Director of Technical Services (Protein)

Position Summary

The Director of Technical Services provides technical leadership and subject-matter expertise across meat protein processing operations. This role is responsible for ensuring product quality, food safety, regulatory compliance, process optimization, and customer technical support. The Director acts as a key liaison between Operations, Quality/Food Safety, R&D, Sales, and Customers, supporting both internal performance and external customer confidence.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Process Optimization

• Provide technical oversight for meat protein processing, including raw material handling, formulation, thermal processing, yields, shelf life, and product performance.

• Lead troubleshooting efforts related to process deviations, quality issues, yields, and customer complaints.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency, cost reduction, and product consistency.

• Support commercialization of new products, processes, and technologies in collaboration with R&D and Operations.

Food Safety, Quality & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure compliance with USDA-FSIS, FDA (as applicable), HACCP, GMPs, SSOPs, and customer food safety requirements.

• Support development, validation, and verification of HACCP plans and critical control points.

• Serve as a technical resource during audits (USDA, third-party, customer) and regulatory interactions.

• Stay current on regulatory changes, industry best practices, and emerging food safety risks.

Customer Technical Support

• Act as the primary technical contact for key customers, addressing product specifications, performance issues, and application support.

• Partner with Sales and Commercial teams to support customer presentations, trials, and technical documentation.

• Assist in resolving customer complaints through root cause analysis and corrective action plans.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Leadership

• Work closely with Operations, Quality, R&D, Procurement, and Supply Chain to align technical strategy with business goals.

• Mentor and develop technical, quality, or process engineering team members.

• Contribute to strategic planning related to technology investments, capital projects, and product portfolio development.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Meat Science, Animal Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related field required

• Master's degree preferred

Experience

• 10+ years of experience in meat protein processing or related food manufacturing

• 5+ years in a technical leadership or management role

• Strong background in USDA-regulated environments (beef, pork, poultry, or further processing)

Technical Skills & Knowledge

• Deep understanding of meat science, protein functionality, and processing technologies

• Hands-on experience with HACCP, food safety systems, and regulatory compliance

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including root cause analysis

• Familiarity with yield optimization, shelf-life studies, and process validation

• Comfortable working in plant environments and traveling as needed (20-40%)

Leadership & Communication

• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence without direct authority

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including customer-facing interactions

• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into practical business solutions

Key Competencies

• Technical credibility and hands-on problem solving

• Customer-focused mindset

• Strategic thinking with operational execution

• Attention to detail balanced with business pragmatism

• High integrity and commitment to food safety

Travel Requirements

• Up to 40% travel, primarily to production facilities and customer locations