QA Director I - Prepared Foods

JBS Foods • Council Bluffs, IA

14h

About The Position

JBS Prepared Foods is seeking a strategic quality and food safety leader to direct quality assurance, food safety, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement across its Prepared Foods business unit. The role develops and executes enterprise-wide strategies to ensure regulatory compliance, protect company brands, and promote operational excellence. It serves as a senior quality leadership position, working closely with Operations, Engineering, R&D, Supply Chain, Sales, and executive leadership to establish and maintain food safety and quality programs.

The ideal candidate will work from one of several listed locations: Council Bluffs, Ottumwa, Moberly, Columbia, Elkhart, Booneville, Tupelo, Ankeny, or Perry, or may be based near one of those locations or at the JBS Corporate Office in Greeley, Colorado. Travel to plants and headquarters may be up to 75% of the time.

The position is salaried, with a base salary range of $130,000–$160,000 and eligibility for the company's annual bonus plan. The role has no application deadline and recruitment will continue until the position is filled. New team members undergo post-offer drug, alcohol, and background checks.

Requirements

• At least 6 years of progressive leadership experience in Quality Assurance and Food Safety within the food manufacturing industry.
• Deep knowledge of USDA requirements, HACCP, GMPs, SSOPs, environmental monitoring programs, and GFSI standards.
• Demonstrated success leading regulatory inspections, customer audits, and third-party certification programs.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and change management capabilities.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Able to travel up to 75% of the time to plants and headquarters and travel as business needs dictate.
• Able to perform the functions of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Food Safety, Quality Assurance, or a related field.
• At least 3 years of leadership experience managing multi-site quality and food safety programs.
• Experience leading quality and food safety programs in a multi-plant prepared foods or protein manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the strategic vision, goals, and roadmap for Quality Assurance and Food Safety across the Prepared Foods organization.
• Lead, mentor, and develop quality and food safety professionals, fostering accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
• Partner with executive leadership to align quality and food safety initiatives with business objectives.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives with Operations, Engineering, R&D, Procurement, and Supply Chain.
• Serve as the company's senior subject matter expert on quality and food safety.
• Establish, maintain, and improve quality systems, product specifications, standards, and procedures for products, ingredients, and packaging.
• Oversee inspection, sampling, analytical testing, and verification programs to meet company, regulatory, and customer requirements.
• Monitor and report quality KPIs and metrics to support performance improvement and decision-making.
• Ensure corrective and preventive action (CAPA) processes are implemented throughout the organization.
• Lead development, implementation, and enhancement of food safety programs, including HACCP, SSOPs, GMPs, environmental monitoring programs, and GFSI-recognized certification schemes.
• Ensure compliance with USDA, customer, and other applicable regulatory requirements.
• Maintain readiness for regulatory, customer, and third-party audits across facilities.
• Lead responses to food safety incidents, product quality concerns, recalls, and crisis management activities when needed.
• Use data analytics and trend analysis to identify quality, food safety, and operational improvement opportunities.
• Drive enterprise-wide continuous improvement to reduce defects, improve process control, and strengthen food safety culture.
• Keep current on emerging regulations, technologies, industry trends, and best practices, and evolve quality systems and programs accordingly.
• Support innovation and commercialization by incorporating quality and food safety requirements into new product development.
• Serve as the primary liaison with USDA, state regulatory agencies, industry associations, and other external stakeholders.
• Maintain relationships with customers, suppliers, auditors, and regulatory officials.
• Represent JBS Prepared Foods at industry events, professional organizations, and customer engagements as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Vision, medical, and dental coverage beginning after 60 days of employment.
• Paid time off, including sick leave, vacation, and 6 company-observed holidays.
• 401(k) with company match beginning after the first year of service, subject to the company vesting schedule.
• Annual bonus plan eligibility.
• Continuous learning opportunities and learning and development programs supporting professional and career growth.

What This Job Offers

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