Director of Food Safety & Quality; Salinas, CA

Director of Food Safety & Quality (Salinas, CA - Work St.)

Title: Director of Food Safety and Quality
Salary Range: $163K - $221K
Status: Exempt
Days/

Shifts:

Monday – Friday and Weekends as needed
Location: Salinas, CA
Reports to: Exec. VP of Food Safety & Quality

The Director of Food Safety and Quality is responsible for the maintenance of plant quality processes and food safety programs from raw arrival through shipment from Salinas. The position includes the management of the food safety and quality teams and will provide cross‑functional coverage for all areas of management in the Food Safety and Quality Departments as needed. Regulatory and third‑party auditor and vendor engagement will be required.

• Manage Food Safety and Quality processes and conduct studies in the manufacturing facility including the verification of quality and food safety rules and compliance with regulations.
• Assist in food safety audit interactions as needed and as directed.
• Assist with plant trail work for product improvement and new product development. Work on the floor to validate product quality and connect quality attributes to qualify products or processes.
• Verify and validate the microbiological programs including environmental monitoring, product testing, water testing and air testing according to regulatory and audit compliance. Validate that processes are effective in microbiological regulatory compliance and verification of sanitation effectiveness.
• Maintain and modify food safety and quality training programs to ensure the entire workforce understands and owns food safety, is properly trained, knowledgeable, and able to identify and call out issues and perform assignments as directed.
• Continue the development and improvement of organic girl food safety programs from supplier compliance through the building block components of the food safety program (GMP, SOP, SSOP, recall, HACCP, training, etc.).
• Work with the executive management team at organic girl and industry experts and professionals to augment current GAP programs and develop innovative ways to monitor food safety compliance. Actively oversee and engage in food safety compliance in the facility.
• Initiate investigations and provide summary results regarding complaints and rejections. Analyze complaint data and provide connections to quality data that can be relevant in the development of capabilities and expectations of products.
• Provide coverage for cross‑functional quality and food safety areas of management as needed. Coverage may include management or supervision of the field or the plant.
• Supervise quality assurance employees, food safety employees and the Shelf‑Life Technician. Supervise field food safety employees as coverage requires. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees. Plan, assign and direct work. Provide performance reviews. Address employee complaints and resolve problems.

• Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Proven ability to organize, motivate and direct people.
• Ability to work and make decisions in emergency situations.
• HACCP Certification.
• PCQI Certification.
• Literate in English.
• Must be able to communicate scientific principles and food safety concepts to a broad audience ranging from agricultural workers to industry scientists.
• Must be an experienced writer in food safety documentation.
• Must be able to communicate quality and food safety policies and train individual employees to ensure consistent adherence to organic girl programs.
• Valid California…