Director, Food Safety and Quality Assurance

OSI Group; Aurora (IL); On-site; USD 143,200 - 214,800; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Director of Food Safety and Quality Assurance to lead quality initiatives across manufacturing plants. This pivotal role involves serving as a subject matter expert in food safety and quality, ensuring compliance with regulations, and driving continuous improvement in product quality. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in the food industry, demonstrating leadership and communication skills while working collaboratively with various teams. Join a dynamic environment where your expertise will contribute to delivering exceptional quality solutions to customers worldwide.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in quality initiatives within food manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of food safety regulations and practices.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the food safety and quality assurance representative for customers.
• Coordinate with manufacturing plants to ensure quality standards.

Skills

Food Safety Knowledge

Quality Assurance Expertise

Communication Skills

Problem Solving

Leadership

Education

BS in Food Science

BS in Public Health

BS in Biology

BS in Microbiology

Job description

Director, Food Safety and Quality Assurance

Job Category: Quality Assurance

Requisition Number: FSQAD002494

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• Posted: March 24, 2025
• Full-Time
• On-site
• Salary Range: $143,200 USD to $214,800 USD

Locations

Showing 1 location

As a premier global food provider, the OSI Group partners with the world’s leading foodservice and retail food brands to provide concept-to-table solutions that delight consumers around the globe.

Join us and discover a work experience where diverse ideas are met with enthusiasm, and where you can learn and grow to your full potential. We’re looking for individuals who thrive in an entrepreneurial environment and who enjoy working as a team to deliver unparalleled service and solutions to our customers.

Responsible for providing OSI manufacturing plants, internal customers and assigned customer(s) with focused, senior level food safety and quality support. Serves as a food safety and quality subject matter expert throughout the product life cycle; development, testing, auditing, improving and production. Serve as primary liaison between the customer and the organization on all quality related matters specific to the assigned customer.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Serve as the dedicated corporate food safety and quality assurance representative to assigned customer(s) by providing a focused point of contact and by serving as a subject matter expert on food safety and quality issues.
2. Serve as a liaison to manufacturing plants and work collaboratively with internal customers across facilities. Coordinate customer meetings, cuttings and all other internal meetings that pertain to the company’s production of customer products.
3. Apply in-depth knowledge and understanding of food manufacturing to introduce innovative solutions to quality issues before they can occur and in response to unexpected situations.
4. In collaboration with the Process Team, actively participate in the implementation of all new products, line extensions and continuous quality improvement projects including the effective execution of line trials and execution of process capability evaluations.
5. Proactively and independently recognize and prevent potential non-conformances or deficiencies in processing, food safety and quality systems or programs.
6. Establish and review quality and food safety programs, including audits, to meet assigned customer requirements, organization standards, and government regulations and collaborate with facility FSQA Manager to implement, monitor and maintain the programs.
7. Direct corporate department staff and plant FSQA management in required methods to ensure quality outcomes for assigned customer; issue corrective actions and report significant findings and recommendations to executive management.
8. Represent OSI in customer engagements and use the feedback to drive continuous quality and food safety improvement.
9. Provide guidance and technical support to assigned customer and related organization production facilities in the areas of microbiology, general food science, quality assurance practices (both general and proprietary) and food safety.
10. Conduct reviews and analysis of customer complaints related to product quality for the Corporate Insurance department when necessary. Provide a formal response to the customer based on analysis and work with facility QA Manager to develop and implement corrective action.
11. Compile and review data for trends and deviations of manufactured products across multiple facilities.
12. Perform other duties as assigned.

Experience & Skills:

• BS in food science, public health, biology, microbiology or related field.
• Ten or more years leading quality initiatives in a manufacturing environment.
• Thorough knowledge of regulatory framework, food safety preventive controls, food microbiology and GMP principles.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing, with all levels of employees and customers using discretion and tact.
• Ability to travel a minimum of 25 - 50%.

Preferred Education:

• BS in Food Science, Public Health, Biology, Microbiology or related field.
• Work is generally performed within a business professional office environment, with standard office equipment available.
• Work conditions are typical of an office environment.
• This role requires 30%+ domestic travel.
• Position may require the physical agility of lifting up to 15 pounds.
• Position may require frequent and/or infrequent bending, squatting, pushing, pulling, stretching/reaching, use hands or fingers, talk, hear, feel objects, tools, controls and standing/walking on concrete flooring.
• Position may require the physical ability to stand/walk for less than 4 hours.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.