Position Summary:

The Director of Quality & Food Safety will play a critical role in protecting and strengthening our brand promise as the business continues to scale. This role will lead quality strategy and execution across our co-manufacturing network, from food safety and regulatory compliance to supplier quality management and continuous improvement, ensuring that every product that leaves a partner site reflects the our standard.

The role will own the quality management program and partner closely with Supply Chain, Sourcing, Operations, and Commercialization to embed quality discipline and governance into every stage of the process.

Success in this role requires comfort operating in ambiguity, building structure where it does not yet exist, and driving change through influence rather than hierarchy.

Key Responsibilities:

Quality Management Program & Systems

·      Design and implement a scalable quality management program, including SOPs, raw material and finished good specifications, CAPA workflow, and audit practices, across all SKUs and co-manufacturing sites

·      Evaluate and deploy digital tools and QMS platforms to reduce manual processes, improve traceability, and accelerate issue resolution

·      Drive continuous improvement efforts to reduce quality errors and improve first-pass yields

Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance

·      Lead oversight and governance of HACCP plans, FSMA Preventive Controls compliance, allergen controls, and sanitation standards across co-manufacturing sites (currently located in Southern California and Toronto, Canada)

·      Ensure compliance with FDA regulations, labeling requirements, and ingredient specifications; monitor the regulatory landscape (with third-party support as needed) and update programs proactively

·      Lead third-party audit programs and maintain ongoing internal and site audit readiness

·      Oversee product certification processes (currently Organic, Gluten-Free, Glyphosate-Free, Kosher)

Supplier & Co-Manufacturer Quality

·      Develop quality standards for supplier qualification processes for ingredients, packaging, and co-manufacturing partners; drive implementation of processes and ensure ongoing compliance

·      Serve as our primary point-of-contact on Quality with co-manufacturers; establish hold-and-release criteria, escalation protocols, and continuous improvement plans

·      Influence operational execution and accountability across external manufacturing partners through structured communication, corrective actions, and performance management

·      Orchestrate quality integration during new product commercialization, including component qualification, trial review, manufacturing transitions, scale-up support, and launch sign-off

·      Support rapid commercialization and innovation initiatives by ensuring quality readiness during product launches and operational expansion efforts

Cross-Functional Leadership & Process Improvement

·      Partner with Supply Chain, Operations, Finance, and Commercialization to align quality and food safety priorities with business objectives

·      Champion transparent communication and issue escalation across internal teams and external manufacturing partners

·      Develop SOPs and training that institutionalize best practices and build capability across the organization

·      Implement technology enhancements and data governance to improve quality effectiveness and reporting

·      Provide quality inputs to Monthly Business Reviews and cross-functional planning processes

You Might Be the One If…

You move with urgency and own the outcomes

·      You identify issues early, act before they escalate, and follow through without being asked

·      You hold yourself and your partners to clear standards; when something goes wrong, you are all over it

·      Ambiguity does not slow you down; you create structure and move the business forward

You’re a builder with a systems mindset

·      You create repeatable, scalable processes rather than one-off solutions

·      You document expectations and processes, then train and delegate so they become embedded in the organization

·      You actively look to eliminate manual work through technology, including QMS platforms, digital audit tools, and automated dashboards

·      You can evaluate, select, and implement new solutions with confidence

·      You use data to drive decisions and dig deep into root cause analysis to deliver measurable impact

You’re a trusted cross-functional partner

·      You build credibility with partners through consistency, technical depth, and clear communication

·      You translate risk into business language that resonates with Operations, Finance, and senior leadership

·      You thrive in a fast-moving environment and bring others along with you

·      You are comfortable balancing strategic thinking with hands-on execution in a lean environment

Qualifications:

·      Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Engineering, or related work experience

·      7+ years of progressive quality leadership experience within food and beverage manufacturing environments

·      Beverage experience preferred; low-acid beverage experience a plus

·      Direct experience managing quality within a contract manufacturing environment

·      Deep knowledge of HACCP, FSMA Preventive Controls, GMP, and FDA regulatory requirements

·      Demonstrated experience building scalable quality programs and implementing digital tools and software solutions

·      Strong analytical toolkit and data-driven decision-making skills; ability to measure, track, and clearly articulate quality outcomes and areas for improvement to senior leadership

·      Ability to build trust and credibility with internal and external stakeholders

·      Strong problem-solving orientation with the ability to influence outcomes across a complex external manufacturing network