Senior Director Quality Assurance

Purpose: The Senior Director Food Safety & Quality Assurance (QA) leads the Food Safety & QA function for North America.  This position oversees the design, development and implementation of all Food Safety/QA Programs, processes and reporting.

Essential Functions:

• Guides and manages day-to-day Food Safety & QA programs across North America Operations, ensuring consistent implementation of company standards and procedures
• Implements and maintains food safety culture initiatives throughout the organization by conducting training, providing technical support to operations, and reinforcing compliance expectations
• Guides the department in all matters related to local, state and federal food safety regulations as well as directing the work of the company’s internal QA resources and an outsourced group of food safety auditors
• Applies FDA Model Food Code regulations to operational situations; works with People & Culture and communications to address food safety/operational concerns, incidents, and corrective actions
• Implements and maintains compliance programs aligned with Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA) requirements across all applicable operations
• Maintains the company’s Food Safety Plan as the master document for the required branch specific Food Safety Plans and Food Defense Plans; ensures restaurants, kitchens, and warehouses maintain FDA registration and manages inspection findings and corrective action plans
• Represents the company and its interest in all customer, brand, industry and government food safety committees
• Actively participates and presents at industry events and training; collaborates with industry peers within technical associations such as the National Restaurant Association Quality Assurance Executive Study Group and the National Environmental Health Association
• Educates and influences Brands and JV Partners to ensure operational standards and HACCP programs are compatible with company standards
• Manages the NSF Small Supplier on-boarding audit process; reviews audit findings, assesses rick levels, coordinates with brands and suppliers on corrective actions, and escalates critical issues

Reporting Relationship: The Senior Director of Food Safety & QA reports to the Vice President of Culinary

Minimum Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, and Work Environment:

• Education and Experience: The combination of education and professional experience must exceed 10 years:
  • In a leadership role: Requires 5 years of experience leading a senior level team of operations professionals engaged in developing and executing Food Safety & Quality Assurance programs
  • In a technical role: Requires 10 years of experience engaged in developing and delivering food safety & quality assurance programs
    • A bachelor’s degree in a program related to the functional area can count for 3 of the ten-year requirement
    • An MBA or a master’s level degree in a program related to the functional area can count for an additional 2 years of the ten-year requirement

• In the industry: 3-5 years of Hospitality/ F&B experience
• ServSafe Food Safety Certification, ServSafe Alcohol, CP-FS (Certified Professional-Food Safety)

• Specialized Training:

• • Training that leads to technical expertise in FDA Model Food Code, FSMA, Code of Federal Regulations, General Microbiology, Public Health
  • Training that leads to an in-depth knowledge of legal and regulatory ramifications of the food safety area
• Specialized Skillset/Competencies/Traits:
  • Strong operational knowledge and ability to implement Food Safety & QA programs across many locations
  • Ability to balance operational needs with compliance requirements and manage stakeholder expectations
  • Strong problem-solving skills and demonstrated resourcefulness
  • Detail oriented with strong organizational and project management capabilities to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines
  • Excellent communication and training skills with ability translate food safety requirements into practical operational guidance for field teams
  • Highly advanced business acumen and also has the strategic mindset required to understand the long-term implications of Food Safety & QA management decisions and to advance the organization’s goals
  • Demonstrated history of anticipating and balancing the needs of the business with the needs of complex stakeholders, the employee population and individual circumstances
  • Demonstrated history of creating and maintaining positive work environments through coaching, developing, and leading teams to achieve common goals
  • Demonstrated experience exhibiting a continuous improvement mindset with the ability to optimize work processes and achieve positive results
• Location/Travel:
  • This position is based at the North America Support Center in Bethesda, MD
  • This position requires approximately 25% travel to airport locations