Food & Safety Quality Assurance Director

• Design, implement, and continuously improve comprehensive food safety and quality assurance management systems
• Ensure ongoing compliance with USDA regulations, BRC certification requirements, HACCP plans, and all applicable food safety standards
• Serve as the facility’s PCQI and primary point of contact for regulatory agencies and third-party auditors
• Lead internal and third-party audit preparation, execution, and response (BRC, customer, regulatory inspections)
• Develop, maintain, and train staff on food safety programs, SOPs, GMPs, and sanitation standards
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Production, QC, and Operations to embed quality standards into day-to-day workflows
• Coach and develop the QA team (12-14 people), establishing clear performance expectations and fostering accountability
• Manage supplier approval and verification programs, including incoming raw material and ingredient review
• Track, analyze, and report on key QA metrics
• identify systemic risks and lead root cause analysis and corrective action initiatives
• Maintain all required QA documentation

• Demonstrated leadership in Quality Assurance within a USDA-regulated, SQF- or BRC-certified meat or protein processing operation
• Deep expertise in food safety management systems, including HACCP development and execution, FSMA/PCQI certification, and third-party audit management
• Strong beef processing experience is a non-negotiable requirement
• Proven ability to drive QA strategy at a program level while remaining engaged in day-to-day execution
• Strong coaching and mentoring skills
• a team builder who invests in staff development and accountability
• Excellent cross-functional collaboration skills
• able to influence without authority and build credibility across departments
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage complex documentation
• PCQI certification required (or ability to certify promptly upon hire)
• SQF Practitioner or BRC internal auditor certification is a plus
• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Animal Science, or a related field preferred
• equivalent experience considered
• Must thrive in a fast-paced, high-action, “100 miles per hour” environment with a high tolerance for experimentation and change

SQF Practitioner or BRC internal auditor certification

• Bonus
• Relocation assistance provided based on candidate needs