Sr. Director, FSQA

Tovala • Chicago, IL

121d

About The Position

We’re seeking a Senior Director of Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA) to lead our company-wide food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance programs. This leader will oversee all aspects of FSQA across manufacturing, meal production, supply chain, and product development — ensuring Tovala’s products meet the highest standards of safety, consistency, and customer delight. This role will report to our Chief Manufacturing Officer and be a key member of our operations leadership team, driving proactive food safety culture, continuous improvement initiatives, and strategic quality programs that scale with our growth.

Requirements

• 10+ years in FSQA leadership roles within food manufacturing, ready-to-eat meals, or similar regulated food categories.
• Expertise in FDA regulations and SQF.
• Proven track record of building and scaling FSQA programs in high-growth, multi-site environments.
• Strong leadership skills — able to inspire and hold teams accountable while fostering a culture of quality and safety.
• Excellent problem-solving and root cause analysis skills.
• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, or related field (Master’s preferred).

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve Tovala’s food safety and quality systems across all facilities and meal production lines.
• Maintain compliance with FDA, USDA, SQF, GMP, FISMA and local health regulations.
• Build and monitor KPIs for product quality, process control, and defect prevention; lead corrective and preventive actions programs.
• Establish and maintain rigorous supplier approval, auditing, and monitoring programs to ensure ingredient safety and quality.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing FSQA and sanitation team across multiple locations.
• Collaborate with R&D, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and Customer Experience teams to ensure safety and quality are embedded at every stage of the product lifecycle.
• Direct root cause analysis, recalls, and incident response plans to ensure rapid, compliant resolution.

Benefits

• Competitive equity package.
• Unlimited paid time off (with a minimum of 15 days off you HAVE to take).
• Comprehensive healthcare coverage.
• 401k with match.
• Free Tovala Smart Oven and discounted Tovala meals.
• Paid holidays and winter holiday office shutdown.
• Recognition programs, continued learning stipend, casual dress code, in-office coffee, snacks and drinks, and Tovala swag.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees