifies, hires and develops FSQ team members to deliver the highest product quality standards through rigorous monitoring of the process and products
Works with relevant academic institutions to develop internship and career opportunities
Enforce all safety rules and company policies; provide appropriate interpretation of company policies and safety policies for team members
Participate in the Corporate FSQ Leadership team including development of corporate expectations and long term FSQ strategic planning