Director of Food Safety and Quality

Regal Professional Services has partnered with a Meat Manufacturing client in Fort Worth, Texas, to hire a FSQA Director for their manufacturing plant.

Summary

As a part of the Senior Leadership Team, the Director of Food Safety and Quality is responsible for creating the strategic plan for the FSQA department, managing compliance, mitigating risk, and instilling a culture of foods safety and quality throughout the organization.

Responsibilities:

• Create a Zero-Based annual budget for the FSQA Department, forecasting the cost of FSQA Operations, including sanitation, labor, 3rd party lab testing and audits.
• Develop and implement food safety and quality assurance strategies, policies, and procedures across the organization.
• Provide direction to ensure alignment with regulatory requirements, company goals, and customer expectations.
• Lead cross-functional teams to foster a culture of food safety and continuous improvement.
• Ensure compliance with USDA, FDA, FSIS, OSHA, and other applicable regulatory agencies.
• Lead company efforts for external regulatory and third-party audits, including managing corrective actions and ongoing compliance monitoring.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of regulatory changes and assess their impact on the business.
• Oversee quality assurance programs, including Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and Product Specifications
• Develop, monitor, and enforce quality control points throughout production to ensure consistent product standards.
• Investigate and resolve quality issues, customer complaints, and non-conformances using root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Establish, manage, and verify food safety systems such as HACCP, environmental monitoring, traceability, and recall procedures.
• Lead efforts in managing food safety risks, conducting risk assessments, and implementing necessary preventative measures.
• Ensure implementation and maintenance of sanitation and allergen control programs.
• Develop and conduct training programs for food safety and quality assurance team members and facility staff on FSQA policies, regulations, and processes.
• Develop and maintain supplier quality standards and assessments.
• Collaborate with procurement teams to qualify and audit suppliers of raw materials, packaging, and services.
• Work closely with Operations, Supply Chain, R&D, Sales, and other departments to ensure product safety and quality from concept to customer.
• Participate in new product development projects to establish safety and quality standards early in the process.
• Act as a company spokesperson for food safety and quality initiatives during customer visits, audits, and interactions.
• Utilize data-driven approaches to analyze quality trends, monitor performance metrics, and drive process improvements.
• Prepare and present regular reports on food safety and quality performance, risks, and improvements to senior leadership.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Meat Science, Food Science, or Microbiology; MBA preferred.
• Experience directing FSQA operations within a meat processing facility.
• Certifications: HACCP Certified, SQF/BRC Practitioner, and other relevant certifications (e.g. PCQI, FSMA).
• Strong technical skills, with experience utilizing Food Safety and Quality Software.
• Effective communication skills, verbal and written.
• Ability to drive change and influence culture.