Director, Food Safety & Quality Assurance - Manufacturing

• Health/Rx
• Dental
• Vision
• Flexible and health spending accounts (FSA/HSA)
• Supplemental life insurance
• 401(k)
• Paid time off
• Paid sick time
• Short term & long term disability coverage (STD/LTD)
• Employee stock ownership (ESOP)
• Holiday pay for company designated holidays

Good people, working with good people, for our common good.

Sound good?

KeHE-a natural, organic, specialty and fresh food distributor – is all about “good” and is growing, so there’s never been a more exciting time to join our team.  If you’re enthusiastic about working in an environment with a people-first culture and an organization committed to good living, good food and good service, we’d love to talk to you!

The Director of Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA) will oversee and lead the food safety, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance efforts across multiple GFSI certified food manufacturing facilities. In addition to managing internal manufacturing FSQA, this role will also have responsibility for the FSQA management of all contract-manufactured products for our exclusive brands. This includes ensuring that all contract manufacturers adhere to the same high standards of food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance that we uphold within our own facilities. The Director will ensure the integrity of our products and safeguard consumer safety, brand reputation, and operational excellence across both in-house and outsourced manufacturing environments. As with all positions at KeHE Distributors, we expect that all actions will be consistent with KeHE’s Mission, Vision, and Values.

Strategic Leadership & Oversight:

• Lead and manage the FSQA function across multiple internal food manufacturing facilities and contract manufacturers producing products for our exclusive brands.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive FSQA strategy that ensures alignment with company goals, industry standards, and regulatory requirements across both internal and contract-manufactured products.
• Provide leadership and support to maintain GFSI certifications across all company-owned facilities and ensure contract manufacturers comply with the same certifications or equivalent standards.
• Implement robust systems to ensure seamless integration of FSQA practices across internal and outsourced production networks

Contract Manufacturer Management:

• Oversee the FSQA management of all contract-manufactured products, ensuring that contract manufacturers meet or exceed our quality standards, food safety protocols, and regulatory requirements.
• Develop and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with contract manufacturers to ensure consistent product quality and food safety.
• Conduct regular audits and performance reviews of contract manufacturers, providing guidance on corrective actions and improvements as necessary.
• Ensure contract manufacturers follow appropriate risk management practices, including supplier qualification, auditing, and monitoring processes.

Compliance & Regulatory Management:

• Ensure all internal and external manufacturing operations comply with federal, state, and local food safety regulations (FDA, USDA, FSMA) and adhere to GFSI standards.
• Management of our annual QAI Organic audits for our Exclusive Brands.
• Oversee and manage internal and external audits (including contract manufacturer audits) to ensure compliance with food safety and quality standards.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of food safety regulations, emerging trends, and changes in laws, and communicate these updates to relevant stakeholders within the company and among contract manufacturers.

Quality Assurance & Risk Management:

• Develop, implement, and manage a comprehensive quality assurance system that applies to both internal production and contract-manufactured products, ensuring consistent product quality and safety.
• Identify and address potential risks related to product quality or food safety, implementing corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) as needed.
• Lead investigations and root cause analysis of any quality or food safety issues and ensure resolution, with corrective measures taken across internal and external production channels.

Team Development & Training:

• Lead, mentor, and develop the FSQA teams across internal manufacturing facilities.
• Provide ongoing training to employees at all levels to ensure they are equipped with the latest food safety and quality assurance knowledge and best practices.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and accountability across both internal and contract manufacturing operations.

Continuous Improvement:

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives by applying lean methodologies, Six Sigma, or other process improvement tools to enhance food safety, quality, and efficiency across both internal and external manufacturing environments.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to food safety and quality, generating regular reports for senior leadership and contract manufacturers to ensure alignment and sustained performance improvement.
• Analyze trends and data to proactively address areas of concern before they impact product quality or safety.

Crisis Management & Incident Response:

• Act as the primary point of contact for any food safety or quality crisis, including recalls, non-compliance issues, or consumer safety concerns, ensuring effective, rapid response across both internal facilities and contract manufacturers.
• Lead cross-functional teams in crisis resolution, ensuring that proper root cause analysis, corrective actions, and communications protocols are followed, both within the company and with external stakeholders (including customers and regulatory bodies).
• Collaboration & Cross-Functional Engagement:
• Work closely with senior leadership, operations, R&D, supply chain, and procurement teams to ensure alignment of food safety and quality initiatives across all areas of the business.
• Coordinate with marketing and product development teams to ensure that FSQA considerations are incorporated into new product development and brand strategies for exclusive products manufactured by contract partners.
• Build strong relationships with suppliers, vendors, and external regulatory bodies to maintain a collaborative and compliant approach to food safety and quality.
• Other duties and projects as assigned.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

• Proven leadership and management skills, with the ability to influence and drive change across diverse teams and organizations.
• Exceptional organizational, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, capable of building relationships across internal teams and external partners.
• Expertise in quality management systems (QMS), audit processes, and food safety systems.
• Proficient in MS Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), quality management software, and ERP systems.
• Strong background in crisis management, food recalls, and quality issue resolution.
• Extensive knowledge of GFSI certifications (BRC, SQF, FSSC 22000, etc.) and regulatory standards (FDA, USDA, FSMA).
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 40% of the time to oversee both internal manufacturing facilities and contract manufacturers.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Safety, Biology, Chemistry, or a related field.
• Master’s degree or relevant certifications in food safety/quality preferred.
• HACCP and PCQI certification required, GFSI Auditor certification or other relevant food safety certifications preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in food safety and quality assurance, with at least 5 years in a leadership role within a food manufacturing or contract manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience in managing multiple facilities and contract manufacturers, with a proven ability to oversee complex, multi-site operations.
• Extensive knowledge of GFSI certifications (BRC, SQF, FSSC 22000, etc.) and regulatory standards (FDA, USDA, FSMA).
• Experience in overseeing product quality, safety, and compliance in both in-house and contract manufacturing settings.
• Experience in developing and implementing GFSI programs.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.