Director of Quality

Director of Quality

The Director of Quality will lead the company's quality and safety programs across beverage production operations. This role is accountable for developing and executing a strategic quality roadmap, ensuring compliance with regulatory and customer requirements, and driving continuous improvement to maintain product safety, consistency and customer satisfaction. The Director will partner with operations, R&D, procurement and sales to embed a culture of quality and risk prevention across all manufacturing sites.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the corporate quality and food safety strategy, policies and objectives to support business goals.
• Direct Reports: 4 supervisors and 1 QC analyst
• Oversee two sites: manufacturing facility and warehouse
• Oversee and continuously improve food safety systems including HACCP, GMP, SQF and other relevant certification programs; lead preparation for and response to third-party audits and regulatory inspections.
• Drive quality assurance for beverage and food manufacturing lines, ensuring product specifications, process controls and testing regimes meet customer and regulatory requirements.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective/preventive action processes for quality incidents, product holds and recalls; ensure timely communication and effective CAPA implementation.
• Establish and monitor KPIs for quality, safety and compliance; provide regular reporting and executive updates on performance, trends and risks.
• Manage supplier quality assurance programs including vendor qualification, audits, and raw material controls to mitigate supply chain risk.
• Build, mentor and lead a high-performing quality team across multiple sites; provide training on food safety, quality systems, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Collaborate with operations and engineering to implement process improvements, validation activities and risk-based controls to reduce waste and improve yield.
• Oversee laboratory programs including QC testing, methods validation, calibration and data integrity practices.
• Act as the primary liaison with customers, regulatory bodies and certification bodies on quality and food safety matters.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemical Engineering or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive quality leadership experience in food and/or beverage manufacturing, including plant-level and corporate quality functions.
• Proven working knowledge and hands-on experience with HACCP, SQF (preferred), GMP, and other food safety management systems.
• Experience managing third-party audits and maintaining certifications (e.g., SQF, BRC, FSSC 22000) and navigating regulatory inspections.
• Strong understanding of food production processes, beverage manufacturing operations and laboratory testing principles.
• Demonstrated ability in quality tools and methodologies such as root cause analysis, CAPA, FMEA, statistical process control and continuous improvement (Lean/Six Sigma desirable).
• Experience leading supplier quality programs and managing supplier audits and corrective actions.
• Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills with experience leading cross-functional teams and influencing at senior levels.
• Willingness to travel to manufacturing sites and supplier locations as required.
• Professional certifications (e.g., HACCP certification, SQF Practitioner/Auditor, ASQ CQA/CQI) are highly desirable.

Benefits

Annual salary: $140,000 - $170,000 (based on experience)

Bonus opportunities

Medical, Dental, and Vision

401k plan

PTO / Paid Holidays

Work with a fast-growing company!

For this position you must be currently authorized to work in the United States. We do not sponsor for this position.