Regional Director of Quality Assurance

As the Regional Director of Food Safety & Quality Assurance, you will be responsible for overseeing and ensuring the highest standards of food safety and quality across our operations in the United States and/or Canada. You will lead a team of professionals dedicated to maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements and company policies while driving continuous improvement initiatives. This role requires strong leadership, strategic thinking, and the ability to collaborate effectively across departments and locations.

Duties and Responsibilities:

* Ensure individual plant teams are executing expected actions to meet corporate objectives

* Manages assigned plant FSQA managers, and interacts with operations, R&D, and other relevant teams to implement the company's strategic plan that encompasses all aspects of food safety and quality.

* Coaches plant FSQA managers to ensure they perform according with strategic and the tactical/milestones necessary to achieve operational goals.

* Manages key customer QA relationships in conjunction with sales personnel.

* Support and coach Plant FSQA Managers for administering the department's budget to ensure proper allocation of resources

* Assess and manages plant resources to ensure the FSQA KPI goals are achieved for the manufacturing plants under its purview.

* Ensures the food safety and quality of product and services by assessing compliance with product testing, performing internal assessments and audits of the FSQA system and product lines, placing defective products on hold and taking corrective action

* Insures that all regulatory requirements are met including weights/measures, food safety, product claims, declarations, etc.

* Collaborates to standardize when required, QA policies/procedures to improve efficiency and reduce cost.

* Identifies and communicates FSQA technologies to improve quality and reduce costs.

* Coaches and develops FSQA Managers to perform at a constantly exceptional level of performance, including but not limited to the sanitation program, compliance with the GFSI approved scheme audits; and when required acts as the plant's SQF back-up Practitioner.

* Performs all other duties as assigned.

Minimum

Job Requirements:

Education/Certifications and

Experience:

* Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or related field (Master's degree preferred).

* Minimum of five (10) years of management experience including Quality Management Systems and/or Manufacturing experience.

* Prefer experience in a bakery/dry mixing (dry blending, frozen dough and baked goods) production environment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

* Proficient use of computer, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, One Note), and other related applications or software.

* Demonstrated leadership experience and a sense of urgency and the drive to make continuous improvements

* Ability to operate at single and multi-site levels from management to "hands on" to accomplish tasks. Must be a "working manager."

* Demonstrated ability to make and act on decisions while balancing speed, food safety, quality and risk.

* Strong background in sanitation principles and practices, GFSI approved schemes (SQF, BRC), HACCP, GMPs, Safety and SPC.

* Ability to think clearly and in a decisive manner while remaining calm under in pressure situations.

* Excellent oral and written communication skills.

* Ability to work in a matrix environment and build strong relationships by being transparent, reliable, and accountable. Strong interpersonal skills backed-up by strong technical knowledge are critical to success in this role.

* Must have good writing skills and be able to communicate effectively with people at all levels of the company.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

* Manage multiple direct reports including but not limited to:
Sr. Quality Assurance Manager, Quality Assurance Manager, Analyst.

* Work requires supervising and monitoring work performance of direct reports including making final decisions on hiring and disciplinary actions, evaluating program/work objectives and effectiveness, and realigning work and staffing assignments, as needed.

* Develop functional responsibilities of individuals that report to this position and ensure that best-in class output is created.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort:

* Typical work in office environment but will spend periods of time in manufacturing plants which will have exposure to unusual elements, such as dirt, dust, fumes, odors, darkness and/or poor lighting, noise and vibration. Seasonal exposure to weather elements to include, but not limited to, extreme temperatures, wetness and humidity.

* Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.

* Substantial travel required (up to 70%) mostly in the North America.

Expectations:

* Will demonstrate, promote, and exemplify the Company's Core Values.

At C.H. Guenther, we value transparency in compensation. By providing the salary range for this role, we aim to promote fairness and help candidates make informed choices…