Director of Quality

Are you a quality leader who leads with integrity, builds strong relationships, and believes people are the foundation of long-term success?

Our client, a respected and growing leader in cheese and dairy ingredients, is seeking a Director of Quality to lead all quality, regulatory, and food safety functions across a complex manufacturing operation. This is a rare opportunity to join a highly successful, farmer-owned cooperative known for its commitment to quality, innovation, and operational excellence. Their diverse product portfolio includes cheese, whey derivatives, lactose, dry powders, and infant-formula-grade ingredients serving customers around the globe.

Reporting directly to the VP of Manufacturing, this high-impact leadership role is a key member of the plant leadership team. You will partner closely with operations, maintenance, engineering, and corporate leadership to strengthen a culture of food safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement. The ideal candidate will bring a proactive, prevention-focused mindset, leveraging data-driven decision-making to drive sustainable results, support business growth, and ensure world-class quality standards across the organization.

 

• 5-7+ years of progressive leadership experience in Quality, Food Safety, and Regulatory Compliance within food, dairy, or ingredient manufacturing environments.
• Deep understanding of quality systems, food safety programs, regulatory requirements, and continuous improvement in a fast-paced, 24/7 manufacturing setting.
• Demonstrated success leading customer, regulatory, and third-party audits, driving CAPA programs, and influencing cross-functional teams to achieve sustainable results.
• Extensive experience in dairy, dairy ingredients, and/or infant-formula-grade manufacturing environments.
• Multi-site quality leadership experience a plus.
• Certifications including FSMA/PCQI, SQF Practitioner, and HACCP required; Halal, Kosher, and other GFSI scheme experience highly valued.
• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline required.
• A collaborative leadership style with the ability to build trust, develop teams, and drive a culture of quality, food safety, and accountability.

If this opportunity aligns with your background and interests, please contact Melissa Kern at

melissa@curtisfood.com

to learn more.