Quality Systems & Assurance Director

Summary

The Quality Systems & Assurance Director is responsible for overseeing and managing the quality assurance, food safety, and compliance programs within a food ingredient facility. This role ensures that all products meet regulatory, customer, and company standards for quality, safety, and consistency. The manager will lead quality assurance initiatives, implement quality control processes, and drive continuous improvement in production practices.

Core Responsibilities / Essential Duties

This list of duties and responsibilities is not all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities as management deems necessary.

Quality Assurance & Compliance:

• Develop, implement, and maintain quality management systems (QMS) aligned with industry standards such as HACCP, GFSI (BRC, SQF), and ISO 22000.
• Ensure compliance with food safety regulations (FDA, USDA, FSMA) and customer requirements.
• Conduct internal audits, inspections, and validation activities to ensure adherence to quality standards.
• Lead regulatory and third-party audits, ensuring successful certifications and compliance assessments.
• Manage documentation and record-keeping related to quality systems and food safety programs.

Food Safety & Hygiene:

• Develop and oversee HACCP plans, food safety programs, and sanitation procedures.
• Work closely with production and sanitation teams to ensure a hygienic manufacturing environment.
• Investigate and resolve food safety and quality issues, implementing corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Conduct training sessions for employees on GMPs (Good Manufacturing Practices), hygiene, allergen control, and food safety protocols.

Product Quality & Continuous Improvement:

• Establish product specifications in collaboration with R&D, Operations, and other appropriate functions;, quality control procedures, and testing protocols to ensure consistency.
• Analyze trends in quality data, customer complaints, and non-conformance reports to drive continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with R&D, production, and supply chain teams to optimize product quality and process efficiency.
• Implement and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for quality metrics and process improvements.

Customer Complaints / Quality Failures

• Champions a process that ensures the capture of all ‘customer expressed dissatisfaction’, timely responses/resolutions, and ensures root causes are identified and completed to a successful resolution.

Leadership & Team Management:

• Lead and develop the quality assurance team, fostering a culture of quality and food safety.
• Provide guidance and training to employees to enhance awareness and adherence to quality standards.
• Act as a liaison between different departments to ensure seamless communication on quality matters.

Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Additionally, they must fulfill essential job functions in a consistent state of alertness and safe manner. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education, Experience, and Licensing Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Dairy Technology, Microbiology, or a related field.
• 15 years of experience in quality assurance or food safety within the dairy or food manufacturing industry.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, GFSI (BRC, SQF), FSMA, FDA, and USDA regulations.
• Experience leading audits and managing food safety certification programs.
• Proficiency in quality control tools, data analysis, and problem-solving methodologies.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and project management skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams and drive quality improvements.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certification in HACCP, PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual), or SQF/BRC Practitioner. This can be placed under the previous section.
• Experience with food processing, pasteurization, and microbiological testing.
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.

This role is critical to ensuring the highest standards of food safety and quality in food manufacturing while supporting operational excellence and regulatory compliance.

Language Skills

• Ability to write reports, procedure manuals, and correspondence.
• Ability to communicate effectively with customers, vendors and other employees of the organization without assistance.

Mathematical Skills

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.

Ability to interpret a variety of specifications and information furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or touch objects, tools, or controls. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, carrying and moving parts, materials, and products. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

In our Work Environment, employees demonstrate their skills, teamwork, and leadership by the example they set for the people they serve. Employees are concerned not just with their own duties but additionally, how they can assist those around them.

Denali Ingredients is an equal opportunity employer that continues to build a culture of inclusion, belonging and equity through our commitment to attracting and retaining diverse talent from all backgrounds, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We do not discriminate against any employee or applicant and believe in fairness and providing a level playing field for all. We foster a culture that thrives on diverse perspectives and contributions to ignite the creativity and innovation to fuel our business and enhance the employee and customer experience.

Denali Ingredients is in New Berlin, Wisconsin. We are customer-centric, fun, and engaging. Beyond making ice cream treats tastier, Denali provides a fast-pace,d stimulating international environment, which will stretch your abilities and channel your talents. We also offer competitive compensation, industry-leading benefits, training, mentoring, and growth opportunities. Join a team that makes the world a sweeter place! The above statements reflect the general details necessary to describe the principal functions of the occupation described and shall not be construed as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be inherent in the occupation.