SR. DIRECTOR, QUALITY ASSURANCE
About The Position
The Senior Director, Quality Assurance owns El Pollo Loco’s enterprise quality assurance function, bringing vendor-level quality assurance and regulatory food safety compliance together under one point of accountability. The role safeguards supply-chain quality systems, from supplier and co-manufacturer qualification through compliance with federal, state, and local requirements, and serves as the primary quality and food safety resource to the franchise system. The position directs supplier quality programs across the company’s poultry portfolio, oversees vendor qualification and audits, maintains product specifications, and evaluates new vendors, ingredients, and formulations. It leads regulatory compliance and agency relationships, food safety audits, and crisis, withdrawal, and recall protocols. The Senior Director also builds and develops the QA organization, supports franchisees with training and technical guidance, and advises Operations and senior leaders on vendor and regulatory risks. The Restaurant Support Center works in the office three days per week. The role may require weekend and extended work schedules, as well as local Southern California and out-of-state travel to vendor, distribution, and restaurant locations.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Microbiology, or a related field.
- At least 12 years of progressive quality assurance and food safety experience.
- Substantial, direct experience with poultry and value-added or further-processed chicken products.
- Direct experience working with state and federal regulatory agencies, including FDA, USDA, or state health departments, on compliance, inspections, or enforcement matters.
- Experience directly managing and developing a quality assurance team.
- Valid driver’s license.
- HACCP certification.
- Proven ability to build, manage, and develop high-performing QA teams, including coaching and succession planning.
- Deep working knowledge of value-added and further-processed chicken manufacturing, co-manufacturer oversight, specification management, and shelf-life validation.
- Credibility with regulatory agencies and skill navigating inspections, audits, and enforcement proceedings.
- Ability to support and train franchisees on quality and food safety standards.
- Ability to execute strategic initiatives and make decisive, fact-based decisions under pressure.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, planning, and prioritization skills, including meticulous attention to detail and the ability to manage competing time-sensitive assignments under frequent tight deadlines.
- Ability to read, write, and interpret complex regulatory reports, contracts, and correspondence.
- Ability to exercise independent judgment on matters of significant risk and consequence to the company.
- Ability to work weekends and extended work schedules as needed.
- Willingness and ability to travel locally within Southern California and out of state to vendor, distribution, and restaurant locations, by car or airplane as needed.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree.
- PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual) certification.
Responsibilities
- Direct vendor and supplier quality assurance programs across the poultry portfolio, ensuring specification integrity, ingredient consistency, and product quality throughout the supply chain.
- Lead vendor qualification, audits, scorecarding, and corrective-action programs; partner with Procurement and Distribution to resolve quality holds, non-conformances, and supplier performance issues.
- Own quality specifications for co-manufactured and further-processed chicken products, validating manufacturing controls, shelf life, and food safety design with processors before system-wide rollout.
- Evaluate and approve new vendors, ingredients, and product formulations for alignment with brand quality standards and regulatory requirements.
- Lead food safety regulatory compliance involving FDA, USDA, FSMA, HACCP, GFSI, and state and local health department requirements across operating jurisdictions.
- Build and maintain working relationships with state and federal regulatory agencies; lead responses to regulatory inquiries, inspections, and enforcement actions.
- Own crisis management, product withdrawal, and recall protocols, including activation of the Level 3 Withdrawal Process, in partnership with executive leadership and legal counsel as needed.
- Direct internal and third-party food safety audit programs covering restaurants, distribution centers, and manufacturing partners.
- Build, lead, and develop the QA organization across vendor quality and regulatory food safety; establish performance expectations, coaching plans, and succession pipelines for direct reports.
- Provide franchisees with training, technical guidance, and responsive support on quality and food safety matters.
- Represent Quality Assurance in cross-functional and executive forums, translating vendor and regulatory risks into actionable guidance for Operations and senior leadership.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the SVP, Supply Chain & Quality Assurance.
Benefits
- Competitive pay and bonus potential.
- Equity compensation.
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
- HSA savings account.
- 401(k) retirement plan with company match and immediate vesting.
- Paid vacation and sick pay.
- 12 paid holidays.
- Employee Assistance Program.
- Free El Pollo Loco food and restaurant discounts.
- PerkSpot discounts program.
- Career growth opportunities.
- Strong office culture recognized as a Great Place to Work®.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
