Strategic Director, Quality Assurance & Food Safety

CPS Inc.; Elgin (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

CPS Inc. is seeking a Director of Quality Assurance to lead strategic and operational quality systems, regulatory compliance, and food safety across multiple manufacturing locations in Illinois.

This role requires driving continuous improvement, managing audits, and coordinating with Operations, R&D, and cross‑functional leadership to uphold high product quality and safety standards. The ideal candidate will have 6+ years in QA within food manufacturing, strong regulatory knowledge (FSMA, SQF,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science or related field.
• 6+ years of progressive QA experience in food manufacturing.
• Proven leadership of QA teams in a manufacturing setting.
• Strong knowledge of FSMA, SQF, FDA, USDA, HACCP, and third-party certifications.
• Experience with audits, CAPA systems, and document control.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for QA, Quality Compliance, and Document Control across facilities.
• Plan and participate in customer and supplier audits for compliance.
• Maintain and improve SQF programs and SOPs.
• Direct SQF certification activities with Operations leadership.
• Lead CAPA program across all sites.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory agencies and third‑party standards.
• Oversee quality documentation and SOP control.
• Support QA software systems and ERP training.
• Travel to locations to support quality initiatives and audits.
• Collaborate with Operations to promote a strong food safety culture.

Skills

Quality Assurance

Leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Audit management

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science

Tools

Quality management software

Job description

CPS Inc. is seeking a Director of Quality Assurance to lead strategic and operational quality systems, regulatory compliance, and food safety across multiple manufacturing locations in Illinois.

This role requires driving continuous improvement, managing audits, and coordinating with Operations, R&D, and cross‑functional leadership to uphold high product quality and safety standards. The ideal candidate will have 6+ years in QA within food manufacturing, strong regulatory knowledge (FSMA, SQF,