Director FSQA - Protein

We are partnering with a leading protein manufacturer to identify an experienced Director of FSQA (Food Safety & Quality Assurance) to provide strategic leadership across the organization's manufacturing operations.

This is a high-impact leadership position responsible for developing and executing the company's food safety, quality, regulatory, and compliance strategy across a complex protein manufacturing environment. The successful candidate will work closely with Operations, Production, Maintenance, Engineering, Supply Chain, and senior leadership to ensure the highest standards of food safety, product quality, regulatory compliance, and customer satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the company's FSQA strategy across manufacturing facilities, aligned with business objectives and customer requirements.
• Provide leadership and direction to plant-level FSQA teams, ensuring consistent standards, processes, and expectations across the organization.
• Oversee compliance with USDA, FDA, HACCP, GMP, SSOP, BRCGS/SQF, and other applicable regulatory and certification requirements.
• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of HACCP plans, food safety programs, prerequisite programs, and quality systems.
• Partner with Operations and Production leadership to embed food safety and quality into daily manufacturing processes.
• Establish and monitor key FSQA performance metrics, identifying trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Lead investigations into food safety incidents, customer complaints, non-conformances, product holds, recalls, and corrective actions.
• Ensure robust CAPA and root-cause analysis processes are implemented and effectively managed.
• Serve as a senior point of contact for USDA, regulatory agencies, customers, auditors, and certification bodies.
• Lead preparation for and execution of third-party, customer, and regulatory audits.
• Develop and maintain food safety and quality standards across raw materials, production processes, finished products, and distribution.
• Collaborate with R&D and Operations on new product development, process validation, product specifications, and commercialization.
• Establish programs for supplier quality, incoming materials, environmental monitoring, microbiological testing, and finished product testing.
• Support the development and implementation of food safety culture initiatives, ensuring accountability at every level of the organization.
• Provide FSQA input into capital projects, equipment installations, process changes, and facility expansions.
• Monitor emerging regulatory, food safety, and industry developments and ensure the organization remains compliant and prepared for changing requirements.
• Develop, mentor, and retain a high-performing FSQA organization, establishing clear objectives, accountability, and professional development plans.
• Provide senior leadership with regular reporting on food safety, quality, compliance, customer, and regulatory performance.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will be an accomplished FSQA leader with significant experience within protein, meat, poultry, RTE, or high-volume food manufacturing.

You will ideally bring:

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Biology, Animal Science, or a related discipline; advanced degree is advantageous.
• 10+ years of progressive FSQA experience, with significant leadership responsibility within food or protein manufacturing.
• Proven experience leading FSQA teams within a USDA-regulated protein processing environment.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, GMP, SSOP, USDA, FDA, BRCGS/SQF, preventive controls, environmental monitoring, and food safety systems.
• Experience managing and developing plant-level FSQA Managers, Supervisors, and technical teams.
• Demonstrated experience successfully managing USDA and third-party audits, customer requirements, and regulatory relationships.
• Proven track record leading root-cause investigations, CAPA, product holds, non-conformances, complaints, and recall processes.
• Strong understanding of food microbiology, sanitation, process control, and quality management systems.
• Experience operating within a high-volume, complex manufacturing environment, ideally across multiple production areas or facilities.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to influence Operations and Production leadership and build a strong food safety culture throughout the organization.
• Strong leadership capability with a track record of building, developing, and retaining high-performing FSQA teams.

What the Role Offers

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced FSQA leader to join a well-established and growing protein manufacturer and take ownership of the organization's food safety and quality strategy.

The successful candidate will have significant influence over food safety culture, regulatory compliance, quality performance, customer satisfaction, audit readiness, and operational excellence, while leading and developing a high-performing FSQA organization.